academics

Known in the field as the "Manoa School of Futures Studies," Hawaii Futures offers undergraduates and graduate students the opportunity to reconceptualize the future.

Through the exploration of theories, methods, and uses of futures studies, students are taught to see futures as multiple and open, with many possible outcomes requiring their participation. Upon completion of the futures studies program, students are empowered to observe emerging issues, evaluate differing cultural and disciplinary perspectives, then envision and facilitate preferred futures.

Hawaii Futures offers undergraduate and graduate courses in political futures studies, as well as an Alternative Futures M.A. Option for students who wish to engage in futures research professionally from a political science perspective.

undergraduate studies Δ

Undergraduate courses in futures studies may be undertaken within the Department of Political Science, while an undergraduate major in futures studies can be personally tailored through the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. Coursework includes:

Political Science 171: Introduction to Political Futures (pdf), is a freshman-level course taught both online and on all campuses of the University of Hawaii system. The objective of the course is to have students specify, clarify, challenge, and expand their own, others' and society's images of the future in order that their lives, and the lives of their children, grandchildren, and of future generations might truly be better--more peaceful, equitable, just, fair, beautiful, and livable--than the present or any past.

Online 171 course

Political Science 342: Futuristics and Political Design (pdf), is an advanced undergraduate course taught only at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. The objective of the course is to have students develop their ideas about preferred forms of governance. Students do this by designing a governing system for people living on Mars in the mid 21st Century.

graduate studies Δ

The Alternative Futures M.A. Option within the Department of Political Science of the University of Hawaii normally takes two to three academic years to complete. Coursework includes:

Political Science 672: Politics of the Future (pdf), is a graduate-level course taught only at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. The objective of the course is to introduce futures studies from a political science perspective, emphasizing: what political futures studies is--and what it is not, dominant images of the future at the present, theories of societal stability and change, methods of forecasting social change and stability, emerging issues analysis, and methods of designing preferred social systems.

Political Science 673: The Future of Political Systems (pdf), is a graduate-level course taught only at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. The objective of the course is to have students to design new political systems. The course is separated into three parts: 1) a review of some of the basic ideas about political futures studies and the design of political systems, 2) an analysis of six of the many complaints levied against all existing government, and 3) an application of political design of the student’s choosing.

In addition, graduate students must complete three (out of eight) core political science courses (Polsci 610-680), two courses in research methods (Polsci 601 and Communications 696), and three electives, one of which must be a 700-level seminar.

The final year of the Alternative Futures M.A. Option entails a paid internship where the student applies futures theories and methods to planning and policy making in an organization providing an intern position. Most interns have worked in the Institute for Alternative Futures in Alexandria, Virginia. The Center has had an ongoing relation with the Institute since helping establish it in 01976. Internships (sometimes paid and sometimes not) in other public or private organizations are also tailored to the needs and preferences of each member of the Option. Students preferring not to intern may choose to write a future-oriented MA thesis instead.

continued futures studies education Δ

Many students completing the Alternative Futures M.A. Option continue futures-oriented academic work at the Ph.D. level in the UH Department of Political Science. So too, students from other futures programs (such as the Study of the Future program at the University of Houston, Clear Lake) and various academic disciplines, come to the University of Hawaii for doctoral level work in futures-oriented political science. Other PhD candidates not only in Political Science but also in many other disciplines choose to include futures studies as one of their fields of academic competence on their doctoral examinations.