Degrees & Programs Offered
Undergraduate Degree Program
B.A., Climate and Arctic Sustainability
The B.A. in Climate and Arctic Sustainability offers students an opportunity to learn about various aspects of and perspectives on the North, focusing on the social sciences and humanities. Its mission is to prepare students for living and working in the North. The program offers students broad flexibility so they can choose a course of study that corresponds to their needs and interests. Common academic interests of Climate and Arctic Sustainability students include Northern histories, various political challenges in the North, environmental concerns, natural resource management, Indigenous cultures and Indigenous peoples’ concerns, Northern literature and other arts and humanities.
ACNS F201 The Circumpolar North: An Introductory Overview
3 Credits
Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years
This course introduces students to the circumpolar North as a region by exploring themes related to the environment and climate change; politics and international relations; history; geography; nonrenewable and renewable energy; literature; and Indigenous cultures, customs, and issues.
Common Minors for Climate and Arctic Sustainability Majors
Pursue your degree online!
Students can pursue the B.A., M.A., Graduate Certificate or the Interdisciplinary Studies Ph.D. in-person or online or through a combination of in-person and online classes. Online classes include both synchronous (in which students meet via videoconference) and asynchronous (in which students do not meet) options. However, not all courses are offered in multiple modalities.
To see which courses are being offered now or in the near future, visit the UA Class Schedule Search. Course designators beginning with F0 or FE are in-person, FX are online synchronous, and UX are online asynchronous. Note that undergraduate courses are at the 100 to 400 level, and graduate courses are at the 600 level.
Funding Opportunities
Funding opportunities for undergraduate students:
Minor in Arctic and Northern Studies
Arctic and Northern studies include faculty and courses from Alaskan Native studies, anthropology, art, English, history, geography, music, political science and Russian studies. Because it’s so diverse, you’ll have all kinds of unique opportunities to work with other academic programs at UAF—making new connections and expanding your career horizons as you do.
Graduate Degree Programs
M.A., Arctic and Northern Studies
The Arctic and Northern Studies Program focuses on the interdisciplinary study of Northern problems and policy issues. Students examine the distinctive challenges of countries, regions and peoples throughout the circumpolar North, such as environmental politics and policies of Northern regions, the well-being of Indigenous populations, and the history of the North.
The program enables students to benefit from the extensive Northern expertise and research activities of University of Alaska Fairbanks social sciences and humanities faculty, the rich Alaska and circumpolar collections of the UAF library and museum, and the easy access to Northern field sites from the Fairbanks campus. Arctic and Northern Studies faculty have won major awards for excellence in teaching, high quality research, and valuable public service.
Arctic and Northern Studies M.A. concentrations include:
*The Individualized Study allows students to design their own concentration under the direction of the Director of Arctic and Northern Studies and the student’s supervisory committee. It is the most flexible, and recent Individualized Study concentrations have included environmental studies, Indigenous governance, Russian nationalism, and cultural history and higher education.
M.A. Degree Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits of coursework and 6 credits of thesis or project research.
The program has 3 core courses required of all students: Perspectives on the North; Research Methods and Sources in the North; and Thesis Writing Workshop. Other courses are required for the chosen concentration or are electives. Students must choose one of three concentrations: Arctic Politics and Policy, Northern History, or Individualized Study.
In addition to the course requirements, students must take and pass two comprehensive exams.
The student and the student’s supervisory committee decides the topic of each exam. While both topics relate to the student’s research for the thesis or project, the first comprehensive exam topic should be “broad” in scope, while the second topic should be “narrow” in scope. After the student and the supervisory committee identify the comprehensive exam topics, the student should develop a list of readings on the topic. Typically, this includes a blend of 25-30 academic articles, book chapters, and/or books. After the student drafts the reading list, he or she should send it to the committee for comments and feedback. Once the student and committee finalize the list, the student should study the readings on the list. When the student feels prepared to take the comprehensive exam, he or she should work with the committee and the administrative assistant of Arctic and Northern Studies to decide a day and time to sit for each exam. The committee is responsible for designing the exam question and passing it along to the administrative assistant. The exam’s format is a sit-down, three-hour session in which the student responds to the question on a computer. Although the student may have a list of references, no notes or other resources are allowed during the exam. The administrative assistant gives the student the exam at the beginning of the session, and the student must send his or her response to the administrative assistant at the end of the session. The supervisory committee will grade the exam on a pass/fail basis. Full-time M.A. students typically sit for the first exam at the beginning of their third semester of study and second exam a month or two later. Part-time M.A. students typically sit for their first and second exams during their second or third years of study. Once the student passes the second comprehensive exam, he or she advances from M.A. “student” to M.A. “candidate.” After the student passes both comprehensive exams, he or she and the committee must submit to the Graduate School two forms: Report on Comprehensive Exams and Advancement to Candidacy.
Finally, students must write a thesis or project (non-thesis) under the supervision of their committee.
Although both the thesis and project are academic pieces of writing that require original research, the thesis is standard academic research that engages theory and contributes to a scholarly literature, while the project may address a practical issue for a specific policy audience or community or may be a more creative undertaking. Typically, students who choose to write a project work alongside an organization, institution, or government to meet a practical need for it and its audience/membership. Projects often include images and creative formatting and are made publicly available. Recent project-writing students have partnered with the local hockey community, Cold Climate Housing and Research Center, and the Copper Valley School Association.
Students periodically meet with their committees to discuss their thesis or project research. Their committee provides them with comments, suggestions, and other feedback to help them develop their thesis or project. When the committee believes they are ready to defend the thesis or project, they will do so in a public forum, presenting and fielding questions from the committee and audience. Students must register to graduate by February 15 and defend in March for a May graduation and register to graduate by October 15 and defend in November for a December graduation. Upon defending the thesis or project, students and their committee must complete the Project Defense Report or Thesis/Dissertation Report. Once the committee has approved the final version of the project or thesis, students and their committee must complete the Project Approval Form or Thesis/Dissertation Form.
The supervisory committee is a committee of at least three faculty members who guide the student through comprehensive exams and the thesis or project.
Although the Director of Arctic and Northern Studies advises students on coursework,
the supervisory committee should do so also, and it approves comprehensive exam topics
and reading lists and grades comprehensive exams on a pass/fail basis. It also supervises
the student as he or she works on research for the thesis or project, providing advice
and suggestions, giving feedback on drafts of chapters, and evaluating the defense
and final version of the thesis or project.
The supervisory committee consists of a chair and at least two non-chair members.
The chair must be a full-time UAF faculty member who works closely with Arctic and
Northern Studies. The second committee member could be a core or affiliate Arctic
and Northern Studies faculty member or another faculty member outside Arctic and Northern
Studies but at UAF. The third committee member could be a core or affiliate Arctic
and Northern Studies faculty member, another faculty member outside Arctic and Northern
Studies but at UAF, or someone outside UAF who has expertise necessary for the research.
Full-time students should assemble their committees ideally no later than during their second semester, while part-time students should assemble their committees no later than towards the end of their coursework phase. Upon assembling the committee, the student and the committee should complete the Appoint/Change Committee Form, the Graduate Study Plan, and Report of Advisory Committee. Students must meet with their committees at least once a year and submit the Annual Report, which consists of a student-generated narrative and the committee’s assessment of the student’s progress. Because this report is due no later than May 15 each spring, most students hold their committee meetings in spring semester. These forms are located on the Graduate School website.
ACNS F484 / ACNS 600 / HIST 600 Perspectives on the North (s)
3 Credits
Offered Fall
Explores topics of interest and concern throughout the circumpolar north, including social, historical, environmental, ethnocultural, economic, political and geographic issues in Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and Russia. Readings represent a variety of perspectives on the topics, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous, as well as insider and outsider, geographic/national and gender.
Teaching Assistant Positions
The Arctic and Northern Studies program has a small number of teaching assistantships (TA) available to full-time M.A. students. They are available on a semester-by-semester basis and awarded based on both a first-come, first-serve basis and need/merit basis. The teaching assistantship requires 20 hours per week of work assisting a professor in teaching an undergraduate class (usually by grading assignments).
The applicant must have applied, or must be in the process of applying, to the program to be considered for a teaching assistantship. The applicant must be pursuing the program on a full-time basis. Priority will be given to students pursuing the program face-to-face in Fairbanks. If awarded a TAship, the student must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and fulfill all work responsibilities. Typically, students awarded TAships will have them for a maximum of four semesters.
To be competitive for a position, an applicant must apply by sending an email to Dr. Brandon Boylan asking to be considered for a TA position no later than March 1 for the fall semester or October 1 for the spring semester.
Arctic and Northern Studies students have been highly successful in finding careers in higher education, government agencies, consulting firms, and industry in the North. Some work in the tourist industry or in Northern business ventures. Others aim for careers in journalism or communications where they need a broad background in Northern issues. Some teach in northern universities.
Many Arctic and Northern Studies students are already employed. Some are teachers who want to strengthen their knowledge of Alaska studies or social studies. Some are seeking career advancement in universities or government agencies. Other students are fascinated with the North and are pursuing their own intellectual projects and passions.
Students enter careers in government and politics from local to international; think tanks and research centers; higher education; advocacy and policy institutes; non-governmental organizations; and the private sector. Many have gone on to earn Ph.D.s at other institutions.
The Alumni page on our website features recent graduates, along with their concentrations, thesis or project titles, and current or recent employment.
How to apply to the M.A. degree program
Arctic and Northern Studies M.A. applications must include the following materials:
Please submit a sample of your strongest writing, such as a research paper written during your senior year of undergraduate work.
This should be a 500-word statement that addresses:
- Your academic and professional background and what you would bring to the program;
- The line of study you want to pursue in the program (concentration, focus of coursework, and research); and
- How the M.A. in Arctic and Northern Studies will help you attain your educational, professional, and/or personal goals.
Applicants with transcripts from non-U.S. colleges and universities must submit a World Education Services (WES) or another National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) certified evaluation as part of their application.
Students from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming may be eligible for resident tuition through the Western Regional Graduate Program/Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. This program is for students pursuing a graduate degree in administration of Justice, Arctic and Northern studies, or Rural Development. For more information about this program, contact the Graduate School at 907-474-7464 or uaf-grad-school@alaska.edu. Students with questions may also contact the WICHE Student Exchange Program at P.O. Box 9752, Boulder, CO 80301-9752, or 303-541-0210.
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- TOEFL score of 80 (Internet-based exam), 213 (electronic exam) or 550 (paper exam) is required if an applicant is not a citizen of the U.S. and requires an F-1 visa. The IELTS may be substituted in some cases. Minimum score is 6.5.
Graduate Certificate
The objective of the Graduate Certificate in Arctic and Northern Studies is to provide working professionals and others with graduate-level educational training and skills related to understanding, living and working in the circumpolar North. Through this certificate program, students will gain proficiency in environmental, political, historical, geographical, cultural, anthropological and other aspects of the North as well as knowledge of Northern peoples, including Indigenous peoples and their unique challenges and opportunities.
Graduate Certificate Requirements
Students must complete the general university requirements, the Graduation Certificate requirements and a minimum of 15 credits of coursework.
Every student must complete ACNS/HIST F600 Perspectives on the North and one class from each of the following four areas:
How to apply to the Graduate Certificate program
Arctic and Northern Studies Graduate Certificate applications must include the following materials:
This should be a 500-word statement that addresses:
- Your academic and professional background and,
- How the Graduate Certificate will help you attain your educational, professional, and/or personal goals.
Applicants with transcripts from non-U.S. colleges and universities must submit a World Education Services (WES) or another National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) certified evaluation as part of their application.
Students from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming may be eligible for resident tuition through the Western Regional Graduate Program/Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. This program is for students pursuing a graduate degree in administration of Justice, Arctic and Northern studies, or Rural Development. For more information about this program, contact the Graduate School at 907-474-7464 or uaf-grad-school@alaska.edu. Students with questions may also contact the WICHE Student Exchange Program at P.O. Box 9752, Boulder, CO 80301-9752, or 303-541-0210.
ACNS Interdisciplinary Studies Ph.D. Program
Arctic and Northern Studies does not have its own Ph.D. program. However, UAF has an Interdisciplinary (INDS) Studies Ph.D. program. Students interested in pursuing research related to Arctic and Northern Studies can apply to the INDS Ph.D. program and be housed in the Arctic and Northern Studies program.
Prospective INDS Ph.D. students must apply for admission to the Graduate School. The Interdisciplinary Studies Ph.D. Council reviews and makes recommendations on applications, which the Director of the Graduate School finalizes. Although students apply to the Graduate School for admissions, students must be housed in a department or program at UAF during their doctoral studies. Students interested in Ph.D. work on topics related to the Arctic and circumpolar North should contact faculty within the Arctic and Northern Studies program to look for advice, support, and potential advisory committee members. Faculty will guide promising students in the application process, if they feel ACNS has the expertise to support the applicant. Such applicants who gain admission to the INDS Ph.D. program will be housed in ACNS.
- A master's degree from an accredited institution.
- TOEFL score of 80 (Internet-based exam), 213 (electronic exam) or 550 (paper exam) is required if an applicant is not a citizen of the U.S. and requires an F-1 visa. The IELTS may be substituted in some cases. Minimum score is 6.5.
What is Interdisciplinary Studies?
Interdisciplinary Studies offers a holistic approach to education and research by drawing from and integrating two or more traditional academic disciplinary perspectives. Recognizing shortcomings inherent in any one academic discipline, interdisciplinary studies allows students to synthesize concepts, issues, theories, methodologies, and methods from multiple disciplines to craft a research project that responds to a complex, multi-dimensional problem or question. As a regional studies program, Arctic and Northern Studies is inherently interdisciplinary. The program exposes all students to a variety of disciplinary approaches to study of the region.
INDS Ph.D. Degree Requirements
Please note that the below structure is for Interdisciplinary Studies Ph.D. students housed in Arctic and Northern Studies. Other departments and programs will have their own structures for their Interdisciplinary Studies students.
Students must complete at least 18 credits of coursework and at least 18 credits of thesis credits (ACNS 699).
The coursework should focus on topics, theories, and methodologies relevant to your dissertation research. Students should enroll in ACNS 699 while they are working on their field papers and dissertations.
Students must have an advisory committee consisting of at least four faculty members.
The committee chair must be affiliated with the Arctic and Northern Studies program. At least one other committee member should be affiliated with the Arctic and Northern Studies program. All committee members must have an earned Ph.D. Students and their committee must submit the Appointment of Advisory Committee form early in the student’s program. In the first year, students and their committee must meet and complete a Report of the Advisory Committee and Graduate Study Plan. In subsequent years, students and their committee must meet at least once and submit the Report of the Advisory Committee after each meeting.
In addition to coursework, students must complete three field papers.
Each field paper should relate to the dissertation. It can be on a topic, methodology, or theory. In each paper, students must identify, summarize, and critique a literature. After writing the field paper, students should be knowledgeable enough to be able to teach a course or write an article based on the field paper. Field papers are roughly 50 papers (they can be longer or shorter), and students usually take at least a year to write all three. Students must orally defend their field papers in a meeting with their committee and an outside examiner. (Note that this meeting should occur after students write all three papers, not after the completion of each paper.) All committee members must approve all field papers before students can advance in the program. After the successful completion of the three field papers, students and their committee will submit the Report on Comprehensive Exam.
Finally, students must write a dissertation proposal and the dissertation itself.
When ready, students must defend their dissertation prospectus in a meeting with the committee members and an outside examiner. When students successfully defend their dissertation proposal, they advance to candidacy, and students and their committee must complete the Advancement to Candidacy form. Once students are ready to defend their dissertations, they must hold a public defense with their committee members and outside examiner (and ideally fellow students and university/public community members). Students and their committee must complete the Report on Dissertation/Thesis/Project Defense. Often, the committee asks students to make changes to the dissertation based on the defense. Once the committee is ready to approve the dissertation, students and their committee must submit the Approval of the Dissertation/Thesis/Project form.
Students are responsible for requesting an outside examiner for the dissertation prospectus defense and the dissertation defense with the Request for Outside Examiner form.
For other information, please consult the Graduate School and the Arctic and Northern Studies Program Director.
Funding
Students must identify their own funding sources.
Arctic and Northern Studies has a limited number of teaching assistantships (TAs) about which students may inquire the program director. The Graduate School offers scholarships for students who meet the requirements. It also offers Dissertation Completion Fellowships on a competitive basis to students who have advanced to candidacy.
How to apply to the INDS Ph.D. degree program
Students applying to an Interdisciplinary PhD program must submit the materials typically required for all graduate programs, as well as some additional program-specific materials. The materials should all be uploaded through the admission portal.
General Graduate Materials (6 items):
An application for admission via the Admissions Portal by March 1st for the following fall semester and October 1st for the following spring semester .
Request two letters of reference that address the academic qualifications for the degree program to which you are applying. Reference letters must be dated not earlier than one year prior to the date of application to the INDS program.
Include official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
- Introduce yourself, your academic interests, and motivations for pursuing an INDS degree.
- Identify the disciplines you wish to combine and why your degree cannot be done under an existing disciplinary program.
- Summarize your relevant experience (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, professional career).
- Describe any support you require to be successful.
- List the faculty members you plan to work with.
Program Specific Materials (3 items):
Include a research prospectus (in addition to the Statement of Academic Goals) of no more than 4 pages (1000 words, double-spaced, one-inch margins) that includes the following:
-
- Tentative title of the research study: Give a working title for your dissertation. This does not have to be your final title.
- Interdisciplinary nature of research: Explain how the research is interdisciplinary in nature. Identify the disciplines it draws on.
- Rationale and significance: What question(s) do you hope to answer. Describe how this research is important and how this research will contribute to our knowledge. Identify who will be affected by the new knowledge from this research.
- Literature cited: Include references to previous work as appropriate.
Applicants should start the application process at least a couple months in advance of the deadline. The program application requires much thinking and work upfront. Interested students need to determine if UAF can support their research interests and research plan. They need to identify and work with at least two faculty members, including the chair, willing to serve on the doctoral committee. They need to have a fully developed research prospectus and they need to determine how they will fund their Ph.D. program.