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HRCFS and Futures Studies at the University
of Hawaii
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HRCFS and Futures Studies at the University of Hawaii Futures Studies at UH
beyond the MA HRCFS and the World
Futures Studies Federation HRCFS and
International Space University The UH Political Science Department has
offered undergraduate and graduate courses in political
futures studies since 1969. In 1978, the *Alternative
Futures M.A. Option* was created in order to offer an
advanced degree for people who wish to engage in futures
research professionally from a political science
perspective. Undergraduate work 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 UH Liberal
Studies Program. A freshman-level introduction to political futures
studies, Political
Science 171, is taught both online and in
classrooms. It is available to any qualified person, worldwide, as an
entirely *web-based
course* or as a classroom course for undergraduate
students enrolled not only at the University of Hawaii at Manoa but
also at many of the other campuses of the University of Hawaii system.
There is also an advanced undergraduate course, Political
Science 342, Futuristics and Political Design,
which is presently only available as a classroom course at the Manoa
campus. It focuses on various political designs for a future settlement
on Mars. The Alternative Futures M.A. Option
within the Department of Political Science of the University
of Hawaii normally takes two to three academic years. One or
more years are devoted to course work, including two
required futures core courses (Polsci
672 and Polsci
673), 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 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 1976.
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.