KAHULUI — The University of Hawaii Board of Regents recently granted provisional status for a new bachelor of applied science in sustainable science management at University of Hawaii Maui College.

This represents the third baccalaureate degree program now offered by UHMC and one of the only degree programs within the university system with a special focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.

Scheduled for implementation in fall 2011, the degree in sustainable science management at UHMC will provide students with an educational path to careers in virtually any business or industry that seeks to identify, implement and design methods of becoming more sustainable economically, environmentally and socially.

As an interdisciplinary program, the coursework integrates topics in energy, ecology, business and management, water and wastewater, agriculture, wastewater management, economics, policy, the built environment and social science.

It will provide workforce training for the emerging green industry in Maui County, the State of Hawaii and throughout the nation, the board reported.

“We are particularly excited about launching the first sustainability-focused degree in Hawaii to emphasize the importance of energy efficiency, conservation, generation and storage,” said UHMC Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto.

“UH Maui College is also committed to addressing the green workforce opportunities related to water, wastewater management, waste, agriculture, transportation and many other areas. We will generally seek to reduce our natural resource consumption and greenhouse gas production, improve our strategies and expand our efforts to sustain our islands as precious resources for our future generations.”

“A recent publication of the State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations identifies Maui as the county with the largest green workforce sector and largest potential in the state,” said Joie Taylor, sustainable science management program coordinator at UHMC.

“Students have expressed excitement about the program opportunities. Community and national companies such as the Grand Wailea and Sandia National Laboratories have extended their support in partnerships, course development and classroom participation.”