Hawaiʻi Pacific University earns accreditor approval for 3-year global business degree

Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s bachelor of science degree in global business received formal approval from regional accreditor WASC Senior College and University Commission.

The global business degree is a pioneering 90-credit, 3-year undergraduate degree designed from the ground up to be fast, flexible and future-focused.

WASC Senior College and University Commission review committee issued two formal commendations alongside its approval, noting the “curriculum has been thoughtfully designed and provides evidence of innovation in delivery method and instructional pedagogy” and “the program has attracted well-qualified faculty with teaching and professional experience.”

This approval makes Hawaiʻi Pacific University one of only a select group of national institutions to offer a fully accredited 3-year bachelor’s degree in business and is the first program in Hawaiʻi to do so.

“The return on investment of a college degree is not measured in years. It’s measured in outcomes,” said Hawaiʻi Pacific University President John Gotanda in announcing the accreditor approval. “Our global business scholars earn a fully accredited bachelor’s degree in 3 years, saving an entire year of tuition, housing and living expenses, all while building the real-world skills employers are actively looking for. This program gives [Hawaiʻi Pacific University] students a clear competitive advantage.”

Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s global business degree joins a growing national movement to reimagine the bachelor’s degree as a smarter, faster and more affordable pathway to career readiness. It is designed to answer that question directly, without sacrificing rigor or credential quality.

The global business degree combines interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experience. It is completed by taking 12 terms of 8 weeks each. Students are immersed in the vHawai’i business community, located at the crossroads of the Pacific, where East meets West and with access to mentors and a close-knit student cohort.

Completing the degree in 3 years translates to meaningful savings in tuition, housing and living expenses, plus a full year of earlier earnings in the workforce.

Those financial benefits are compounded by the program’s intensive focus on internships, applied projects and competency-based learning, including the opportunity for students to complete two internships as part of the program experience.

The degree is a purpose-built, skills-first program structured around what students need to succeed in the modern economy.

Key features

• 90-credit, fully accredited curriculum: Approved by WSCUC, the same regional accreditor that oversees Stanford, UC Berkeley, and other leading universities.
• 3-year completion pathway: Saving students one full year of time and cost compared to a traditional four-year degree.
• Immersive, applied learning: Including real-world case studies, project-based challenges, interdisciplinary seminars, and a culminating two-semester capstone consulting experience.
• International internship opportunities: Structured immersive experiences that build the global fluency employer’s demand.
• Hawaiian values integrated throughout: The curriculum weaves principles of community, stewardship, and cultural awareness into every aspect of global business education.
• Flexible learning modalities: Designed for today’s students, not yesterday’s classroom.

Curriculum covers the full spectrum of modern business competency:

• Market strategy.
• Corporate finance.
• Supply chain and operations.
• Data analytics.
• Business law and ethics.
• Leadership.
• Entrepreneurial problem-solving.

It also builds what Hawaiʻi Pacific University calls “durable skills” — which include critical thinking, communication, collaboration and ethical leadership — through projects, global simulations and case challenges.

“The 3-year degree movement is gaining serious momentum nationally, and for good reason. Families are demanding greater value and faster returns from a college education,” said Hawaiʻi Pacific University Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Jennifer Walsh in the announcement. “[Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s] bachelor of science in global business was designed to meet that moment. Earning accreditor recognition from [WASC Senior College and University Commission] validates not just the credential, but the quality and rigor of everything behind it.”

Hawaiʻi Pacific University is accepting applications for the new global business degree program.

Prospective students are encouraged to learn more about the program and apply by visiting the Hawaiʻi Pacific University website.

Email Hawaiʻi Pacific University admissions at admissions@hpu.edu for any questions.