Accreditation

Institutional Accreditation

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is a Member institution with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), and has been since 1974. UAA's accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. NWCCU's most recent action on the institution's accreditation status on January 11, 2019 was to reaffirm accreditation. This single accreditation status applies to all UAA campuses, including Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Matanuska-Susitna College, and Prince William Sound College, and their extended sites.

NWCCU is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the NWCCU indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the NWCCU is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

Inquiries regarding an institution’s accredited status by the NWCCU should be directed to UAA's Office of Academic Affairs at uaa_oaa@alaska.edu

Individuals may also contact:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Ave. N.E., Suite 200
Redmond, WA 98052
Phone: (425) 558-4224

Program Accreditation

When available, individual academic programs often seek verification that their program of study and student outcomes meet national standards established by independent associations or governmental agencies. That verification is documented as a program accreditation, also known as specialized accreditation. Students who complete an accredited curriculum enjoy additional confidence that experts in that field have evaluated the program and testified to its quality. Program accreditation may also enable students to more easily obtain professional certifications or registration.

The following programs have approval and/or accreditation from agencies external to UAA.

Art

Bachelor of Arts in Art; Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Automotive and Diesel Technology

Undergraduate Certificate in Automotive Technology; Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Technology with options in general automotive and General Motors ASEP; Undergraduate Certificate in Diesel Power Technology; Associate of Applied Science in Diesel Power Technology ASE Education Foundation

Business Administration

Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting; Bachelors of Business Administration in Business and Data Analytics; Bachelors of Business Administration in Economics; Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance; Bachelors of Business Administration in Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Bachelors of Business Administration in Management; Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing; Bachelor of Arts in Economics; Master of Business Administration in General Management; Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB International)

Civil Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil Engineering

Clinical-Community Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical-Community Psychology American Psychological Association (APA)

Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Computer Science

Computer Systems Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Engineering

Construction Management

Associate of Applied Science in Construction Management; Bachelor of Science in Construction Management American Council for Construction Education (ACCE)

Culinary Arts

Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC)

Dental Assisting

Undergraduate Certificate in Dental Assisting Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA)

Dental Hygiene

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA)

Dietetics

Bachelor of Science in Dietetics Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)

Dietetics and Nutrition

Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition (pre-professional track) Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)

Education

Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership (K-12): Principal; Graduate Certificate in Special Education (K-12, advanced preparation track); Master of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12) Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs

Electrical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Electrical Engineering

Geomatics

Bachelor of Science in Geomatics Accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Geomatics

Human Services

Associate of Applied Science in Human Services; Bachelor of Human Services Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE)

Legal Studies

Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies; Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies; Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies Approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)

The American Bar Association approves paralegal programs. Accreditation is reserved for law schools.

Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Mechanical Engineering

Medical Assisting

Medical Assisting Certificate program Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB)

Medical Laboratory Science

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)

Medical Laboratory Technology

Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)

Music

Bachelor of Arts in Music; Bachelor of Music in Music National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)

Nursing

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing; Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Master of Science in Nursing Science; Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner; Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education; Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nursing Science Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Paramedical Technology

Associate of Applied Science in Paramedical Technology delivered at UAA's Kenai Peninsula College, with alternate location at UAA's Matanuska-Susitna College Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP)

More information about the above for the AAS in Paramedical Technology is available here.

Physical Therapist Assistant

Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)

Project Management

Master of Science in Project Management; Graduate Certificate in Project Management Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (PMI-GAC)

Public Health Practice

Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Social Work

Bachelor of Social Work; Master of Social Work Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Surgical Technology

Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA)