Institutional Accreditation
The University of Alaska Anchorage has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1974. This single accreditation status applies to all UAA campuses, including Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Matanuska-Susitna College and Prince William Sound College.
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 the administrative staff of the institution. For more information, see the Office of Academic Affairs website or call (907) 786-1054.
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
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Arts in Art; Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art |
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) |
Automotive and Diesel Technology
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| 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
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting, Business and Data Analytics, Economics, Finance, Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Management Information Systems, and 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
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering |
Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org |
Clinical-Community Psychology
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical-Community Psychology |
American Psychological Association (APA) |
Computer Science
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Science in Computer Science |
Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org |
Computer Systems Engineering
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering |
Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org |
Construction Management
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Associate of Applied Science in Construction Management; Bachelor of Science in Construction Management |
American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) |
Culinary Arts
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts |
American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC) |
Dental Assisting
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Undergraduate Certificate in Dental Assisting |
Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA) |
Dental Hygiene
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene |
Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA) |
Dietetics
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Science in Dietetics |
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) |
Dietetics and Nutrition
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition (pre-professional track) |
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) |
Education
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Graduate Certificates in Language and Literacy Education, Special Education (K-12, advanced preparation track) and in Educational Leadership (K-12): Principal; 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
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering |
Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org |
Geomatics
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Science in Geomatics |
Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. |
Human Services
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Associate of Applied Science in Human Services; Bachelor of Human Services |
Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) |
Legal Studies
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| 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
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering |
Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org |
Medical Assisting
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| 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
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science |
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) |
Medical Laboratory Technology
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology |
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) |
Music
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Arts in Music; Bachelor of Music in Music |
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) |
Nursing
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| 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
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| 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
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant |
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) |
Project Management
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| 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
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice |
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) |
Social Work
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| Bachelor of Social Work; Master of Social Work |
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) |
Surgical Technology
Accreditation
| Degree |
Accrediting Agency |
| 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) |
