Rural Development

College of Rural and Community Development
Department of Alaska Native and Rural Development
Fairbanks Campus (907) 474-6528
Statewide toll-free number (800) 770-9531
Anchorage office (907) 279-2700
Bristol Bay Campus (907) 842-4687
Chukchi Campus (907) 442-3400
Interior-Aleutians Campus (907) 474-6433
Kuskokwim Campus (907) 543-4582
Northwest Campus (907) 443-2201
www.uaf.edu/danrd/

B.A., M.A. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 120 credits

Downloadable PDF (PDF 148K)

Rural development degree programs are designed to educate a new generation of community leaders for rural Alaska. The B.A. degree can be earned either on the Fairbanks campus or through distance delivery.

Students in the rural development program gain a broad understanding of Alaska’s relationship to the global economy and an appreciation for sustainable development strategies. Students also learn specific tools essential for community leadership, including business plan and grant proposal writing, community visioning and planning processes, computer business applications, and project management and evaluation techniques. Graduates typically take positions with tribal and municipal governments, fisheries, tourism and other private businesses, Native corporations, regional health corporations or non-profits, and state/federal agencies.

Undergraduate degree students develop a concentration in one of five areas: community business and economic development; community research and indigenous knowledge; land, resources and environmental management; rural health and human services management; or tribal and local government administration.

Special application requirements and deadlines apply for distance B.A. degree programs. For more information contact the department toll-free at 1-800-770-9531 or visit our website.

Major--B.A. Degree

Concentrations: Community Business and Economic Development; Community Research and Indigenous Knowledge; Land, Resources and Environmental Management; Rural Health and Human Services Management; Tribal and Local Government Administration

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements.
3. Complete the following:*
   RD 300W--Rural Development in a Global Perspective--3 credits
   RD 325--Community Development Strategies--3 credits
   RD 350O--Indigenous Knowledge and Community Research--3 credits
   RD 351--Strategic Planning for Rural Communities--3 credits
   RD 352--Rural Business Planning and Proposal Development--3 credits
   RD 400--Rural Development Internship--3 credits
   RD 450--Managing Rural Projects and Programs--3 credits
   RD 451--Human Resources Management for Indigenous Communities--3 credits
   RD 475W--Rural Development Senior Project--3 credits
4. Complete the following elective courses:*
   RD elective--3 credits
   RD, ANS or ED electives--3 credits
5. Complete one of the following concentrations:**
   
   Community Business and Economic Development
   Complete 21 credits from the following:
   ABUS 151--Village Based Entrepreneurship--2 credits
   ABUS 179--Fundamentals of Supervision--3 credits
   ABUS 211--Tax for Business Entities--2 credits
   ABUS 232--Contemporary Management Issues***--3 credits
   ABUS 233--Financial Management--3 credits
   ABUS 241--Applied Business Law I--3 credits
   ABUS 272--Small Business Planning--3 credits
   ABUS 273--Managing a Small Business--3 credits
   ANS 261--Accounting Concepts and Uses I--3 credits
   ANS 262--Accounting Concepts and Uses II--3 credits
   ANS 310--The Alaska Native Lands Settlement--3 credits
   ANS/PS 425--Federal Indian Law and Alaska Natives--3 credits
   BA 151--Introduction to Business***--3 credits
   CIOS 111--Computer Software for Beginners--2 credits
   CS 101--Computers and Society--3 credits
   ECON 111--Economics of Rural Alaska--3 credits
   ECON 200--Principles of Economics--4 credits
   ENGL 212--Business, Grant and Report Writing--3 credits
   ENGL 314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
   SOC 407O--Work and Occupations--3 credits
   Approved electives**--6 credits or more
   Note: Designed for students interested in creating sustainable economic development for rural and indigenous communities, with a focus on small business development. Students learn to develop business and marketing plans, economic development planning and basic principles of financial and human resources management for rural enterprises. Graduates find employment in ANCSA corporations, regional development organizations, economic development agencies and as local entrepreneurs.
   
   Community Research and Indigenous Knowledge
   Complete 21 credits from the following:
   ANL 315--Alaska Native Languages: Eskimo-Aleut--3 credits
   ANL 316--Alaska Native Languages: Indian Languages--3 credits
   ANS/ANTH 320W--Language and Culture: Applications to Alaska--3 credits
   ANS 350W,O--Cross Cultural Communication: Alaskan Perspectives--3 credits
   ANS 351--Practicum in Native Cultural Expression--1 credits-3
   ANS 401--Cultural Knowledge of Native Elders***--3 credits
   ANTH 230--The Oral Tradition: Folklore and Oral History--3 credits
   APAR 100--Basic Video Workshop--1 credits
   APAR 103--Editing Videotape--1 credits
   CIOS 111--Computer Software for Beginners--2 credits
   COMM 330--Intercultural Communication--3 credits
   CS 101--Computers and Society--3 credits
   ENGL 313W--Writing Non-Fiction Prose--3 credits
   ENGL 314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
   ENGL/ANS 349--Narrative Art of Alaska Native Peoples (in English Translation)--3 credits
   HIST 250--Alaska History for Local Historians--3 credits
   HIST 470W--Seminar in Alaskan History--3 credits
   JRN 215--Radio Production--3 credits
   JRN 311W--Magazine Article Writing--3 credits
   JRN 404--Photojournalism I--3 credits
   JRN 452W--Radio and Television News Writing--3 credits
   LS 309--Information Resources--1 credits
   RD 425--Cultural Impact Analysis***--3 credits
   SOC 250--Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Sciences--3 credits
   SOC/PSY 480W--Qualitative Social Science Research--3 credits
   Approved electives**--3 credits or more
   Note: Designed for students with interests in researching Alaska Native communities, cultures, languages, ceremonial performances and histories. Students learn principles of ethical research, explore issues of intellectual and cultural property rights, and acquire skills in doing ethnographies, oral histories, community surveys and needs assessments, and archival research. Graduates find employment with museums, ANCSA corporations, tribal governments, and federal and state agencies.
   
   Land Resources and Environmental Management
   Complete 21 credits from the following:
   ABUS 223--Real Estate Law--3 credits
   ANS 310--The Alaska Native Lands Settlement--3 credits
   ANS/PS 425--Federal Indian Law and Alaska Natives--3 credits
   BIOL 104--Natural History of Alaska--3 credits
   BIOL 150--Introduction to Marine Biology--3 credits
   BIOL 271--Principles of Ecology--4 credits
   BIOL/NRM 277--Introduction to Conservation Biology--3 credits
   CIOS 111--Computer Software for Beginners--2 credits
   CE 112--Elementary Surveying--3 credits
   CS 101--Computers and Society--3 credits
   ECON 235--Introduction to Natural Resource Economics--3 credits
   ENGL 314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
   FISH 101--Introduction to Fisheries--3 credits
   FISH 401W,O/2--Fisheries Management--3 credits
   GEOG/NRM 338--Introduction to Geographic Information Systems--3 credits
   GEOS 101X--The Dynamic Earth--4 credits
   MIN 101--Minerals, Man and the Environment--3 credits
   MSL 111X--The Oceans--4 credits
   NRM 101--Natural Resources Conservation and Policy***--3 credits
   NRM 204--Public Lands Law and Policy--3 credits
   NRM 340--Natural Resources Measurement and Inventory--3 credits
   NRM 404--Environmental Impact Statement Law--3 credits
   NRM 430/630--Resource Management Planning--3 credits
   RD 255--Rural Alaska Land Issues***--3 credits
   RD 256--Co-Management of Renewable Resources--3 credits
   RD 265--Perspectives on Subsistence in Alaska--3 credits
   RD 280--Resource Management Research Techniques--3 credits
   WLF 201--Wildlife Management Principles--3 credits
   WLF 303W--Wildlife Management Techniques--3 credits
   Approved electives**--3 credits or more
   Note: Designed for students with an interest in land and resources co-management, development and conservation. Students learn about traditional ecological knowledge, principles of natural resources management and policy, adaptive management, and skills for effective public/private/tribal collaboration in resource management. Graduates find employment with ANCSA corporations, regional and tribal entities, state and federal agencies, and private businesses.
   
   Rural Health and Human Services Management
   Complete 21 credits from the following:
   ABUS 154--Human Relations--3 credits
   ABUS 179--Fundamentals of Supervision--3 credits
   ABUS 231--Introduction to Personnel--3 credits
   ANS/PS 425--Federal Indian Law and Alaska Natives--3 credits
   ENGL 314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
   HUMS 120--Cultural Diversity in Human Service--3 credits
   HUMS/JUST 125--Introduction to Addictive Processes--3 credits
   HUMS 205--Basic Principles of Group Counseling--3 credits
   HUMS 210--Crisis and Grief Counseling--3 credits
   HUMS 215--Individual Interviewing--3 credits
   HUMS 250--Current Issues in Human Service--3 credits
   HUMS 301--Ethics in Human Service--3 credits
   HUMS 305--Substance Abuse Counseling--3 credits
   JUST 340--Rural Justice in Alaska--3 credits
   PS/ANS 325--Native Self-Government--3 credits
   PSY 240--Lifespan Developmental Psychology--3 credits
   PSY 445W--Community Psychology--3 credits
   RHS 110--Cross-Cultural Bridging Skills--2 credits
   RHS 120--Family Systems I--2 credits
   RHS 130--Processes of Community Change--2 credits
   RHS 140--Alaska Native Values and Principles--2 credits
   RHS 150--Introduction to Rural Counseling--2 credits
   RHS 220--Family Systems II--2 credits
   RHS 260--Addictions: Intervention and Treatment--2 credits
   RHS 265--Interpersonal Violence--2 credits
   RHS 270--Networking, Negotiating and Conflict Resolution--2 credits
   RHS 285--Case Management--2 credits
   RHS 290--Grief and Healing--2 credits
   SOC 242--The Family: A Cross-Cultural Perspective--3 credits
   SOC 301--Rural Sociology--3 credits
   PSY 370--Drugs and Drug Dependence--3 credits
   SWK 103--Introduction to Social Work--3 credits
   SWK 320W--Rural Social Work--3 credits
   Approved electives**--6 credits or more
   Note: Designed for students interested in leadership for healthy communities, management of rural health programs and issues of community healing and wellness. Students learn principles and practices of community wellness, skills in financial and human resources management, and contemporary issues of importance in leading toward healthy communities. Graduates find employment with rural health corporations, tribal and municipal governments, educational institutions, and state and federal agencies.
   
   Tribal and Local Government Administration
   Complete 21 credits from the following:
   ABUS 154--Human Relations--3 credits
   ABUS 179--Fundamentals of Supervision--3 credits
   ABUS 232--Contemporary Management Issues--3 credits
   ACCT 261--Accounting Concepts and Uses I--3 credits
   ACCT 262--Accounting Concepts and Uses II--3 credits
   ACCT 414--Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting--3 credits
   ANS 310--The Alaska Native Lands Settlement--3 credits
   ANS 350W,O--Cross-Cultural Communication: Alaskan Perspectives--3 credits
   ANS/PS 425--Federal Indian Law and Alaska Natives***--3 credits
   ANS/PS 450--Comparative Aboriginal Rights and Policies--3 credits
   BA 330--The Legal Environment of Business--4 credits
   CIOS 111--Computer Software for Beginners--2 credits
   COMM 330--Intercultural Communication--3 credits
   COMM 335O     organizational Communication--3 credits
   CS 101--Computers and Society--3 credits
   ECON 351--Public Finance--3 credits
   ENGL 212--Business, Grant, and Report Writing--3 credits
   ENGL 314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
   JUST 340--Rural Justice in Alaska--3 credits
   NRM 204--Public Lands Law and Policy--3 credits
   NRM 430/630--Resource Management Planning--3 credits
   PS 101--Introduction to American Government and Politics--3 credits
   PS 212--Introduction to Public Administration--3 credits
   PS 263--Alaska Native Politics***--3 credits
   PS/ANS 325--Native Self-Government--3 credits
   PS 403W--Public Policy--3 credits
   PS 462/NORS 662--Alaska Government and Politics--3 credits
   SOC/PSY 250--Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Sciences--3 credits
   SOC 407O--Work and Occupations--3 credits
   Approved electives**--3 credits or more
   Note: Designed for students interested in development and operations of tribal and municipal governments in rural Alaska. Students develop an understanding of the history and constitutional basis for tribal governance, basics of federal Indian law, and principles and practices of self-determination. They develop skills in planning, budgeting, and human resources management. Graduates find employment with tribal and municipal governments and organizations, ANCSA corporations, and state and federal agencies.
6. Minimum credits required--120 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** Elective credits may also fulfill the humanities, social science or mathematics general requirements for the B.A. degree. Prerequisites are required for many of these courses; however, prerequisites do not apply to the credit requirement.
***Recommended courses. Course substitutions may be made with approval of the faculty advisor.

Minor

1. Complete the following:
   RD 300--Rural Development in a Global Perspective--3 credits
   RD electives at the 200-level or above--15 credits
2. Minimum credits required--18 credits