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HPU Support

HPU offers merit-based Graduate Assistantships (GAs) that provide a 50% or 25% tuition discount for four consecutive semesters.

External Funding Opportunities

• • Must be a U.S. citizen and accept DOD employment post-graduation
• • Open to MTS members who are college graduate students currently enrolled full time in a marine-related field
• • Open to MTS members who are college graduate students currently enrolled full time in a marine-related field
• • Open to MTS members who are college undergraduates and graduate students currently enrolled full time in a marine-related field who have shown a commitment to community service and/or volunteer activities
• • Open to MTS student members interested in remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or underwater work that furthers the use of ROVs
• • Open to MTS members who are college graduate students currently enrolled full time in a marine-related field

Minority Scholarships / Fellowships

• • For women who hold a degree and are performing research
• • For women
• • Must be a member of AWG
• • For women in STEM with demonstrated financial need
• • For women in STEM with demonstrated financial need
• • Must be American Indian, Native Alaskan, or Native Hawaiian
• • Must be of Hispanic heritage
• • Must be an immigrant or child of immigrant parents
• • Must be a U.S. citizen and minority
• • Must be Native American

Internship / Other

• • Provides funding for a summer internship in East Asia/Pacific
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  • For those post-Baccalaureate or post-Master degree with work experience 
• • Most appropriate for students defending their thesis soon - fellowship requires moving to the DC area
• • Open to students enrolled in a graduate program at any US accredited university

• Keith Korsmeyer - Fish physiology, Ichthyology, eco-physiology
• Carmella Vizza - biogeochemistry, water quality, adaptive management, biocultural restoration
• Olivia Nigro - Environmental health, microbiomes of marine animals, deep subsurface microbiology
• David Field - Paleo, physics of microplastic concentrating mechanisms, fisheries issues
• Matthew Iacchei - Molecular approaches to marine conservation, fisheries management 
• David Hyrenbach - Marine conservation, ecology and natural history of marine mega-vertebrates, seabirds as bio-indicators
• Brenden Holland - Conservation, Ecology and Evolution of Island Ecosystems
• Barbara Quimby - Marine policy and social science, community engagement, ocean resource management
• Cataixa Lόpez - Marine Biodiversity, Ecology, Conservation, and Climate change

HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PATHS OUR STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN AFTER GRADUATING FROM OUR MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MARINE SCIENCE PROGRAM:

• NOAA Marine Debris Technician, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
• Operations Manager, NOAA Atlantic fleet
• Habitat Restoration Coordinator for the non-profit conservation organization Malama Maunalua
• Pacific Islands Marine Debris Assistant Regional Coordinator for NOAA, Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument
• Lecturer, California State Å·ÃÀAƬ - Monterey Bay
• Endangered Species Officer, Marshall Islands Marine Resources Advisory
• STEAM Outreach Specialist, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI
• Aquaculture Research Associates, Oceanic Institute, Waimanalo, HI
• Wildlife Management Intern, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• Science Curriculum Specialist, Mālama Honua Public Charter School, Waimanalo, HI
• NOAA Field Observer, Papahanaumakuakea Marine National Monument, Midway Island
• Biological Technicians, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
• Fishery Policy Analyst, International Programs Staff Office, NOAA Pacific Islands Regional Office
• Marine Biologist / NOAA Unit Dive Supervisor, Ecosystems and Oceanography Division, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
• Programs and Operations Coordinator, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Maui, HI
• Field Research Supervisor, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Å·ÃÀAƬ of Hawaiʻi-Manoa/NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
• Loko I'a Coordinator for Kua'aina Ulu 'Auamo - a community-based nonprofit for environmental conservation in Hawaiʻi
• NOAA Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, Washington, DC
• Fishery Analyst, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, Honolulu, HI
• Marine Turtle Research Associate, Marine Turtle Research Program, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
• Project Researcher, Sustainable Fisheries Group at the School of Environmental Science and Management, Å·ÃÀAƬ of California - Santa Barbara
• High School Science Teachers, various locations
• Doctoral Candidates in various science programs, U.S. & abroad

Q: Who is eligible for HPU’s MSMS program?

A: Students graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in the Natural Sciences with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher may apply to the MSMS program Å·ÃÀAƬ. International students may be required to provide TOEFL scores. Please visit International Requirements for more information about eligibility if applying as an international student.

Q: Besides applying, what else do I need to do to get into your program?

A: To be accepted to the MSMS-T (thesis) track, an MSMS faculty advisor must agree to serve as your mentor throughout the research and thesis process. For this reason, we encourage students to begin making contact as soon as possible with faculty whose research is of interest. The onus is on the applicant to initiate contact with potential mentors.  Acceptance to the MSMS-A (applied) non-thesis track does not require the commitment of a faculty advisor; the MSMS Program Director and MSMS Program Administrator work together as MSMS-A advisors.

Q: How important is my GRE score?

A: THE GRE IS OPTIONAL. Rather than evaluating an applicant on the basis of GRE scores alone, we focus on how students performed relative to the rest of their test group. Our percentile breakdown is as follows: 75th percentile = Desirable, 50th percentile = Qualified, 40th percentile = Satisfactory. Applicants with scores lower than the 40th percentile will only be accepted if the student has very strong transcripts or strong HPU faculty support. Students with scores below the 40th percentile may be required to take courses in the area(s) of weakness or re-challenge the exam.

Q: FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS REQUIRED TO TAKE THE TOEFL EXAM, WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM SCORES NEEDED TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

A: TOEFL (IBT) overall score of 80 with a writing score of 25 or IELTS overall score of 6.0 with a writing score of 6.5.

Q: Is there an interview?

A: HPU’s Graduate Admissions website shows that an interview is required as part of the selection process, and interviews are required for acceptance to the MSMS- T track. The interview is usually a phone call between a potential faculty advisor and the applicant. Although our applicants initiate first contact with faculty, a faculty member interested in a particular applicant will set up a time to talk with that applicant via phone or Skype. Interviews are not required for the MSMS-A option.

Q: Is funding available?

A: The MSMS program does not offer scholarships, but MSMS-T accepted applicants are automatically considered for a merit-based Graduate Assistantship (GA). MSMS-A applicants are automatically placed on a waitlist for the GA, and may receive this award if funding is available. Beginning Fall 2018, we are able to offer a limited number of Graduate Assistantships which include either a $6250 OR $3125 tuition waiver for four consecutive semesters (not including summer terms) in return for 19 HRS/WK OR 10 HRS/WK (respectively) of service to the Department of Natural Sciences. Students do not need to apply for the GA; all accepted applicants are evaluated for this award

Some faculty may have grant funds available to help support their MSMS-T students; you will need to ask prospective faculty advisors about potential support for their specific research programs.

For a list of external scholarships, internships, and fellowships for graduate students in the marine sciences, see the Funding Opportunities section below. Students may also apply for loans offered through the Financial Aid Office Å·ÃÀAƬ. Visit the HPU-FAO website directly for more information.

For more information, or for answers to questions not listed above, please contact the MSMS Program Administrator at msms@hpu.edu