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Continuing Students

Registering for Classes

  1. UH Schedules of Classes
  2. UH-Manoa Registration Homepage
  3. Placement Exam Information
NREM undergrad student conducting research. Photo: G. Bruland NREM

Registration Advice

  1. Schedule an appointment with your advisor 2 - 3 weeks before registration to review your progress toward graduation and discuss courses for the upcoming semester.
  2. Check the required placement tests and prerequisites for courses you need to take, especially math, chemistry, biology, and physics.
  3. Register as soon as your time slot is available. Popular and introductory classes fill quickly.
  4. If an NREM course is full when you try to register for it, check with the instructor to see if you can get a registration override code.
  5. If introductory courses you need are full or not available, you have several options:
    1. Check the schedule of course offerings regularly to see if seats become available. Students often change their schedule at the beginning of the semester, especially when taking introductory courses.
    2. Contact the instructor to discuss your situation and/or request an override code. If enough students need the course, the instructor or department may open another section.
    3. Attend the first class to see if there are available seats. Some students may withdraw or fail to attend the class in the first week. You will still need to register for the course to receive credit for it.
    4. Check the schedule of course offerings at other UH campuses for the same course. Most of the basic core courses required for the NREM degree are offered every semester at one or more of the community colleges. You will have to pay for the course by the credit hour but usually at a reduced rate compared to UH-Manoa. Remember that courses at community colleges may not carry a focus designation, e.g. Writing Intensive (W), that may be associated with an otherwise equivalent UH-Manoa course.

    Course Planning

    Planning With Your Advisor

    In addition to helping you plan your courses for the upcoming semester, there are several important issues you should discuss with your advisor.

    1. Your specialization or interest area.
    2. What will my NREM degree and specialization prepare me for after graduation?
    3. How can I check on my transfer course credits and equivalencies?
    4. Can I substitute a transferred course or a different UH-Manoa course for a required course?
    5. Which courses should I take first? In what order?
    6. What are the pre-requisites or co-requisites for the specialization courses I want to take?
    7. Where can I find a good internship?
    8. How close am I to graduating?
    9. When do we need to fill out the preliminary degree check form?

    Planning Advice Forestry students in NREM program. Photo: C. Litton, NREM.

    1. In order to graduate in 4 years with 128 credits, new students must average 16 credits per semester or 32 credits over the academic year. Assuming students take one 4-credit course per semester (3-cr lecture with a 1-cr lab), this is equivalent to 5 courses per semester.
    2. Check the required placement tests and prerequisites for courses you need to take, especially math, chemistry, biology, and physics. Also check the prerequisites for upper-division courses you are considering for your specialization. Prerequisites are listed as part of the course descriptions in the UH-Manoa catalog.
    3. Avoid taking MATH 100, even if you do not have a strong mathematics background. This course does not prepare you for higher-level mathematics. If you are not comfortable with MATH 140: Precalculus, you can take a non-credit algebra refresher course from UH Manoa's Outreach College or MATH 135 from regular UHM for-credit courses. Lower division math classes are also offered by UH community colleges. The correspondence among different math classes in the UH system is given in a math articulation table.
    4. The prerequisite for PHYS 151 is MATH 140, completion of another precalculus course, or a passing grade on the mathematics placement exam. MATH 203 has similar prerequisites, but NREM 203 does not. Therefore, NREM 203 may not be used to meet the prerequisite for PHYS 151.
    5. The NREM undergraduate degree requires students to complete at least 60 credits in non-introductory (NI) courses, meaning upper division (numbered 300 or higher) or 200-level with a college level prerequisite. In your Star record, NI credits are shown on UH and transfer transcripts, and a total count recorded in the academic journey. If you took a course that you feel meets NI requirements but is not recorded that way in Star, submit a copy of the course description or syllabus to UHM Admissions and Records and ask them to evaluate it for NI credits.
    6. Even if you complete all requirements for UHM general education and the NREM major, you still may not have the 60 non-introductory credits needed to graduate. Ways to earn more NI credits:
      - take a 200-level English literature class with ENG 100 prerequisite, which counts for DL (diversification literature) and is available from UH community colleges including online distance education courses
      - take MATH 215 or MATH 241 instead of NREM 203 to meet NREM’s calculus requirement
      - take a 2nd year of Hawaiian/second language (NREM language Option 1)
      - take a 300-level HAP (Hawaiian, Asian, Pacific Issues) focus course from Geography or another department
      - ask your adviser or other NREM faculty if you can work in their lab or on a project for NREM 399 or 499 independent study (good if you only need 1-2 credits).
    7. Track I majors with a good science background should complete BIOL 171+L, 172+L and CHEM 161+L, 162+L in the first year. These courses will prepare you for NREM 304, a Track I requirement, and for your specialization electives.
    8. Track II majors should try to complete the economics (NREM 220 or ECON 130) and calculus requirements within the first year.
    9. Track II majors should also take one or two social science courses in the first two years. These courses will help you decide about a discipline for upper division study.
    10. Plan your class schedule for the semester around NREM core courses and track electives. If you have a scheduling conflict among classes, take the one that is only offered during one semester each year, e.g. NREM 210, rather than courses offered all the time or courses offered at other UH campuses, e.g. GEOG 101, chemistry, math, physics. See Course Offerings for schedule of NREM classes and planning form for courses taught by other departments.
    11. If you need to withdraw from a required course or if you fail the course, see your advisor about how and when to retake it.
    12. Sometimes a student may need to take a semester(s) off from school due to personal, health or other reasons. If you are a UH Manoa student in good standing (i.e. not on probation), you can take a leave of absence for up to one calendar year. By taking a leave, you can re-enter UHM without having to reapply for admissions and will be eligible to register for classes during the pre-registration period. If you want to take a leave, see your NREM adviser first to check if it will disrupt your program of study. You’ll also have to fill out a leave of absence form at the CTAHR advising office in Gilmore Hall room 210.
    13. NREM 492 Internship is offered in the fall semester only.  If you plan to graduate in the spring semester, then you should take the course a year and a half (three semesters) before you plan to graduate. If you plan to graduate in the fall semester, you should take the course the year before you plan to graduate.  As well, you may complete the internship experience portion of NREM 492 the summer before registering for the course. Make sure to contact the instructor, Dr. Travis Idol (email idol@hawaii.edu) to have your internship experience approved and to obtain instructions to complete the necessary assignments.
    14. Use the NREM planning form to choose courses and plan at least 2 semesters ahead.

    Choosing a Track and Specialization

    Hawaiian Hawk, i'o. Photo: J.B. Friday, NREM

    NREM students should choose a track in the major by the end of their second year. NREM 210, 220, 301 and 302 will help you decide, so try to take these courses in the first 2 years.

    Learn more about NREM's undergraduate Track I and Track II Specializations.

    Track I emphasizes natural science skills and concepts. Track I students generally are interested in direct assessment and evaluation of natural resources. They enjoy collecting samples, taking measurements, running analyses, developing and applying conservation techniques, or making recommendations about best management practices. The specialization topics are:

    1. Forestry
    2. Plant Ecology, Conservation, and Management
    3. Wildlife Management
    4. Soil & Water Conservation
    5. Coastal Ecology and Management
    6. GIS & Remote Sensing
    7. Watershed Hydrology

    Track II emphasizes social science skills and concepts. Track II students generally are interested in evaluating the costs and benefits of natural resources and management options or developing plans for improved resource management. They may enjoy crunching numbers and determining trade-offs of various management options, working with individuals and communities to develop appropriate resource management plans, helping to shape government policies, or creating and delivering educational materials and programs on the value of natural resources. The specialization topics are:

    1. Natural Resource Planning
    2. Cultural Resources Management
    3. Environmental Policy & Development
    4. Environmental Organizing & Advocacy
    5. Community Resource Management
    6. Green Enterprises and Sustainability

    Click here to download coursework information for Track I and Track II Specializations.

    To learn more about jobs in these areas, see the Beyond Graduation section of the Special Topics webpage or go directly to the NREM Job Opportunities webpage.

    Monitoring Progress with STAR

    NREM class on Hawaii Island. Photo: JB Friday, NREM STAR Reporting System: www.star.hawaii.edu/student

    The STAR reporting system is an interactive website designed to give you up-to-date information about your academic progress toward your undergraduate degree. It is based on the Banner student information database, which contains records of all your current and completed coursework, academic standing, and GPA, including transfer credits and their equivalents at UH-Manoa. STAR is intended as an advising tool to help you track your progress and plan your future. It is not intended to replace advising with an NREM faculty member, but it is a great tool to assist the advising process. If you find mistakes, please let your advisor know ASAP.

    Below is a brief summary of the different sections of the STAR system that students can access. The headings are listed as tabs at the top of the STAR webpage.

    1. Academic Journey. This tab lists which of the UH-Manoa general education requirements you have and have not completed. For your degree requirements, it lists the categories and courses you have taken that fulfill them.

    2. Academic Journey Cont. This tab compares your coursework against the specific requirements in your major. Right now, not all majors have had their requirements put in the STAR system, so your NREM degree requirements may not be listed.

    3. Academic History. This tab can generate a report similar to an academic transcript that is formatted for ease of viewing and printing. You can view your coursework at UH-Manoa or your transfer credits or both. You can sort your courses by semester or by department. The report includes the general education designations for each course and if it is non-introductory (NI).

    4. From Your Advisor. This tab provides you with a summary of your academic standing, academic events and actions, registration restrictions, financial aid information, and advisor notes. Your advisor can access a special section of the STAR system to send you notes about advising. This may be useful to keep a record of your advising sessions so you can recall what was discussed or refer back to your advisor's recommendations.

    5. What If Journey. This tab allows you to choose another UH-Manoa major and compare your coursework against the requirements for a degree in that program. If you are thinking of double-majoring, minoring, or even transferring majors, you can quickly determine your progress in another degree program.

    Special Programs

    Hawaiian stilt. Photo: C. Lepczyk, NREM.

    UH-Manoa offers a variety of opportunities for students to pursue their academic, personal, and professional interests outside of the normal curriculum. These include special programs at UH-Manoa and study abroad opportunities. Although we encourage you to learn about these opportunities on your own, please check with your advisor before enrolling in any of these programs to ensure that it is compatible with NREM degree requirements and that you can continue to make adequate progress toward graduation.

    Honors Program: www.honors.hawaii.edu

    This program is designed for motivated students with an excellent academic record or potential who wish to engage in a challenging enquiry-based curriculum that encourages learning through independent research and creative expression. Students in the program take regular courses with the Honors (A) designation each semester during their freshman and sophomore years. These courses have smaller enrollment and use more discussion and enquiry than typical lecture courses. As juniors and seniors, students take Honors (HON) courses that prepare them to pursue their interests in independent research or creative expression projects. Students who complete the program successfully receive an honor's designation on their diploma.

    Certificate Programs

    The UH-Manoa catalog lists all the available degrees, minors, and certificates. Certificate programs allow students to develop a guided specialization in a particular field, similar to a minor. Although there are many certificate programs at UH-Manoa, there are several that may be of interest to NREM students, including

    Check with the home department to obtain the requirements for these programs.

    UH-Manoa Study Abroad: www.studyabroad.org/

    You can spend a semester studying abroad at almost any other accredited institute of higher education. Check with your advisor or the study abroad office about how your credits earned at another institution will transfer toward your general education or degree requirements at UH-Manoa.

    WICHE Undergraduate Exchange: wue.wiche.edu/

    This program is intended to encourage study abroad among students of western states in the US. Participating universities (including UH-Manoa) allow students from other western states to pay a reduced out-of-state tuition rate, typically around 1.5 times the in-state resident tuition. Check the website for participating states and associated colleges and universities.

    UH Manoa National Student Exchange: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~nse/

    NSE consortium covers nearly 200 colleges located throughout the U.S., American-affiliated islands, and Canada. Pay resident or UHM tutition. Enrollment limited at some colleges. Consult with your advisor to select an appropriate exchange site.

    Graduation

    1. Preliminary Degree Check

    Please see your advisor the semester before you plan to graduate so that you register for the courses you need to meet the graduation requirements. During your final semester, you and your advisor need to fill out the preliminary degree check form. This form reviews all the credit, general education, and CTAHR core requirements that students must meet for graduation. You and your advisor will have to review the additional NREM requirements for graduation. Make sure that you have submitted course substitution request forms for any substitutions you plan to use for general education, CTAHR, or NREM requirements. Also make sure to add up the number of non-introductory (NI) credits you have or will complete by your intended date of graduation. Both you and your advisor must sign the preliminary degree check form. Afterwards, the form needs to be submitted to the CTAHR Academic and Student Affairs office in Gilmore 210.

    There is no firm deadline to submit your preliminary degree check form but it’s best done early in the semester when you intend to graduate. You do need to submit it and officially apply for graduation by the date given in the UHM calendar if you want your name to appear in the printed program for the commencement ceremony. The sooner CTAHR Academic and Student Affairs office receives your preliminary degree check, the better. They will check that you really do qualify to graduate.

    2. CTAHR Exit Survey

    Once you are approved for graduation, the college will ask you to fill out an exit survey. This survey is important for the college and NREM to assess the effectiveness of our undergraduate programs. We also ask that you provide us with your contact information so that we may keep in touch with our alumni. Knowing how our alumni are using their NREM degree provides us with real-world information we can use to help advise prospective and current students.

    3. Commencement

    General Information: manoa.hawaii.edu/commencement/
    Frequently asked questions: manoa.hawaii.edu/commencement/faq.php
    Order cap and gown for ceremony: www.bookstore.hawaii.edu/uhgrad/home.aspx