University of Hawaii at Manoa

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced core training in economic theory and econometrics with specialised coursework and supervised research in environmental and resource economics. Early stages emphasise microeconomic theory, macroeconomic foundations, and applied and advanced econometrics to prepare students for empirical and theoretical research. Specialist modules typically include natural resource economics, environmental valuation and benefit–cost analysis, energy and climate economics, land and coastal use economics, fisheries and marine resource economics, and policy analysis and regulation.

Students also take research seminars and participate in topical workshops that cover applied methods such as programme evaluation, panel and spatial econometrics, non‑market valuation techniques, integrated assessment modelling, and environmental accounting. Training often incorporates interdisciplinary material from ecology, atmospheric science and public policy to support work on issues such as coral reef management, coastal adaptation, renewable energy transitions, and the welfare impacts of environmental change.

The degree is research‑oriented: after completion of coursework and qualifying examinations, students prepare a dissertation under the supervision of faculty. Teaching experience is usually expected as part of doctoral professional development, and students are encouraged to collaborate with campus research centres and regional partners on empirical projects and fieldwork.

Entry requirements

Applicants normally hold a strong bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics or a closely related quantitative field. Evidence of solid preparation in calculus, linear algebra, intermediate microeconomics and econometrics is required. Applicants with a master’s degree in economics or considerable graduate coursework are preferred, especially for direct entry to research‑level work.

Typical application materials include a transcript of academic records, a detailed CV, a statement of research interests outlining environmental or policy questions you plan to pursue, at least two or three academic references, and a sample of academic writing (such as a thesis chapter or term paper). International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency in accordance with university regulations.

The admissions committee looks for quantitative ability, clarity of research purpose, and potential for independent research. Where quantitative preparation is incomplete, applicants may be admitted conditionally and asked to make up missing coursework.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme pursue a range of research and policy careers. Many go on to academic posts in economics and environmental studies or take postdoctoral research positions. Others find roles in national and local government agencies concerned with environment, natural resources, energy and land use planning.

Additional career paths include work with international organisations, regional development banks, environmental NGOs, think tanks, and private consultancies specialising in environmental impact assessment, resource management, and climate adaptation planning. The programme’s strong quantitative emphasis also prepares graduates for applied research positions in interdisciplinary research institutes and for data‑driven roles in the energy and environmental sectors.

Why study at University of Hawaii at Manoa

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers a distinctive setting for environmental economics thanks to its location in the middle of the Pacific and close links with regional policy challenges such as island resilience, fisheries, coastal ecosystems and renewable energy transitions. The campus hosts multiple interdisciplinary research centres and institutes that support applied environmental and resource research, providing opportunities for collaboration and fieldwork.

Students benefit from faculty engaged in applied and policy‑relevant work on climate change, marine and coastal resources, and energy, and from connections with regional agencies and international partners across the Pacific. The programme’s combination of rigorous economic training and place‑based research makes it well suited to students who want to produce policy‑relevant scholarship on environmental and resource issues in island and coastal contexts as well as in broader national and global settings.