Northern Studies

College of Liberal Arts
907-474-7126
www.uaf.edu/northern/

B.A. Degree; Minor

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Minimum Requirements for Degree: 120 credits

The northern studies program offers an interdisciplinary study of northern problems and policy issues. The purpose of the northern studies program is to give interested students a broader study of the northern region -- its environment, peoples and problems.

The geographic location of UAF is outstanding for the study of northern issues. Students examine the countries and regions throughout the circumpolar North and their distinctive problems, such as the survival of indigenous populations, environmental and wilderness issues, high rates of alcoholism and suicide, fragile environments, adaptation to extreme cold and cycles of light and darkness, and adult development in small frontier societies.

The northern studies curriculum is centered around an interdisciplinary course (NORS F484W--Seminar in Northern Studies), which is taken in the senior year.

For information on studying at McGill University, Montreal, Canada; the University of Copenhagen, Denmark; or opportunities for study in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, see Exchange Programs and Study Abroad Programs.

Major -- B.A. Degree

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements.
3. Complete the following:*
   NORS F201--The Circumpolar North: An Introductory Overview--3 credits
   ANS/ANTH F242--Native Cultures of Alaska (3)
        or SOC F301--Rural Sociology (3)--3 credits
   BIOL F104X--Natural History of Alaska**--4 credits
   NORS/ART F425W--Visual Images of the North (3)
        or ENGL/ANS F349--Narrative Art of Alaska Native Peoples (in English Translation) (3)
        or ENGL F350--Literature of Alaska and the Yukon Territory (3)--3 credits
   GEOG F427--Polar Geography--3 credits
   HIST F483W--20th Century Circumpolar History--3 credits
   NORS F484W/O--Seminar in Northern Studies--3 credits
   PS F263--Alaska Native Politics (3)
        or PS F462--Alaska Government and Politics (3)
        or PS F460--Government and Politics of Canada (3)
        or PS F468--Government and Politics of Russia (3)--3 credits
4. Complete 15 credits* from two of the following groups:***
   1. Anthropology
      ANTH F302--Ethnography of Siberia (s)--3 credits
      ANTH F309--Circumpolar Archaeology--3 credits
      ANS/ANTH F320W--Language and Culture: Applications to Alaska--3 credits
      ANTH F383--Athabascan Peoples of Alaska and Adjacent Canada--3 credits
      ANTH F472--Culture and History of the North Atlantic--3 credits
   2. Geography
      GEOG F302--Geography of Alaska--3 credits
      GEOG F303--Geography of United States and Canada--3 credits
      GEOG F306--Geography of Russia--3 credits
   3. History
      HIST F404--Modern Scandinavia--3 credits
      HIST F461W--History of Alaska--3 credits
      HIST F463--Foundations of Russian History--3 credits
      HIST F464--History of Russia--3 credits
      HIST F481--Polar Exploration and Its Literature--3 credits
   4. Political Science
      PS/ANS F325--Native Self-Government--3 credits
      PS/ANS F450--Comparative Aboriginal Rights and Policies--3 credits
      PS F452--International Relations of the North--3 credits
      PS F454--International Law and the Environment--3 credits
      PS F460W--Government and Politics of Canada--3 credits
      PS F468W--Government and Politics of Russia--3 credits

   5. Humanities*****
      ANS/ART F365--Native Art of Alaska--3 credits
      ANS/ENGL F349--Narrative Art of Alaska Native Peoples (in English Translation)--3 credits
      ENGL F350--Literature of Alaska and the Yukon Territory--3 credits
      Northern language****--10 credits
5. Minimum credits required--120 credits

* Students must earn at least a C- grade in each course.

** Students may take this course as one of the two required lab science courses within the university's general requirements.

*** Students may not double count these major requirements to fulfill a minor.

**** Two semesters of a northern language, such as Eskimo or Russian. By choosing the northern language option you may have to take additional upper division credits to meet the minimum general university requirement of 39 upper division credits.

***** Students may not double count the fulfillment of the humanities of government requirements in #3 above with government or humanities courses in sections d or e of #4.

Minor

1. Complete the following:
   NORS F201--The Circumpolar North: An Introductory Overview--3 credits
   ANS/ANTH F242--Native Cultures of Alaska (3)
        or SOC F301--Rural Sociology (3)--3 credits
   NORS/ART F425W--Visual Images of the North (3)
        or ENGL F349--Narrative Art of Alaska Native Peoples (in English Translation) (3)
        or ENGL/ANS F350--Literature of Alaska and the Yukon Territory (3)--3 credits
   BIOL F104X--Natural History of Alaska*--4 credits
   GEOG F427--Polar Geography--3 credits
   HIST F483W--20th Century Circumpolar History--3 credits
2. Minimum credits required--19 credits

* Students may take this course as one of the two required lab science courses within the university's general requirements.