Public Administration Capstone Information
Capstone Course Prerequisites
- Completion of ENG 200, ENG 209, or equivalent
- Prior completion of 1 (one) upper-division (300 or 400 level) Writing Intensive (WI) course
- Completion or concurrent enrollment of concentration requirements
- Completion or concurrent enrollment of Public Administration Core requirements
- Senior Standing: Students will be allowed to enroll in a capstone course in the last semester before graduation
Capstone Course Options
- Capstone Courses are Writing Intensive.
- Students are expected to take initiative and manage their own tasks and assignments throughout the semester.
- Each professor will conduct their capstone course differently and will share the specific details and expectations in their course syllabus.
Contact the Capstone course instructor (see below) for specific information regarding the capstone options, expectations, and experience.
| Concentrations | Capstone Courses | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Community Health | PUBA 486C Senior Project PUBA 490C Administrative Practicum |
Dr. Camonia Graham-Tutt camonia@hawaii.edu |
| Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management | PUBA 486D Senior Project PUBA 490D Administrative Practicum |
Dr. Jason Levy jlevy@hawaii.edu |
| Health Care Administration | PUBA 486H Senior Project PUBA 490H Administrative Practicum |
Dr. Kristina Lu kguo@hawaii.edu |
| General Public Administration | PUBA 486G Senior Project PUBA 490G Administrative Practicum |
Dr. Aldayne Adlam adlama@hawaii.edu |
| Justice Administration | PUBA 486J Senior Project PUBA 490J Administrative Practicum |
Dr. Michael Hallstone hallston@hawaii.edu |
| Long-Term Care | PUBA 486L Senior Project PUBA 490L Administrative Practicum |
Dr. Lisa Spencer lisaspen@hawaii.edu |
PUBA 486(alpha) – Senior Project
Students complete a research paper based on original or library research related to a particular problem or issue in their concentration area. The objectives of the senior project are to develop research and information retrieval skills, refine communication skills, and other research related competencies. Students will then share their research demonstrating their understanding theories and practices. Although the senior project is usually in a student’s concentration, students may select topics that require multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary study. Senior Project topics are subject to faculty approval.
Student Expectations
- Submit outlines and drafts of a research paper as advised by the professor.
- Complete all required number of meetings with the professor.
- Present the senior project to classmates and professor.
PUBA 490(alpha) – Administrative Practicum (Internship)
The goal of the practicum course is to allow students the opportunity to gain experience through field-based coursework within the workforce and apply the theories and concepts learned in the classroom. Students will then report on their experience using their understanding of theories and practices. In doing so, students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to adapt to professional situations. Students will complete field-based coursework related to their concentration area, such as an internship.
Student Expectations
- Complete at least 120 hours of work at the practicum site during the semester.
- Professionalism and a good work ethic is expected at the internship site.
- Submit written assignments by the posted deadlines.
- Meet with the professor throughout the semester.
- Present practicum experience to classmates and professor.
Practicum / Internship Sites
Public Administration students have interned at a variety of city, state, and federal agencies and gained valuable experience in the field prior to graduation. Click on a concentration below to see where past students have completed their practicum experience:
- Queen’s Medical Center West Oʻahu
- Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
- State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health
- American Heart Association – Hawaiʻi
- Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association
- Various Community Health Centers (across the state)
- U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
- Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency
- Dept. of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu
- PACOM at Camp Smith
- University of Hawaiʻi System
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- U.S. Naval Criminal Investigation Service
- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- The Queen’s Medical Center
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Kapiʻolani Medical Center
- HMSA
- Kaiser Permanente
- Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
- Hawaii Pacific Health Systems
- State of Hawaiʻi, Office of the Governor
- Honolulu City CouncilState of Hawaiʻi, Senate and House of Representatives
- City & County of Honolulu, Office of the Mayor
- Institute for Human Services
- Hawaiʻi Criminal and Family Courts
- Hawaiʻi State Department of Public Safety
- Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney General’s Office
- U.S. Department of Justice
- Honolulu Police Department
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Long-term care facilities
- Community-based services
- Nursing and sub-acute facilities
- Assisted living
- Hospice / home care
- Adult day care
- The Hawaii State Dept. of Health
- The Executive Office on Aging
- The City and County Elder Affairs Division
- The Healthcare Association of Hawai’i
- Meals on Wheels
- Medicare and Medicaid providers.
Deciding on a Capstone Option
If you are still unsure of which capstone option to pursue, you can contact your Faculty Advisor for assistance. Faculty Advisors are assigned to students based on their program of study and are an excellent source of information on:
- Academic programs
- Course content, selection, and sequencing
- Suggested courses for program electives
- Program and course prerequisites
- Graduate programs
- Career and professional development
- The name and contact information of the assigned faculty advisor can be viewed in the STAR Degree Check under the Academic Standing tab through MyUH. For more information, visit the Capstone FAQs page.
Questions?
Contact an Advisor
Joseph Mareko (Last Name: A-K)
Email: josephm@hawaii.edu
or Keʻalohi Perry (Last Name: L-Z)
Email: kperry34@hawaii.edu