Education

The School of Education prepares professional educators for Alaska’s unique geographic, cultural and linguistic conditions. Course work and fieldwork in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs are available to students on the Fairbanks campus and by distance delivery to rural areas. Programs offered respond to recent standards developed by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, formerly known as the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Alaska Teacher, Student and Cultural Standards.

Undergraduate degree programs and postbaccalaureate endorsement programs lead to state of Alaska teaching certificates in elementary and secondary education. A postbaccalaureate K-12 special education program leads to State of Alaska initial teacher certification or an additional endorsement in special education. Our school counseling program leads to a State of Alaska Type C Special Services certificate. Our community counseling program provides the course work required to be a licensed professional counselor in Alaska. Graduate degree programs leading to a Master of Education include school or community counseling, cross-cultural education, elementary education, secondary education, special education, curriculum and instruction, language and literacy, and online innovation and design.

School of Education staff and faculty work closely with colleagues at the CRCD campuses and school districts across the state to prepare well-qualified pre-service educators and to offer professional development opportunities to practitioners. Faculty research focuses on issues of formal and informal education related to Alaska Native people and communities, cross-cultural contexts, distance education, indigenous populations and rural issues.

The School of Education advising office offers experienced, full-time personnel who provide advice about SOE programs on a drop-in or appointment basis and provide appropriate referrals for financial aid and other information that students and interns need. SOE rural grants, in partnership with rural school districts and UAF community campuses, provide various types of support for rural and Alaska Native students seeking to become teachers, counselors and school leaders. For more information, call 907-474-7341 or visit www.uaf.edu/educ/.