Admission Policies of the University of Hawai‘i System 4-year Colleges

Each University of Hawai‘i (UH System) baccalaureate institution is made up of several colleges and schools which grant undergraduate degrees, and which may have additional prerequisites and requirements for admissions.

Students transferring from a community college are subject to the admission requirements of the particular major, college, or school in which the student wishes to enroll.

Any student wishing to be a candidate for a degree from a UH System baccalaureate institution must specify the major/college in which the student wishes to enroll when applying for general admission to the University. Some majors (e.g., business administration, education, and social work) require junior standing as one requirement for admission. Some programs (e.g., Nursing, Pharmacy) require prerequisite courses and separate applications.

The Associate in Arts Degree and UH General Education Core Requirements Articulation with UH Campuses

Students who have earned an articulated Associate in Arts (AA) degree from a University of Hawai‘i Community College shall be accepted as having fulfilled the general education core requirements at all other University of Hawai‘i campuses.

While an articulated AA degree satisfies general education core requirements, students must also complete all specialized lower-division, major, college, and degree/graduation requirements. Additional campus-specific requirements, such as competency in a foreign language or writing-intensive courses, may also be required. With planning, most of these requirements may be incorporated into the AA degree; if not, they are required in addition to the AA degree.

Each University of Hawai‘i baccalaureate institution is made up of several colleges and schools which grant undergraduate degrees. Although there is a "core" of general education required of every student regardless of the college in which they enroll, each college or major may modify the "core" to meet the educational needs of their particular students.

Choosing and Preparing for a Major

In four-year college and university programs, a student takes most of the required courses for their major in the junior and senior years. The first two years are spent primarily in completing the general education requirements for that college and taking any freshman and sophomore courses that may be required to prepare students for advanced work in the major.

Which college or school a student will enroll in is determined by the student's choice of major. Because most students have not chosen a major before entering college, the broad term "liberal arts" is used for most transfer students rather than classifying them as pre-psychology, pre-engineering, pre-nursing, etc. However, every student will be required to designate a more specific major during or prior to the junior year.

As the choice of major depends upon the type of career for which the student is preparing, students who have not yet determined their career goals are urged to consult with a counselor during their first semester. Early identification of career goals and major will enable the student to avoid taking courses, which do not meet the general education or other requirements of the chosen major.

Students are strongly advised to consult with an advisor about the requirements of the campus and the program to which they plan to transfer.

College catalogs are published once per year and do not always reflect the most recent campus actions involving core courses.

For the most recent information concerning core courses, students should check with their advisors.

Transferring from Leeward Community College to Institutions outside the UH System

Students planning to transfer to a college other than UH Mānoa, Hilo, or West O‘ahu are urged to review the necessary college catalogs and to consult a counselor early in their college career so that a planned program can be arranged to meet the general education and admissions requirements of the college to which they plan to transfer.

It is the student's responsibility to contact and visit the website of the college or university being considered for transfer.

Transfer Information for Business Students

Leeward's Accounting and Business Technology programs have transfer agreements with both UH West O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Pacific University. The Academic Subject Certificate in Business is highly recommended for transfer to UH Mānoa's College of Business Administration. Contact the Business Division office at 455-0344 for more detailed information.

Transfer Information for Education Students

Leeward's Teacher Education program has transfer agreements with UH Mānoa, UH West O‘ahu, and Chaminade University. Contact the Education office at 455-0392 for more detailed information.