Cross-Cultural Studies

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Alaska Native Studies
(907) 474-1902
www.uaf.edu/cxcs/

M.A. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 36 Credits

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The cross-cultural studies M.A. degree program emphasizes indigenous knowledge systems. The program is designed to provide graduate students, from various fields of interest, an opportunity to pursue in-depth study of the role and contributions of indigenous knowledge in the contemporary world. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to work effectively with indigenous people in their studies.

Graduate Program—M.A. Degree

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the master’s degree requirements.
3. Complete at least 6 credits in a field setting, including minimum of one week camp w/Elders.
4. Complete at least 36 semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree level. (Students may transfer a maximum of 9 hours from another university into their program.)
5. Complete at least 30 of the 36 semester hours at the 600-level.
6. Complete a satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination.
7. Complete the following core courses:
   
   CCS 601—Documenting Indigenous Knowledge 3 credits
   
   CCS 608—Indigenous Knowledge Systems 3 credits
   
   CCS 612—Traditional Ecological Knowledge 3 credits
   
   CCS/ED 690—Seminar in Cross-Cultural Studies 3
   
8. Complete at least 1 of the following cross-cultural studies specialization courses:
   
   ANS/ED 461—Native Ways of Knowing 3 credits
   
   CCS/ED 610—Education and Cultural Processes 3 credits
   
   RD 425—Cultural Impact Analysis 3 credits
   
9. Complete a minimum of 15 credits of approved electives to provide specialization depth. Example of approved electives include the following:
   
   ANS 475—Alaska Native Social Change 3 credits
   
   CCS 602—Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights 3 credits
   
   CCS/ED 603—Field Study Research Methods 3 credits
   
   CCS/ED 611—Cultural, Cognition and Knowledge Acquisition 3 credits
   
   CCS/ED 613—Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools 3 credits
   
10. Complete CCS 698—Field Study/Elder Apprenticeship 6 credits
11. Minimum credits required 36