Welcome To The School of Islands And Oceans

The School of Islands and Oceans is the first of its type in the world and encompasses all disciplines that are important to the Pacific environment. USP has a growing reputation in the area of marine science and related fields. Our research is gaining international recognition and our graduates are in demand as we continue to build our skill base.

As an island based region which relies heavily on the ocean, our beautiful landscape, tourism and Pacific art and culture, we have an exciting opportunity to help develop these areas. Our new School of Islands and Oceans has been formed to ensure the region has the resource and skills to maximise the opportunities our environment offers and to continue ground breaking research.

The faculty is mainly located at the Lower Campus at Laucala, and is made up of the:

• School of Agriculture and Food Technology (based at the Alafua Campus)
  • Institute for Research, Extension and Training in Agriculture (IRETA), Alafua Campus, Samoa
• School of Geography (offering programs and courses in Geography, Geospatial Science and Population Studies)
• Department of Land Management (offering programs and courses in Geomatics, Land Use Planning and in Real Estate)
• School of Marine Studies (offering Marine Science and Marine Affairs programs and courses, as well as being home to the Institute of Marine Resources and, in Kiribati, the Atoll Research Unit)
• Department of Tourism and Hospitality
• Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture
• Pacific Centre for Environment & Sustainable Development (PACE-SD), Laucala Campus, Fiji
• Institute of Marine Resources (IMR), Laucala Campus, Fiji

The School has a multi-disciplinary and applied focus on sustainable development, regional relevance, innovation, problem-solving and creativity, increasing capacity in science, social science and technology, and integrated management of land, agricultural, fresh-water, marine and human resources of the small island states of the Pacific Ocean.

The incorporation of the Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture in the new faculty indicates the importance that USP places on the flourishing of visual and performing arts firmly rooted in Pacific histories and traditions.

Many of the teachers in the faculties are already internationally recognised for their research which means you will learn among some of the world's best.

Along with the Bachelor of Agriculture, the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science are the main undergraduate degree programs offered by the new faculty in 2006. However, it is hoped that a new interdisciplinary Bachelor of Applied Science degree will be launched in 2007.