Overview

Our dedicated marine science faculty’s expertise covers a broad range of disciplines, producing a well-rounded experience for our students. In addition to a rigorous classroom education, Oceanography program at the Hawai'i Pacific University emphasize hands-on learning in laboratory and field courses throughout the degree curriculum.

Key facts

The Oceanography program at the Hawai'i Pacific University is usually divided into four sub-disciplines:

Physical Oceanography – the study of waves, currents, tides, and ocean energy.

Geological Oceanography – the study of the sediments, rocks, and structure of the seafloor and coastal margins.

Chemical Oceanography – the study of the composition and properties of seawater and how it is affected by physical mixing processes and interactions with the seafloor, the atmosphere, and ocean life.

Biological Oceanography – the study of marine organisms and their interactions with the ocean environment.

All of these sub-disciplines are highly interrelated, as well as being closely aligned to other fields such as meteorology/atmospheric science, geophysics, and ocean engineering.

As you might expect, biological oceanography shares many aspects with marine biology, but is generally more focused on the interactions of specific parameters within the marine environment -- paying particular attention to the affects of chemical, physical, or geographic properties of the ocean -- and marine organism distribution and/or the patterns of biological populations in the sea. HPU’s oceanography program includes all of the sub-disciplines of oceanography.

Students majoring in Oceanography will:

Understand fundamental principles in the biological and the physical sciences.
Integrate scientific principles from chemistry, physics, geology, and biology to explain processes in the marine environment.
Plan and implement observational and experimental studies of marine systems and analyze the data obtained from these studies using appropriate mathematical and statistical techniques.
Communicate scientific ideas effectively in written and oral formats using appropriate computer applications for data analysis and presentation.
Find and evaluate published information from a variety of printed and electronic sources.
Use an interdisciplinary perspective to analyze complex problems and develop relevant questions pertaining to marine systems.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

General Biology
General Chemistry
Fundamental Org. Chem
General Oceanography
Calculus
College Physics

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-26 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-01-15 00:00:00

More details

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis year-round, and it is recommended that students apply well in advance. Priority deadline: 15 January

Language

English

IELTS

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Honolulu, United States

Disciplines

Oceanography View 43 other Bachelors in Oceanography in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

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TOEFL^® IBT

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Duolingo English Test

105

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Other requirements

General requirements

A $45 non-refundable application fee is required.
Transcripts must be submitted both in the native language and in an official English language translation.
Proof of English Language Proficiency
Copy of Your Passport's Biographical Photo Page
Statement of Financial Sponsorship
Bank Statement of Government Sponsorship Letter

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Hawai'i Pacific University and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

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International

33792 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 33792 USD per year during 48 months.
National

33792 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 33792 USD per year during 48 months.
In-State

33792 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 33792 USD per year during 48 months.

Living costs for Honolulu

1640 - 2500 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Oceanography.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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