Experiential Honors Program

Program Overview

At Chaminade, we believe those words—written by celebrated Marianist educator Father Domingo Lazaro more than a century ago—stand true today. In fact, Chaminade’s Experiential Honors Program, debuting in 2020, was built on the theory that hands-on learning, with real-world experiences that challenge and inspire, are the lessons we truly grow from.

And that goes for all types of learning, including learning to be an environmental policy ambassador, an entrepreneur, a healthcare innovator or a civic leader— the four Experiential Honors tracks we offer exceptional students who are selected for this competitive, space-limited program based on their strong academic and extracurricular records.

There are four tracks in the program:

Environmental Sustainability: Ambassadors Track
Entrepreneurship: Fellows Track
Healthcare Innovation: Scholars Track
Civic Leadership: Advocates Track

This honors program is about helping students to make positive change in the world. Our dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum ensures you’ll be putting your learning into action with:

Field experiences and rigorous research projects
Fully sponsored study trips overseas meant to broaden your perspectives
Mentorships and collaborations with leading experts, community stakeholders and senior executives
Priority registration to ensure your schedule allows for optimal planning of your coursework
A dedicated academic advisor and career development mentor

If you’re ready to change the world for the better, we’re here to help you do it.

How to Apply

Apply to Chaminade University via Chaminade Application or Common App.
Once your application is processed by our admissions team and you meet Honors program criteria, you will receive an invitation to apply to the Experiential Honors Program.

Questions? We can help.

Office of the Provost
[email protected]
(808) 739-8389
3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: AMBASSADORS TRACK

If quick action isn’t taken in the years ahead, scientists say climate change promises to dramatically alter how we live our lives—and could pose an existential threat to humanity’s very future. The Ambassadors Track for Environmental Sustainability is designed to prepare leaders who can execute innovative solutions to the problems of a warming planet.

Guided by distinguished faculty members, you’ll work alongside environmental experts in Hawaii on hands-on field projects to better understand how ecosystems are affected by climate change and how restoration efforts are proving to be a powerful tool in protecting native species.

In our program, you’ll collaborate closely with a mentor serving in a civic, business or institutional leadership role who will advise you; offer robust career networking and academic opportunities; and join you at symposia, speaker series, presentations and other events.

To gain a global perspective on the climate change threat, you’ll travel to Oceania to study international responses to global warming and consider how they might be applied elsewhere. You’ll also learn under climate change experts at our sister universities on the Mainland.

You’ll get exclusive access to specialized general education courses, upper division colloquia and capstone projects—all delivered by Honors faculty members who are leaders in their fields. You’ll also be invited to special networking and educational events just for Honors students.

Under the direction of Honors faculty members, you’ll propose and then conduct applied research projects aimed at improving local environmental policy and practices. A key element of your work will include presenting your results—and seeking to make positive change.

To build community and fellowship among Honors students, you’ll be able to attend an exclusive pre-college institute in which you’ll learn about Chaminade’s Experiential Honors Program and the experiences in store for you. You’ll also get an introduction to college life, participate in campus tours and activities, and join an exclusive Honors student retreat.

In the Ambassadors Track, you’ll have an opportunity to not only tackle significant environmental policy and problems facing society, you’ll be challenged to seek out ways to address them—using the expertise of your mentors and your own imagination.

Environmental Studies and Sciences students at Makapuu Tidepools for a class project

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: FELLOWS TRACK

Entrepreneurs can turn a great idea into an industry-changing product or service we didn’t know we needed. The real transformational leaders, though, are the entrepreneurs who don’t just change the world, but change it for the better. The Fellows Track for Entrepreneurship will challenge you to identify social disparities and use your imagination and skills to address them.

As an entrepreneur-in-training, you’ll collaborate closely with Hawaii startups, innovative incubators and senior business leaders on socially conscious economic development projects, seeking to understand how these efforts effect positive change—and then participating in them.

In our program, you’ll work with a mentor serving in a top civic, business or institutional leadership role who will advise you; offer robust career networking and academic opportunities; and join you at symposia, speaker series, presentations and other events.

As part of your Honors studies, you’ll get an opportunity to travel to China to see firsthand what entrepreneurship looks like in a planned economy. You’ll also learn about emerging trends in entrepreneurial leadership at one of our sister universities on the Mainland.

In our program, you’ll conduct applied research on improving outreach and outcomes for underserved populations, serving as a consultant to a Hawaii business or private organization.

Entrepreneurs are change-makers and innovators. They inspire, engage and unite. Your challenge in the Fellows Track is to harness your learning—and your imagination—to effect positive change through economic development projects of your own design.

HEALTHCARE INNOVATION: SCHOLARS TRACK

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for new and innovative approaches to healthcare delivery, monitoring and access to care. And while there are plenty of problems in healthcare, there are also a host of innovative solutions to be found. Your challenge in the Scholars Track for Healthcare Innovation will be to turn innovative ideas into real change.

You’ll play a timely role in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, working collaboratively with healthcare leaders, hospitals and various other stakeholders to research, investigate and develop action plans for combatting the virus in our communities.

As part of the Experiential Honors program, you’ll travel to India to study how public health policy is formulated and executed in the world’s largest democracy. You’ll also gain new perspectives on healthcare innovation at our sister universities on the Mainland.

You’ll get exclusive access to specialized general education courses, upperdivision colloquia and capstone projects—all delivered by Honors faculty members who are leaders in their fields. You’ll also be invited to special networking and educational events just for Honors students.

In the Scholars Track, you’ll partner with a Hawaii hospital, healthcare provider or public health agency to learn how health policies and practices influence key community health objectives.

Public health is key to community health, and healthcare innovation can not only increase access to care but improve the quality of it. Your challenge in the Scholars Track is to use your learning to innovate improvements in the continuum of care that can help people live longer, more active and healthier lives—and take new approaches to health crises and disparities.

CIVIC LEADERSHIP: ADVOCATES TRACK

The world needs civic leaders now more than ever to not only shine a spotlight on the economic disparities and social inequities that exist in our society but to effect real change in addressing them. The Advocates Track for Civic Leadership will equip you with the tools you need to become a transformational leader and a force for social justice in your community.

In the Advocates Track, you’ll partner with Hawaii leaders to influence public policy for the better, promoting social justice and humanities programming that serves people statewide.

As part of the Experiential Honors Program, you’ll travel to Europe to study public health initiatives and policy, collaborating with healthcare leaders and non-governmental agencies. You’ll also gain new perspectives on civic leadership at our sister universities on the Mainland.

You’ll get exclusive access to specialized general education courses, upperdivision colloquia and capstone projects—all delivered by Honors faculty members who are leaders in their fields. You’ll also be invited to special networking and educational events just for Honors students.

“We’re all in this canoe together.” It’s an adage you hear frequently in the Islands that represents not only our unique geography as an island state but our unique needs as island residents. In the Advocates Track, you’ll be challenged to not only identify failings of public policy, but consider potential solutions and then work to executive them as a civic leader.

Students volunteering at Next Step Shelter