Arctic & Northern Studies - College of Liberal Arts - University of Alaska Fairbanks

What is Arctic and Northern Studies?

Arctic and Northern Studies (ACNS) is an interdisciplinary and innovative program in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). It offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a Graduate Certificate, and a Master of Arts (M.A.). The program also houses several Interdisciplinary Studies (INDS) Ph.D. students. Each degree educates students about the common and distinctive features of the peoples, regions, and countries; and about the issues, opportunities, and challenges; of the circumpolar 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 students include climate dynamics; Northern histories; political cooperation and challenges in the North; international relations; natural resource management; Indigenous cultures and Indigenous peoples’ concerns; and Northern literature, arts, and humanities. The program draws from a number of fields, including anthropology, art, biology, geography, history, literature, political science, psychology, and more.

The geographic location of UAF allows students to immerse themselves in a sub-Arctic environment while studying Northern issues. The degrees are also available online. ACNS students benefit from the expertise and research experience of the faculty and from the comprehensive holdings of the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections and Archives at the Rasmuson Library.

Courses in Arctic and Northern Studies

The Arctic and Northern Studies program provides students the opportunity to study some of the world’s most pressing problems in one of the world’s most beautiful settings.

In recent years, as climate change has threatened the global environment, the world’s eyes have turned to the Arctic, where the pace of warming is more than double that elsewhere in the world. Residents of the circumpolar North don’t have to imagine how climate change might affect them in a decade or two. Communities are already experiencing the devastating effects of coastal erosion, sea ice melt, crumbling infrastructure resulting from melting permafrost, and the most destructive wildfires on record. Our program educates the next generation of students and supports their research on these and other pressing issues.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY IN THE ARCTIC FOR UNIQUE STUDENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and locations and have diverse interests and skills. The students themselves are a strong asset of the program! They tend to be preparing themselves for careers in the North and want to learn about the distinctive conditions and forces that shape our experiences. Students have opportunities to work closely with Arctic and Northern Studies faculty as they conduct their research and take classes with low teacher/student ratios.

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Arctic and Northern Studies Program Contact Information

Arctic and Northern Studies

Email: uaf-northern@alaska.edu
Phone: 907-474-7126
Fax: 907-474-5817

Physical address:
1747 S Chandalar Drive
Gruening Building, Room 605
Fairbanks, AK 99775

Mailing address:
UAF Arctic and Northern Studies Program
PO Box 756470
Fairbanks, AK 99775

Meet our Faculty and Staff

Program Director

Brandon Boylan, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science

Office: Gruening Building, Room 603A
Phone: 907-474-6503
Email: bmboylan@alaska.edu

Email Dr. Brandon Boylan

Department Administrator

Laura Schneider

Office: Gruening Building, Room 605
Phone: 907-474-7126
Email: uaf-northern@alaska.edu

Email Laura

CLA Comprehensive Academic Advising

At times, navigating your way through college can be tricky. That’s why we have two comprehensive academic advisors to help you out.

Our CLA Comprehensive Academic Advisors, Dan Darrow and Grace Carroll can assist with registration, petitions, change of major requests, and answer any number of questions related to the college experience. Advising appointments are available in person, via telephone, over zoom or via email.