Associate of Arts in Alaska Native Studies

The Associate of Arts (AA) in Alaska Native Studies provides students with a critical and dynamic perspective on Alaska Native cultures, histories, politics and organizations. This AA provides a valuable opportunity for students interested in exploring their options in higher education and/or employment with an Alaska Native organization.

Admission Requirements

• Complete the Admission Requirements for Associate Degrees.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete the General University Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree.
• Complete the General Education Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree:
  • Complete 3 credits from the GER Oral Communication Skills list.
  • Complete 6 credits from the GER Written Communication list.
  • Complete 3 credits from the GER Quantitative Skills list.
  • Complete 3 credits from the GER Fine Arts list.
  • Complete 6 credits from the GER Humanities list.
  • Complete 6 credits from the GER Social Sciences list.
  • Complete 7 credits including one laboratory course (either combined or separate) from the GER Natural Sciences list.
  • Complete 3 credits from the GER Alaska Native-Themed list.  (This requirement will be fulfilled with the below.)
  • Complete 3 credits from the GER Diversity & Inclusion list. (This requirement will be fulfilled with the below.)
• Complete the following major requirements:

A minimum of 60 credits is required for the degree.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

• Gain elementary-level proficiency in one Alaska Native language.
• Demonstrate a broad understanding of Alaska Native cultures, histories, and contemporary politics.
• Identify and analyze contemporary Alaska Native challenges within global Indigenous contexts.

Sample Plan

The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.

Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.

• Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
• GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
• Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
• Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
• Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
• Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.