Rural Development

College of Rural and Community Development
Department of Alaska Native and Rural Development
Fairbanks Campus 907-474-6528
Statewide toll-free number 800-770-9531
Anchorage office 907-279-2700
Bristol Bay Campus 907-842-5109
Chukchi Campus 907-442-3400
Interior-Aleutians Campus 907-474-5439
Kuskokwim Campus 907-543-4500
Northwest Campus 907-443-2201
www.uaf.edu/danrd/

B.A., M.A. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 120 credits

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Rural development degree programs are designed to educate a new generation of community leaders for rural Alaska. The B.A. degree can be earned either on the Fairbanks campus or through distance delivery.

Students in the rural development program gain a broad understanding of Alaska's relationship to the global economy and an appreciation for sustainable development strategies. Students also learn specific tools essential for community leadership, including business plan and grant proposal writing, community visioning and planning processes, computer business applications, and project management and evaluation techniques. Graduates typically take positions with tribal and municipal governments, fisheries, tourism and other private businesses, Native corporations, regional health corporations or non-profits, and state/federal agencies.

Undergraduate degree students develop a concentration in one of five areas: community business and economic development; community research and indigenous knowledge; land, resources and environmental management; rural health and human services management; or tribal and local government administration.

Special application requirements and deadlines apply for distance B.A. degree programs. For more information contact the department toll-free at 1-800-770-9531 or visit our website.

Major -- B.A. Degree

Concentrations: Community Business and Economic Development; Community Research and Indigenous Knowledge; Land, Resources and Environmental Management; Rural Health and Human Services Management; Tribal and Local Government Administration

  1. Complete the general university requirements.
  2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements.
  3. Complete the following:*
    RD F300W--Rural Development in a Global Perspective--3 credits
    RD F325--Community Development Strategies--3 credits
    RD F350O--Indigenous Knowledge and Community Research--3 credits
    RD F351--Strategic Planning for Rural Communities--3 credits
    RD F352--Rural Business Planning and Proposal Development--3 credits
    RD F400--Rural Development Internship--3 credits
    RD F450--Managing Rural Projects and Programs--3 credits
    RD F451--Human Resources Management for Indigenous Communities--3 credits
    RD F475W--Rural Development Senior Project--3 credits
  4. Complete the following elective courses:*
    RD elective--3 credits
    RD, ANS or ED electives--3 credits
  5. Complete one of the following concentrations:**
    Community Business and Economic Development
    Complete 21 credits from the following:
    ABUS F151--Village Based Entrepreneurship--2 credits
    ABUS F179--Fundamentals of Supervision--3 credits
    ABUS F211--Tax for Business Entities--2 credits
    ABUS F232--Contemporary Management Issues***--3 credits
    ABUS F233--Financial Management--3 credits
    ABUS F241--Applied Business Law I--3 credits
    ABUS F272--Small Business Planning--3 credits
    ABUS F273--Managing a Small Business--3 credits
    ANS F261--Accounting Concepts and Uses I--3 credits
    ANS F262--Accounting Concepts and Uses II--3 credits
    ANS F310--The Alaska Native Lands Settlement--3 credits
    ANS/PS F425--Federal Indian Law and Alaska Natives--3 credits
    BA F151--Introduction to Business***--3 credits
    CIOS F111--Computer Software for Beginners--2 credits
    CS F101--Computers and Society--3 credits
    ECON F111--Economics of Rural Alaska--3 credits
    ECON F200--Principles of Economics--4 credits
    ENGL F212--Business, Grant and Report Writing--3 credits
    ENGL F314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
    SOC F407O--Work and Occupations--3 credits
    Approved electives** 6 or more
    Note: Designed for students interested in creating sustainable economic development for rural and indigenous communities, with a focus on small business development. Students learn to develop business and marketing plans, economic development planning and basic principles of financial and human resources management for rural enterprises. Graduates find employment in ANCSA corporations, regional development organizations, economic development agencies and as local entrepreneurs.

    Community Research and Indigenous Knowledge
    Complete 21 credits from the following:
    ANL F315--Alaska Native Languages: Eskimo-Aleut--3 credits
    ANL F316--Alaska Native Languages: Indian Languages--3 credits
    ANS/ANTH F320W--Language and Culture: Applications to Alaska--3 credits
    ANS F350W,O--Cross Cultural Communication: Alaskan Perspectives--3 credits
    ANS F351--Practicum in Native Cultural Expression--1 - 3 credits
    ANS F401--Cultural Knowledge of Native Elders***--3 credits
    ANTH F230--The Oral Tradition: Folklore and Oral History--3 credits
    APAR F100--Basic Video Workshop--1 credit
    APAR F103--Editing Videotape--1 credit
    CIOS F111--Computer Software for Beginners--2 credits
    COMM F330--Intercultural Communication--3 credits
    CS F101--Computers and Society--3 credits
    ENGL F313W--Writing Non-Fiction Prose--3 credits
    ENGL F314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
    ENGL/ANS F349--Narrative Art of Alaska Native Peoples (in English Translation)--3 credits
    HIST F250--Alaska History for Local Historians--3 credits
    HIST F470W--Seminar in Alaskan History--3 credits
    JRN F215--Radio Production--3 credits
    JRN F311W--Magazine Article Writing--3 credits
    JRN F404--Photojournalism I--3 credits
    JRN F452W--Radio and Television News Writing--3 credits
    LS F309--Information Resources--1 credit
    RD F425--Cultural Impact Analysis***--3 credits
    SOC F250--Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Sciences--3 credits
    SOC/PSY F480W--Qualitative Social Science Research--3 credits
    Approved electives** 3 or more
    Note: Designed for students with interests in researching Alaska Native communities, cultures, languages, ceremonial performances and histories. Students learn principles of ethical research, explore issues of intellectual and cultural property rights, and acquire skills in doing ethnographies, oral histories, community surveys and needs assessments, and archival research. Graduates find employment with museums, ANCSA corporations, tribal governments, and federal and state agencies.

    Land Resources and Environmental Management
    Complete 21 credits from the following:
    ABUS F223--Real Estate Law--3 credits
    ANS F310--The Alaska Native Lands Settlement--3 credits
    ANS/PS F425--Federal Indian Law and Alaska Natives--3 credits
    BIOL F104--Natural History of Alaska--3 credits
    BIOL F150--Introduction to Marine Biology--3 credits
    BIOL F271--Principles of Ecology--4 credits
    BIOL/NRM F277--Introduction to Conservation Biology--3 credits
    CIOS F111--Computer Software for Beginners--2 credits
    CE F112--Elementary Surveying--3 credits
    CS F101--Computers and Society--3 credits
    ECON F235--Introduction to Natural Resource Economics--3 credits
    ENGL F314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
    FISH F101--Introduction to Fisheries--3 credits
    FISH F401W,O/2--Fisheries Management--3 credits
    GEOG/NRM F338--Introduction to Geographic Information Systems--3 credits
    GEOS F101X--The Dynamic Earth--4 credits
    MIN F101--Minerals, Man and the Environment--3 credits
    MSL F111X--The Oceans--4 credits
    NRM F101--Natural Resources Conservation and Policy***--3 credits
    NRM F204--Public Lands Law and Policy--3 credits
    NRM F340--Natural Resources Measurement and Inventory--3 credits
    NRM F404--Environmental Impact Statement Law--3 credits
    NRM F430/F630--Resource Management Planning--3 credits
    RD F255--Rural Alaska Land Issues***--3 credits
    RD F256--Co-Management of Renewable Resources--3 credits
    RD F265--Perspectives on Subsistence in Alaska--3 credits
    RD F280--Resource Management Research Techniques--3 credits
    WLF F201--Wildlife Management Principles--3 credits
    WLF F303W--Wildlife Management Techniques--3 credits
    Approved electives** 3 or more
    Note: Designed for students with an interest in land and resources co-management, development and conservation. Students learn about traditional ecological knowledge, principles of natural resources management and policy, adaptive management, and skills for effective public/private/tribal collaboration in resource management. Graduates find employment with ANCSA corporations, regional and tribal entities, state and federal agencies, and private businesses.

    Rural Health and Human Services Management
    Complete 21 credits from the following:
    ABUS F154--Human Relations--3 credits
    ABUS F179--Fundamentals of Supervision--3 credits
    ABUS F231--Introduction to Personnel--3 credits
    ANS/PS F425--Federal Indian Law and Alaska Natives--3 credits
    ENGL F314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
    HUMS F120--Cultural Diversity in Human Service--3 credits
    HUMS/JUST F125--Introduction to Addictive Processes--3 credits
    HUMS F205--Basic Principles of Group Counseling--3 credits
    HUMS F210--Crisis and Grief Counseling--3 credits
    HUMS F215--Individual Interviewing--3 credits
    HUMS F250--Current Issues in Human Service--3 credits
    HUMS F301--Ethics in Human Service--3 credits
    HUMS F305--Substance Abuse Counseling--3 credits
    JUST F340--Rural Justice in Alaska--3 credits
    PS/ANS F325--Native Self-Government--3 credits
    PSY F240--Lifespan Developmental Psychology--3 credits
    PSY F445W--Community Psychology--3 credits
    RHS F110--Cross-Cultural Bridging Skills--2 credits
    RHS F120--Family Systems I--2 credits
    RHS F130--Processes of Community Change--2 credits
    RHS F140--Alaska Native Values and Principles--2 credits
    RHS F150--Introduction to Rural Counseling--2 credits
    RHS F220--Family Systems II--2 credits
    RHS F260--Addictions: Intervention and Treatment--2 credits
    RHS F265--Interpersonal Violence--2 credits
    RHS F270--Networking, Negotiating and Conflict Resolution--2 credits
    RHS F285--Case Management--2 credits
    RHS F290--Grief and Healing--2 credits
    SOC F242--The Family: A Cross-Cultural Perspective--3 credits
    SOC F301--Rural Sociology--3 credits
    PSY F370--Drugs and Drug Dependence--3 credits
    SWK F103--Introduction to Social Work--3 credits
    SWK F320W--Rural Social Work--3 credits
    Approved electives** 6 or more
    Note: Designed for students interested in leadership for healthy communities, management of rural health programs and issues of community healing and wellness. Students learn principles and practices of community wellness, skills in financial and human resources management, and contemporary issues of importance in leading toward healthy communities. Graduates find employment with rural health corporations, tribal and municipal governments, educational institutions, and state and federal agencies.

    Tribal and Local Government Administration
    Complete 21 credits from the following:
    ABUS F154--Human Relations--3 credits
    ABUS F179--Fundamentals of Supervision--3 credits
    ABUS F232--Contemporary Management Issues--3 credits
    ACCT F261--Accounting Concepts and Uses I--3 credits
    ACCT F262--Accounting Concepts and Uses II--3 credits
    ACCT F414--Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting--3 credits
    ANS F310--The Alaska Native Lands Settlement--3 credits
    ANS F350W,O--Cross-Cultural Communication: Alaskan Perspectives--3 credits
    ANS/PS F425--Federal Indian Law and Alaska Natives***--3 credits
    ANS/PS F450--Comparative Aboriginal Rights and Policies--3 credits
    BA F330--The Legal Environment of Business--4 credits
    CIOS F111--Computer Software for Beginners--2 credits
    COMM F330--Intercultural Communication--3 credits
    COMM F335O--Organizational Communication--3 credits
    CS F101--Computers and Society--3 credits
    ECON F351--Public Finance--3 credits
    ENGL F212--Business, Grant, and Report Writing--3 credits
    ENGL F314W,O/2--Technical Writing--3 credits
    JUST F340--Rural Justice in Alaska--3 credits
    NRM F204--Public Lands Law and Policy--3 credits
    NRM F430/F630--Resource Management Planning--3 credits
    PS F101--Introduction to American Government and Politics--3 credits
    PS F212--Introduction to Public Administration--3 credits
    PS F263--Alaska Native Politics***--3 credits
    PS/ANS F325--Native Self-Government--3 credits
    PS F403W--Public Policy--3 credits
    PS F462/NORS F662--Alaska Government and Politics--3 credits
    SOC/PSY F250--Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Sciences--3 credits
    SOC F407O--Work and Occupations--3 credits
    Approved electives** 3 or more
    Note: Designed for students interested in development and operations of tribal and municipal governments in rural Alaska. Students develop an understanding of the history and constitutional basis for tribal governance, basics of federal Indian law, and principles and practices of self-determination. They develop skills in planning, budgeting, and human resources management. Graduates find employment with tribal and municipal governments and organizations, ANCSA corporations, and state and federal agencies.
  6. Minimum credits required--120 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** Elective credits may also fulfill the humanities, social science or mathematics general requirements for the B.A. degree. Prerequisites are required for many of these courses; however, prerequisites do not apply to the credit requirement.
*** Recommended courses. Course substitutions may be made with approval of the faculty advisor.

Minor

  1. Complete the following:
    RD F300--Rural Development in a Global Perspective--3 credits
    RD electives at the F200-level or above--15 credits
  2. Minimum credits required--18 credits