Undergraduate Degree Program

 

Undergraduate Degree Program

 
 

 

B.A., Climate and Arctic Sustainability

 

The B.A. in Climate and Arctic Sustainability offers students an opportunity to learn about various aspects of and perspectives on the North, focusing on the social sciences and humanities. Its mission is to prepare students for living and working in the North. The program offers students broad flexibility so they can choose a course of study that corresponds to their needs and interests. Common academic interests of Climate and Arctic Sustainability students include Northern histories, various political challenges in the North, environmental concerns, natural resource management, Indigenous cultures and Indigenous peoples’ concerns, Northern literature and other arts and humanities.

Alumni have gone on to work in a wide variety of careers, including in government and politics; advocacy and policy institutes; non-governmental organizations; and the private sector. Many have also gone on to earn  graduate degrees.

 

 

AK Native Music

Featured Course

ACNS F201      The Circumpolar North: An Introductory Overview
3 Credits

Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

This course introduces students to the circumpolar North as a region by exploring themes related to the environment and climate change; politics and international relations; history; geography; nonrenewable and renewable energy; literature; and Indigenous cultures, customs, and issues.

Common Minors for Climate and Arctic Sustainability Majors

Pursue your degree online!

Students can pursue the B.A., M.A., Graduate Certificate or the Interdisciplinary Studies Ph.D. in-person or online or through a combination of in-person and online classes. Online classes include both synchronous (in which students meet via videoconference) and asynchronous (in which students do not meet) options. However, not all courses are offered in multiple modalities.

To see which courses are being offered now or in the near future, visit the . Course designators beginning with F0 or FE are in-person, FX are online synchronous, and UX are online asynchronous. Note that undergraduate courses are at the 100 to 400 level, and graduate courses are at the 600 level.

students at a computer

 

research funding

Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities for undergraduate students:

 

“The greatest strength of the ... BA is its faculty. The Arctic and Northern Studies program is unique in the strong mentorship and support it provides. There is a real sense of community among the students and faculty involved with the program. It makes for an incredibly encouraging environment that fosters creative thought and academic strengths." "Another attractive feature of the Arctic and Northern Studies program is the flexibility it allows. Rather than constricting my education to a pre-set curriculum, the Arctic and Northern Studies program encouraged me to pursue the subjects I found most interesting. The program encourages experiential learning, especially abroad, and helped facilitate my period of study on Baffin Island. The interdisciplinary nature of the program has allowed me to gain expertise and knowledge in the fields I find most relevant and fascinating, a process I feel has strengthened my overall understanding of the North.” Lisbet Norris, 2011 Outstanding Student in Arctic and Northern Studies

 

Minor in Arctic and Northern Studies

Arctic and Northern studies include faculty and courses from Alaskan Native studies, anthropology, art, English, history, geography, music, political science and Russian studies. Because it’s so diverse, you’ll have all kinds of unique opportunities to work with other academic programs at UAF—making new connections and expanding your career horizons as you do.

Arctic and Northern Studies