To earn a UAF degree, three sets of requirements must be satisfied: general university requirements, degree requirements and program (major) requirements. These requirements are all described in this section of the catalog. Requirements for each program major are found in the Associate Degree Programs section.

If a degree program is delivered collaboratively within the UA system (e.g., information technology specialist, early childhood education, human services, rural human services), then the credits earned from each UA institution will be counted toward fulfillment of the degree requirements and fulfillment of the minimum institutional residency requirements. Institutional residency requirements are the minimum number of credits that must be earned from the campus where the degree is earned.

Catalog Year and Time Limits

UAF defines catalog year as beginning in the fall and ending at the conclusion of the summer semester. For example, the 2023-2024 catalog year includes fall 2023, spring 2024 and summer 2024.

The associate degree must be completed within five years from the term admitted. A student may change their catalog year if they were an enrolled student in a degree-seeking program during the academic year selected. If a student is not enrolled for a semester or more, or if enrolled through the non-degree student registration process, a student isn’t considered enrolled as a degree student during that time.

Majors

A major is declared upon admittance to UAF as an associate degree undergraduate student. 

Students enrolled in an associate degree who want to declare a bachelor’s degree major must apply for admission to a degree program following the standard admission process for bachelor’s degree programs. (See admission requirements in How to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree.)

• Changing a Major
  Undergraduate students may change majors by completing a change of major form available from the Office of the Registrar forms page. If a change of major is submitted after courses have started for the term, it will be applied for the following semester. Students who wish to change majors from one level to another level (e.g., from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree) must apply for admission to the degree program following the standard admission process.

Concentrations

An area of emphasis, including the major core courses within a student’s degree program, is termed a concentration. Some programs at UAF require a concentration, others do not. A student may only earn one degree in a specific discipline once. Using different concentrations within a degree program to count as different degrees is not allowed.

Second Associate Degree

To receive a second Associate of Applied Science degree, at least 12 credit hours beyond the first associate degree must be earned, as well as completion of all requirements for the major. As long the additional 12-hour requirement has been completed, a student may be awarded two degrees in one semester.

Exceptions to Degree Requirements

Occasionally an undergraduate student may request an exception to an academic requirement, policy or regulation. Requests for an academic exception must be approved by petition. If a student submits a petition on the basis of a disability, the coordinator of Disability Services will be consulted. Undergraduate petition forms are available at the Office of the Registrar or on the Office of the Registrar's forms page. Forms must be returned to the Office of the Registrar with the required approval signatures. The Office of the Registrar will note the completed petition in DegreeWorks once the appropriate person or committee has made a decision. Academic petitions fall into three categories, and each involves different processes:

• General Education Requirement Petitions
  If a petition deals with baccalaureate general education requirements or the Associate of Arts or Science library science requirement, the advisor and the head of the department of the academic area involved must grant approval. Submit the signed petition to the Office of the Registrar. It will then be forwarded to the chair of the Faculty Senate Core/General Education Requirement Curriculum Review Committee for consideration.
• Major or Minor Degree Requirement Petitions
  If the goal is to waive or substitute courses within a major or a minor's requirements, approval signatures from the advisor and the department or program head of the major or minor area. Submit the signed petition to the Office of the Registrar.
• Petitions for Other Requirements
  If the petition deals with general university and/or specific requirements for the degree or other academic policies, approval is needed from the advisor and the dean or director of the college or school in which the major is located. Submit the signed petition to the Office of the Registrar. It will then be forwarded to the provost for consideration.

Residence Credit

Residence credit is course credit earned through any unit of UAF. Formal classroom instruction, correspondence study, distance-delivered courses, individual study or research at UAF are all considered residence credit.

Transfer credit, advanced placement credit, credit for prior learning, military service credit and credit granted through nationally prepared examinations are not considered residence credit. None of these types of credit can be applied to UAF residency requirements.

UAF residence credit takes precedence over any nonresident credit. For example, if a student has AP credit for a course, but takes the same courses at UAF, the AP credit will be excluded and the UAF course will be applied to the degree requirements.

Residency Requirement

Most universities have residency requirements that call for a certain number of credits toward a degree to be earned at the degree-granting school. At UAF, the residency requirement for an associate degree is 15 resident credits.

Alaska Native-themed Requirements

The Alaska Native-themed requirement is a degree requirement for all baccalaureate, associate of arts and associate of science degrees. The requirement may be met by taking a designated Alaska Native-themed course anywhere in the student's course of study, including general education requirements, major requirements, minor requirements and electives.

Graduation

• Responsibility
  It is the student's responsibility to meet all requirements for graduation. Students are encouraged to work with their advisor and use DegreeWorks throughout their college career to ensure they are on track to graduate.
• Application for Graduation
  A formal application and non-refundable fee for graduation are required to be filed with the Office of the Registrar. Application prior to the semester planned for graduation is encouraged. If the application is filed by the published deadline the graduation application fee is $50. Late application for graduation is available by the published late graduation deadline for the semester. The fee for a late application is $80. Applications for graduation filed after the late deadline are processed for graduation the following semester. Students who apply for graduation and who do not complete degree requirements by the end of the semester must reapply for graduation and repay the fee.
• Diplomas and Commencement
  UAF issues diplomas to graduates three times a year: in September following summer sessions, in February at the end of the fall semester and in June at the end of the spring semester. Students who complete degree requirements for UA Board of Regents-approved academic programs during the academic year are invited to participate in the annual commencement ceremony at the end of the spring semester.
  Names of students receiving degrees/certificates appear in the commencement program and are released to the media unless a written request to withhold is submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Graduates are responsible for ordering caps and gowns through the UAF bookstore in early spring.
• Graduation with Honors
  Graduation with Latin honors is a tribute that recognizes academic achievement. Honors graduates have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in all college work. If a student’s overall cumulative GPA is 3.5 or higher, a student graduates with the distinction of cum laude; 3.75 or higher, magna cum laude; 3.9 or higher, summa cum laude.
  For students to be considered for graduation with Latin honors, they must have:
  • 3.5 cumulative GPA in all attempted UAF credits, and
  • UAF residence credit of 15 semester hours for an associate degree.

Once those requirements are met, Latin honors can be determined.