Hawai‘i State Department of Health Practicum Placement Pathway
The UH West Oʻahu Health Care Administration Certificate has a pathway with the Hawaiʻi State Dept. of Health (DOH) for administrative practicum placements that are suited to
prepare students for employment in the public health field.
Students must complete a minimum of 120 field hours and 40 academic hours, and will be evaluated by their field supervisor as part of the practicum course requirements. Students who are accepted into and complete the requirements of the pathway are eligible for the following after completing their practicum with the DOH: 9 credits x $312/credit; $120 in fees and $150 in books; and a $2,000 stipend.
Interested students should note: The administrative practicum course (PUBA 490B/H) is required for the HCAD DOH pathway.
Apply to the HCAD DOH Pathway
Eligibility to Apply
Students meeting the following eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply for the HCAD
DOH pathway program:
- Interest in public sector career in the public health field, specifically DOH
- Current UH West Oʻahu student with a GPA of 2.0 of better (for AY25-26 funding)
- Declared PUBA HCAD certificate or degree concentration, or will declare in AY25-26
- Completed pre-requisites and able to enroll in AY25-26 in the practicum course (490B for HCAD certificate students or PUBA 490H for BA-PUBA-HCAD degree students)
- Agree to complete other DOH-required courses by graduation
- Agree to apply for DOH career employment upon graduation
How to Apply for HCAD DOH Pathway
- Submit Application Form to declare HCAD certificate or degree concentration, with HCAD DOH pathway.
How to Apply for HCAD DOH Administrative Practicum
- Deadline to apply is Oct. 27, 2025, for Spring 2026.
- Discuss with Dr. Kristina Lu available options for HCAD DOH practicum placements.
- Availability of practicum positions will vary every semester based on the needs of the organization; there is no guarantee for any sites every semester.
- Interview with DOH practicum coordinator and/or field supervisor for HCAD DOH practicum. Deadline to interview is Oct. 31, 2025, for Spring 2026.
- Request permission (registration override) from Dr. Lu to register for PUBA 490H/B.
- Register for PUBA 490B/H in AY25-26 (for AY25-26 HCAD DOH funding).
- Submit required forms (affiliation agreement and risk release) once the semester begins (prior to any off-campus practicum activity)
HCAD DOH Pathway Curriculum
Course Requirements
Upper Division Requirements
- PUBA 301 Health Care Administration (3 cr)
- PUBA 302 Health Policy, Politics, & Law (3 cr)
- PUBA 303 Financial Concepts in Health Management (3 cr)
- PUBA 490B Administrative Practicum OR PUBA 490H Administrative Practicum HCAD (3 cr)
NOTE: Must enroll in AY25-26 for AY25-26 funding.
Elective Course Requirements
Select 2 elective courses from the following list:
- PUBA 306 Principles of Public Administration (3 cr)
- PUBA 307 Community Health Analysis (3 cr)
- PUBA 338 Cultural Competence in Health Care (3 cr)
- PUBA 354 Program Planning and Evaluation in Health (cr)
NOTE: If pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, a maximum of nine (9) credits successfully earned with the certificate program may be used towards the bachelor’s degree program. Students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration should take PUBA 490H to fulfill both the certificate and degree requirements.
Grade Requirements
The HCAD DOH Pathway program has grade guidelines for enrolled students, which are in place so that students meet the expectations for prospective DOH career employment. Students are encouraged to meet the following grade guidelines:
- Maintain minimum grade of “C” or higher in DOH-approved courses (see Course Requirements above).
- Maintain minimum grade of “C” or higher in all other HCAD courses.
- Maintain minimum GPA requirements for concentration and degree, as outlined in the UHWO general catalog.
The contact for this pathway is Dr. Kristina Lu, kguo@hawaii.edu.
Contact Information:
UH West O‘ahu
Dr. Kristina Lu
Phone: (808) 689-2361
Email: kguo@hawaii.edu