Arctic And Northern Studies

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

M.A. Degree

Downloadable PDF

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 30 credits

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

The geographic location of UAF is outstanding for the study of Arctic and northern issues. Students examine the countries and regions throughout the circumpolar North, and their distinctive challenges, 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 M.A. program is designed especially for students who live and work in the North and who want to expand their knowledge of the history, economics, politics, psychology and anthropology of Arctic and northern regions. Many Arctic and northern studies students are seeking employment with northern agencies and want to develop a broad perspective on Arctic and northern issues. Some students plan to pursue doctoral work in a discipline such as history or anthropology and seek a master’s degree with a broad approach. Other students are employed as teachers, military personnel or agency staff and want a rich, interdisciplinary program. The program is suitable for any of these goals, and is designed to be compatible with either full- or part-time graduate study.

The M.A. program offers four concentrations: northern history; Arctic policy; environmental politics and policy; and individualized study. Students of northern history benefit from the availability of the Alaska and circumpolar collections of the Rasmuson Library, UA Museum of the North and the Polar Regions Collection. The Arctic policy concentration addresses international, national and subnational policy structures and processes, as well as the aims of policies developed to address challenges in the Arctic region. The environmental politics and policy concentration focuses on political, social and psychological responses to environmental change. The individualized study concentration allows students to create a concentration with the guidance of their graduate advisory committee.

The program offers a thesis or nonthesis option. The choice of option is guided by the student’s interests and goals, the graduate advisory committee, and the requirements of the university. Faculty in the program are drawn from such disciplines as Alaska Native studies, art, anthropology, economics, English, geography, history, library science, political science and psychology.

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 Study Abroad and International Exchange Programs.

M.A. Degree

Concentrations: Individualized Study, Environmental Politics and Policy, Northern History, and Arctic Policy

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the master's degree requirements.
3. Complete the following
   NORS F600--Perspectives of the North--3 credits
   NORS F601--Research Methods and Sources in the North--3 credits
4. Complete two elective courses at the F400 or F600 level--6 credits
5. Complete one of the following:
   NORS F698--Non-thesis Research/Project--6 credits
   NORS F699--Thesis--6-12 credits
6. Complete one of the following concentrations:
   Individualized Study*
   Complete a total of 12 credits from the following:
   1. Course offerings selected from the relevant department** and/or,
   2. Courses offered within the Northern Studies program, including those in the other concentrations (below) and/or,
   3. Any of the following:
      NORS F606--Science, Technology and Development in Northern Regions--3 credits
      NORS F614--Human Adaptation to the Circumpolar North--3 credits
      NORS F640--Ethics and Reporting in the Far North--3 credits
      NORS F652--International Relations of the North--3 credits
      NORS F660--Government and Politics of Canada--3 credits
      NORS F662--Alaska Government and Politics--3 credits
      NORS F668--Government and Politics of Russia--3 credits
      NORS F680--Comparative Education--3 credits
   * The individualized study concentration may be used as a basis for a M.A. thesis/project typically under the direction of a faculty member in the most relevant department.
   
   ** Some students may, with the consent of their graduate committee, develop an individualized program with an emphasis on Alaska Native studies, northern art, northern sociology, northern policy studies, or another northern field or discipline.
   Environmental Politics and Policy*
   Complete 12 credits from the following:
   NORS/PS F603--Public Policy--3 credits
   NORS/PS F647--U.S. Environmental Policy--3 credits
   NORS F648--Environmental Politics of the Circumpolar North--3 credits
   NORS/PS F654--International Law and the Environment--3 credits
   NORS/PS F655--Political Economy of the Global Environment--3 credits
   NORS/PS F656--Science, Technology and Politics--3 credits
   NORS/PS F658--Comparative Environmental Politics--3 credits
   NORS F613--Wilderness and Environmental Psychology--3 credits
   
   * The environmental politics and policy concentration may be used as a basis for the M.A. thesis/project.
   
   Note: The environmental politics and policy concentration is a clear track toward interdisciplinary doctoral programs.
   Northern History*
   1. Complete the following:
      NORS/HIST F690--Researching and Writing Northern History--3 credits
   2. Complete 9 credits from the following:
      HIST F470--Seminar in Alaska History--3 credits
      NORS F661/HIST F662--History of Alaska--3 credits
      NORS/HIST F663--Foundations of Russian History--3 credits
      NORS/HIST F664--Modern Russia--3 credits
      NORS/HIST F681--Polar Exploration and its Literature--3 credits
      NORS/HIST F683--20th Century Circumpolar History--3 credits
   * The northern history concentration may be used for the M.A. thesis/project.
   Arctic Policy*
   1. Complete one of the following:
      PS F669--Arctic Politics and Governance--3 credits
      NORS F652--International relations of the North--3 credits
   2. Complete 12 credits from the following:*
      PS F650--Comparative Aboriginal Rights--3 credits
      PS F660--Government and Politics of Canada--3 credits
      PS F662--Alaska Government and Politics--3 credits
      PS F668--Government and Politics of Russia--3 credits
      PS F669--Arctic Politics and Governance--3 credits
   * Students may substitute 1 course from other PS graduate offerings, with the approval of their graduate committee chair.
   
   3. Complete 6 credits from the following:**
      ANTH F640--Northern Indigenous Peoples and Contemporary Issues--3 credits
      ECON F637--Natural Resource Policy--3 credits
      HIST F404--Modern Scandinavia--3 credits
      NORS F661/HIST F662--History of Alaska--3 credits
      NORS/HIST F664--Modern Russia--3 credits
      NORS/HIST F683--20th Century Circumpolar History--3 credits
      RD F601--Political Economy of the Circumpolar North--3 credits
   ** Students may substitute courses with approval of their graduate committee chair.
7. Minimum credits required--30 credits