Home > Online Master’s Programs > Hawaii

Online Master's Degree Programs in Hawaii

Hawaii residents who hold a bachelor’s degree and meet other admissions requirements can earn a master’s degree in many of the most common areas for graduate studies in the state through programs that offer all or most of their coursework online. There are schools in Hawaii that offer online master’s programs in fields such as business administration, counseling, education, public health, and social work. In addition, there are many out-of-state schools that have online master’s programs in these and other fields, most of which are authorized to accept applicants who reside in Hawaii.

This page provides details on the public and private non-profit schools located in Hawaii that are active in offering online master’s programs in the most common areas for master’s-level studies in the state, as determined through an analysis of the number of master’s degrees conferred by colleges and universities in Hawaii. The data for this analysis were collected by the US Department of Education for its Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). The sections below also provide information on some of the programs offered by schools in the Western United States that accept candidates who plan to remain residents of Hawaii while earning a master’s degree online.

Schools in Hawaii That Offer Online Master’s Programs

The publicly funded University of Hawaii System maintains ten campuses located throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including three state-administered universities that offer bachelor’s and graduate degree programs: the University of Hawaii at Manoa; the University of Hawaii at Hilo; and University of Hawaii -West Oahu. All three of these universities offer online master’s program in various fields in conjunction with UH Online, the University of Hawaii System’s distance-learning initiative.

Hawaii’s state universities are listed below by enrollment size from largest to smallest based on IPEDS enrollment data.

School	Location	Online Degree Programs
University of Hawaii at Manoa	Manoa	Yes
University of Hawaii at Hilo	Hilo	Yes
University of Hawaii - West Oahu	Kapolei	Yes

Hawaii is also home to several non-profit, private institutions of higher education that are formally accredited and authorized to confer bachelor’s and graduate degrees. The three largest schools that fit this classification are listed on the table below.

School	Location	Online Degree Programs
Hawaii Pacific University	Honolulu	Yes
Brigham Young University-Hawaii (BYU-Hawaii)	Laie	No
Chaminade University of Honolulu	Kaimuki	Yes

Out-of-State Schools with Online Master’s Programs That Accept Hawaii Residents

Residents of Hawaii who would like to pursue a master’s degree and who are interested in exploring online programs offered by out-of-state schools, may want to explore the programs offered by several of the large universities in western states. Arizona State University (ASU) and The University of Arizona are two schools in Arizona that offer numerous online master’s programs and that accept applicants from Hawaii. ASU has online master’s programs in business, communication, computer science, criminal justice, cybersecurity, education, engineering, healthcare, homeland security, legal studies, nursing, organizational leadership, public administration, psychology, social work, and more. The University of Arizona offers programs in accounting, educational leadership, electrical engineering, engineering management, healthcare management, library and information science, public health, real estate development, and many other fields.

The University of California System (UC System) has ten campuses, most of which are active in offering online master’s programs. For example, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) offers online master’s programs in a number of engineering specializations, including computer, electrical, materials, mechanical, and structural engineering. The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) has an online Master of Public Health (MPH) program and an online Master’s in Data Science (MIDS) program. And the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) has an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

Finally, two of Nevada’s state universities have online master’s programs in fields that may interest Hawaii residents. The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) offers online master’s programs in accounting, business analytics, cybersecurity, public health, and social work. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has online master’s programs in educational psychology, hospitality management, nursing, and other fields.

The 15 Most Common Areas of Master’s Degree Studies in Hawaii

Through an analysis of IPEDS data on the number of students graduating from master’s programs offered by schools in Hawaii, OnlineEducation.com has determine the 15 most common areas of study for students at the master’s degree level in the state. These areas are:

Business Administration and Management, General
Social Work
Counseling Psychology
Business Administration and Management, Operations
Curriculum and Instruction
Teacher Education and Professional Development
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Educational Leadership and Administration
Public Health
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
Accounting
Secondary Education and Teaching
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
Special Education and Teaching

The sections below provide details about online programs in most of the fields listed above that are offered by schools in Hawaii, as well as details on a selection of programs in these fields offered by out-of-state schools. While online master’s programs do not align precisely with IPEDS classifications, an analysis of the IPEDS data offers a representative overview of the subject areas and disciplines in which students at schools in Hawaii most commonly earn master’s degrees.

Online Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) Programs in Hawaii

There are three universities in Hawaii that offer online Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH) offers a Distance Learning MBA program through its Shidler College of Business. The 48-credit program is offered in a hybrid online format and uses a cohort model, which means that groups of students begin and progress through the program’s curriculum together and graduate in 22 months. The program starts with a five-day residency session at the UH campus, after which students are required to attend classes on campus roughly every other week while school is in session. The rest of the program’s coursework is delivered via online instruction. Students in the program can choose a general business management curriculum or a specialization in Health Care Management or Travel Industry Management.

Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) offers an online MBA with a flexible structure that allows students to take all of their courses online or to enroll in a mix of online and campus-based courses. Students in the program are required to complete eight courses and can take two courses per term, which leads to graduating in 16-20 months, or opt for just one course per term, with extends the time to completion beyond two years. In order to qualify for the HPU program, applicants must have completed undergraduate coursework in financial accounting, business finance, statistics, and economics.

Chaminade University of Honolulu offers an online MBA through its School of Business & Communication. The program can be completed entirely online or through a mix of online and campus-based evening classes. Students in the program can choose from among five designated concentrations: Accounting; Healthcare Administration; Island Business; Not-for-Profit; and Science and Technology Innovation.

There are many accredited colleges and universities located out-of-state that offer online MBA programs and that accept applicants from Hawaii. Arizona State University (ASU) is one of those schools. ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business has an online MBA program that consists of 49 credits/17 courses. Students can complete the Carey School’s online MBA program in 24 months and have a choice of four concentrations: Finance; International Business; Marketing; and Supply Chain Management. The University of Arizona also has an online MBA program that accepts applicants from Hawaii. Offered through The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, the program has a 45-credit curriculum that includes 14 core requirements and elective or concentration coursework in entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare management, marketing, organizational management, and privacy and security.

The University of Southern California (USC) offers an online MBA program through its Marshall School of Business. Students in the program are required to attend a weeklong campus residency at USC’s Los Angeles campus at the start of the program, after which they take all of their courses online. Pepperdine University, another private, non-profit school in California, has an online MBA program with specializations in: Marketing; Finance; Leadership & Managing Organizational Change; General Management; and Digital Innovation & Information Systems. Finally, Oregon State University (OSU) offers an online MBA program with tracks in: Business Analytics; Marketing; Organizational Leadership; and Supply Chain and Logistics Management.

While there currently are no schools in Hawaii that offer fully online Master of Social Work (MSW) programs, the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH) and Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) offer MSW programs utilizing hybrid formats that combine online and campus-based instruction. The UH program, which is offered through the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, offers most of its coursework online but requires students to attend one campus-based session at UH’s Manoa campus per year and several additional in-person meetings that can be scheduled at any of the UH System’s ten campuses. The program’s curriculum provides training and instruction in clinical social work and macro practice social work. Students without prior training in social work can complete the program in three years, which includes four semesters of field education. Students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an undergraduate program accredited by the CSWE can complete UH’s Advanced Standing track in two years.

The College of Health and Society at HPU offers an MSW program in which students attend classes in the evenings and on weekends as well as via online instruction. The program has an advanced generalist curriculum that provides training in clinical and macro practice social work and allows students to specialize in military social work through an optional Veterans Affairs concentration. Students who hold a BSW degree and who are granted advanced standing status can finish the HPU MSW program in one year of full-time enrollment or two years of part-time enrollment. Traditional students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field or discipline can choose from a two-year, full-time completion plan or opt for part-time enrollment and graduate in three years. The part-time traditional program is offered at HPU’s main campus in Honolulu and on the Island’s Westside (West Oahu Cohort) .

Among the out-of-state schools that offer online MSW programs that accept applicants from Hawaii are the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), the University of Southern California (USC), and Arizona State University (ASU). UNR’s program has an advanced generalist curriculum, which means it provides training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work. The program has a traditional track that can be completed in eight semesters, as well as an Advanced Standing track for BSW graduates that takes four semesters.

The program offered by USC has three specialization tracks: Adult Mental Health and Wellness; Children, Youth, and Families; and Social Change and Innovation. USC’s online MSW program can be completed in two years of full-time enrollment or three or four years of part-time enrollment. Students who hold a BSW degree may be eligible for the USC program’s Advanced Standing MSW track, which can be completed in one year of full-time enrollment.

ASU’s School of Social Work has an online MSW program with an advanced generalist curriculum that provides training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work. The program’s curriculum is comprised of twenty courses and 980 hours of field education.

Note: MSW programs require students to engage in field education, which involves working at a program-approved social work agency for a specific number of hours. Hawaii residents who are considering online MSW programs offered by out-of-state schools may want to contact a program administrator regarding potential field education sites prior to initiating the application process in order to ensure that a convenient site can be found. In addition, students who intend to apply for a license to practice clinical social work should review state licensing requirements, as these requirements vary by state and online MSW programs may or may not provide the training and instruction needed to meet Hawaii’s licensing requirements.

Online Master’s in Counseling Programs in Hawaii

The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology program with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The program has a Distance Education option that allows students who live in Hawaii to attend virtual classes at campuses located at various UH campuses throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) and is designed to prepare students to apply for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor in Hawaii. Students in the program are required to complete a 200-hour fieldwork practicum and 400 hours of internships in a clinical mental health setting. The 60-credit program can be completed in two years of full-time enrollment.

The College of Education and the Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH) offers an online Master of Science (MS) in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science program with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling. The program, which offers all of its didactic coursework online, is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and is designed to prepare students to become licensed rehabilitation counselors in Hawaii. In addition to didactic coursework, students in the program must complete a 100-hour practicum and 600 hours of internships experiences. The 48-credit program can be completed in two years.

Hawaii residents who are interested in training to become a licensed school counselor may want to explore a program offered by the School of Education at Touro University Nevada. The Touro program is an online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction program with a School Counseling specialization. To qualify for the program, which includes online didactic instruction in school counseling and in-person internship experiences, applicants must have a minimum of two years of teaching experience.

The Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California (USC) is another option for earning a master’s degree in school counseling online. The Rossier School’s MEd in School Counseling program has full-time and part-time enrollment options, no required campus visits, and requires students to complete a 100-hour practicum and 600 hours of internships at program-approved sites.

Finally, the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services at Utah State University has a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) program that is offered online. The program has a curriculum that is designed to prepare students to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) examination administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). Students in the program are required to complete a 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships.

Note: Online master’s in counseling programs require the completion of in-person, site-based practicums and/or internships. Hawaii residents who are considering online programs offered by out-of-state schools are advised to contact programs in advance of submitting an application in order to discuss potential sites for these in-person requirements. Hawaii residents should also note that licensing requirements for professional counselors vary by stare. It is thus advisable to research online programs offered by out-of-state schools carefully to ensure that a program offers a curriculum that meets Hawaii’s counselor licensing requirements.

Online Master’s in Education and Teaching Programs in Hawaii

There are several schools in Hawaii that offer online master’s programs in education and teaching. The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo), for example, has a distance-based Master of Education (MEd) program that is designed for licensed teachers who are interested in cultivating advanced proficiencies in areas like curriculum design, educational research, teaching technologies, and leadership. The program is part-time and takes two years to complete. It offers most of its coursework online.

The College of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH) has four online master’s programs in education fields: an online MEd in Learning Design & Technology program; and three online Master of Arts in Special Education (MA SPED) programs. The MEd in Learning Design & Technology program includes a three-day, campus-based orientation session at the start of the program and an additional campus residency that takes place on a weekend during the first semester of the program.

UH’s online MA SPED program has a 31-credit Interdisciplinary specialization with a curriculum that focuses on leadership in the field of special education. The Interdisciplinary specialization is designed for current special education teachers, general education teachers who are interested in teaching special education students, and individuals involved in adult education among populations with disabilities. It requires students to attend one campus-based orientation session at the start of the program.

In addition, UH has an online MA SPED program with a Literary Specialist curriculum that is designed for licensed teachers and for graduate students who are interested in learning about literacy pedagogy. While the Literacy Specialist program does not require a teaching license, students in the program must have access to groups of students for embedded projects. Finally, UH offers an online MA SPED program with a Deaf and Hard of Hearing specialization in conjunction with the University of Northern Colorado. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing program does not require any travel, but it does require applicants to hold a teaching license and to complete a site-based teaching practicum.

Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) offers an online MEd in Educational Leadership program through its College of Professional Studies. The 33-credit program has six core courses that all students are required to complete, after which students can choose a four-course Educational Leadership concentration, or a four-course Instructional Technology specialization. Both concentrations require students to complete a final capstone project.

Chaminade University of Honolulu has a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program with three specializations that are offered in a fully online format: Elementary Education; Secondary Education; and Special Education. The program also offers hybrid online specializations in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education Montessori. Chaminade’s online and hybrid online MAT program specializations are all designed to prepare students for licensure in Hawaii and thus require students to complete internships at program-approved schools.

Residents of Hawaii may also be interested in exploring the online master’s programs offered by Arizona State University (ASU) and The University of Arizona. ASU Online offers online MEd programs in: Autism Spectrum Disorders; Early Childhood Education; English as a Second Language (ESL); and Gifted Education. ASU also has an online MEd in Learning Design and Technologies program and an online MEd in Educational Leadership program. Finally, ASU has an online MA in Literacy Education program for teachers and educators who are interested in studying reading and literacy pedagogy.

The University of Arizona has three online master’s programs for educators that it offers through its College of Education. These include an online Master of Science (MS) in Education Technology program designed for K-12 teachers; an online Master of Arts (MA) in Second Language Learning & Educational Technology program; and an online MA in Special Education program that offers specializations in Behavior Support, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Disabilities.

The University of Southern California (USC) has an online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program with two concentrations: Multiple Subject Teaching (Elementary); and Single Subject Teaching (Secondary). USC also offers an online MAT program with a specialization in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and two online MEd specializations: Learning Design & Technology; and Enrollment Management & Policy.

Note: Licensing requirements for teachers and other educators vary by state, as do admissions requirements for master’s programs in teaching and education. While some online master’s programs require applicants to be licensed and/or certified in their state, other program are designed to prepare students for eventual licensure/certification. It is therefore important for those aiming to attain licensure eligibility to review Hawaii’s licensing requirements prior to applying to an online program offered by an out-of-state school in order to ensure that the program’s curriculum aligns with Hawaii’s licensing requirements. In addition, residents of Hawaii should be aware that some programs require internships in schools or other educational settings, hence, students should contact a program administrator about these requirements before applying to a program offered by an out-of-state school.

Online Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Programs in Hawaii

Registered Nurses (RNs) who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) are eligible for a distance-based Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offered by the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH) through its School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene. The program has an Advanced Population Health specialization with a curriculum that focuses on community and population health assessment, health program management, disaster nursing, and health policy analysis. The distance-based format utilizes online instruction but may require students to attend several campus-based sessions.

RNs who live and work in Hawaii may also want to consider several online MSN programs offered by out-of-state schools that accept applicants from Hawaii. The University of Arizona has an online MSN in Clinical Systems Leadership program that is designed to accommodate RNs who hold a BSN degree and RNs who received their training through an associate degree in nursing (ADN) program. Northern Arizona University (NAU), which is another public university in Arizona, has an online MSN program with a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialization that prepares RNs who hold a BSN degree for certification and/or licensure in family practice nursing, and a Generalist specialization that provides training and instruction in leadership and health systems management.

Arizona State University (ASU) offers an online MSN program with a curriculum that provides training in nursing administration and leadership, as well as an online MSN with a Nurse Educator specialization. Both of ASU’s online MSN programs are designed for RNs who hold a BSN degree.

Note: Most online MSN programs require students to complete clinical hours at program-approved sites. It may thus be advisable to contact a program representative regarding potential clinical placements prior to submitting an application to an out-of-state program. In addition, licensing requirements for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) vary by state. Hawaii-based RNs who intend to practice in a specialization that requires licensure should review Hawaii’s licensing requirements prior to applying to an online MSN program offered by an out-of-state school to ensure that the program’s curriculum aligns with Hawaii’s licensing requirements.

Online Master’s in Public Health (MPH) Programs in Hawaii

Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) is currently the only school in the state that offers an online Master of Public Health (MPH) program. The HPU program is an accelerated online program that can be completed entirely online in 12-16 months by students who have already taken an undergraduate statistics course and an introduction to public health course. The program also has a hybrid online option that requires students to attend one campus-based class per course. Among the program’s requirements is a 16-week (240-hour) field training experience that may be waived for students who have at least two years of prior experience in public health.

Hawaii residents can earn an MPH degree online from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), which offers an online MPH in Public Health Practice program. The UNR program includes training and instruction in public health policy, finance, informatics, epidemiology, biostatistics, and social and behavioral factors. Students who have already taken an undergraduate course in statistics can complete the UNR program in 24 months. Oregon State University (OSU) also has an online MPH in Public Health Practice program that does not require any campus visits, but that does require students to complete 200 hours of internship experiences at a program-approved site.

There are two schools in California that offer online MPH programs that Hawaii residents may want to explore. California State University, Northridge (CSU Northridge) offers an online MPH in Community Health Education program through its Tseng College of Graduate, International, and Midcareer Education. The CSU Northridge program includes a 300-hour field training practicum at a public or community health organization approved by the program.

Finally, the University of Southern California (USC) offers an online MPH program through its Keck School of Medicine. The USC program gives students the option of completing a general public health practice curriculum or choosing a specialization in: Biostatistics & Epidemiology; Community Health Promotion; Global Health; GeoHealth; or Health Services & Policy. The USC program offers all of its coursework online but requires students to complete a public health practicum at a site approved by the program.

Online Master’s in Communication Programs in Hawaii

While there are currently no schools in Hawaii that offer an online master’s in communication program, there are several out-of-state schools with online programs that Hawaii residents may want to explore. Washington’s Gonzaga University has an online Master of Arts (MA) in Communication and Leadership Studies program that provides training in professional communication skills and allows students to choose from six designated concentrations: Change Leadership; College Teaching; Digital Media Strategies; Global Leadership; Servant Leadership; and Strategic & Organizational Communication. Students in the program are required to attend one campus immersion session that is held for three days on Gonzaga’s Spokane campus. Students are also invited to several additional immersion sessions in Spokane but are not required to attend these supplemental campus-based sessions.

Arizona State University (ASU) offers an online MA in Communication program through ASU Online and the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication. The ASU program consists of ten courses and does not require any campus visits.

The University of Southern California (USC) offers a Master of Communication Management program through USC Online and the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. The program is offered in a full-time format that requires students to take two courses per semester and it does not require any campus visits. Students who successfully complete two courses per semester can earn their degree from USC in 16 months.

Online Master’s in Accounting Programs in Hawaii

Currently, there are no schools in Hawaii that offer online master’s in accounting programs. However, there are several online programs offered by out-of-state schools that Hawaii residents may want to explore. These include an online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program offered by National University, a multi-campus, private, non-profit university that is headquartered in California. National’s online MAcc program is designed to prepare students to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam, and/or the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam.

California State University, Sacramento, also known more informally as Sacramento State, offers an online Master of Science in Accounting program through its College of Business Administration. The program consists of ten courses that are offered in six-week modules, allowing students to complete their degree in less than two years by taking one course per term.

Colorado State University (CSU) offers an online Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) program through CSU Global Campus. The program requires applicants to have prior experience and/or academic training in accounting, such as a bachelor’s degree in accounting or post-graduate work experience in accounting. Students in the CSU Global program can choose from among concentrations in: Data Analytics; Fraud Investigations & Forensic Accounting; Auditing & Assurance; Taxation; and Professional Accounting.

Note: Prior to applying to an online master’s in accounting program, Hawaii residents who intend to sit for the CPA exam should review the state’s CPA eligibility requirements, as these requirements vary by state.

Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs in Hawaii

Chaminade University of Honolulu is currently the only accredited, non-profit school in Hawaii that offers an online master’s program in criminal justice. Chaminade’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration (MSCJA) program has a Generalist Track that is offered 100% online. Students in the program must complete eight core requirements, including a capstone project, and can then choose six elective courses in areas like law enforcement, terrorism, criminal prosecutions, and correctional systems administration. The program can be completed in 18 months by full-time students.

Outside of Hawaii, there are a number of schools that offer online master’s in criminal justice programs that accept applicants from Hawaii. Arizona State University (ASU) is one of those schools. ASU Online offers a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ) program that does not require any campus visits and that can be completed in as few as 18 months. The University of San Diego in California offers an online Master of Science (MS) in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership program that is similar to a master’s in criminal justice program. The University of San Diego program consists of ten courses that students take one at a time in seven-week terms in order to graduate in five semesters, or twenty months.

In addition, California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) offers an online Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice (MSCCJ) program with a curriculum that covers topics in police organization and management, crime and public policy, theories of crime causation, and criminal justice legal issues. The program is designed to be completed in 24 months of full-time enrollment.