Education

C-SSHRP is working to integrate science and technology research directly into the classroom by creating opportunities for high school curricula, undergraduate research, and the full spectrum of academic credentialing including mid-career certifications, Associates degrees, Bachelor degrees, Master degrees, and Ph.Ds.  The Center seeks to increase the number of students receiving associate or baccalaureate degrees in established or emerging fields within science, technology, and engineering, related to natural hazard assessment, disaster and security response, and emergency management:

  • Build on established programs & classes in emergency management and homeland security in SOM
  • Development and delivery of cross college/school classes is built upon interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Use strong and growing Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activities program
  • Engage many students in security, emergency management and hazard-related research

The Center aims to achieve its educational goals through a variety of mechanisms:

  • Participating in the Alaska Summer Research Academy
  •  Funding research faculty to teach undergraduate and graduate courses
  •  Developing a cohesive academic plan for awarding AAs, BSs, MSs, and Ph.Ds pursuant to a cognizant interdisciplinary program (the only institution capable of doing so in the state of Alaska)
  • Undergraduate Research funding and opportunities
  • Field Courses and Internships with existing disaster and emergency planning and responder institutions throughout the United States
  • Training and instructional deliveries supporting local, state, national /international first responders

The Center is dedicated to innovative education methods that rapidly integrate research findings into new classroom curricula and professional workforce training modules. The intent is to both create relevant academic materials for degree seeking students pursuing the physical, environmental, economic, engineering and social sciences as well as promote skills enhancement among current practitioners, while also encouraging the development of new high school students into these fields. The Center builds upon the developed programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) already at UAF.

Within the proposed colleges and schools supporting this initiative, such as SOM and CNSM, there are already courses and classes that have been developed and are being designed to align to the goals of the center and to build interdisciplinary teaching. See the links below for programs already in place at UAF that support the Center's educational goals.

The Center will attract Alaska Scholars, and those from outside who are interested in a unique, interdisciplinary program. Foster integrated programs well-poised to spearhead innovative partnerships with private and public enterprise – all of whom can benefit economically and socially by becoming more disaster resilient.

UAF Homeland Security and Emergency Management Program

UAF Department of Geosciences BA in Earth Sciences
with Concentration in Geological Hazards and Mitigation

UAF Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity