A.A.S., B.A., B.A.A.S., B.S. Degrees, Minors

Division of General Studies
Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies
907-474-1849

A.A.S., Interdisciplinary Studies

The interdisciplinary program provides flexibility to students who have educational goals that do not fit into one of the established Associate of Applied Sciences degrees offered by UAF. This A.A.S. interdisciplinary studies program is offered through a shared partnership with the Community and Technical College and the office of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies. Students who are interested in an interdisciplinary studies program should meet with an advisor in the office of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies or the CTC Advising Center to discuss their educational plan. Appointments can be scheduled by clicking the "schedule an appointment" link on the undergraduate interdisciplinary studies website or by calling the CTC Advising Center at 907-455-2800.

Minimum Requirements for Interdisciplinary Studies Associate Degree: 60 credits

B.A., B.A.A.S., B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies

The interdisciplinary studies programs provide flexibility to students who have educational goals that do not fit into one of the established majors or minors offered by the university. There are two interdisciplinary bachelor's degree tracks: Goals Option and Degree Completion. Students who are interested in an interdisciplinary studies program should meet with an advisor in the Office of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies to develop their educational plan. Please click on the "schedule an appointment" link on the undergraduate interdisciplinary studies website.

Minimum Requirements for Interdisciplinary Studies, B.A., B.A.A.S., B.S. Degrees: 120-130 credits

Learn more about the bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, including an overview of the program, career opportunities and more.

Goals Option

An interdisciplinary studies major allows students to customize and create a major or minor that is unique and different from the majors and minors offered by UAF. Interdisciplinary studies students choose the title of their major and the courses within their major with the expert guidance of a faculty committee of at least three faculty members from at least two disciplines. One faculty member will serve as the committee chair and the advisor of the student. The committee chair must be from a baccalaureate degree-awarding department. Courses in the major must also represent at least two disciplines that focus on a shared theme. All interdisciplinary proposal forms will be reviewed by the student's faculty committee, the dean of the committee chair, as well as the director of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies and the vice provost for final approval.

Degree Completion (may not be used as a double major)

The interdisciplinary studies major with a general studies concentration is a pathway to graduation for students who are unable to complete a particular major offered at UAF. Students in the general studies concentration have the flexibility to choose classes that are meaningful and relevant to their educational interests and career goals. Admission to the degree completion program requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA or higher, completion of at least 100 or more college credits, as well as a consultation with an interdisciplinary degree completion advisor. Students must submit a rationale form explaining why this program is an appropriate path to graduation for them in order to be admitted to the general studies concentration of the interdisciplinary major. Students should start their path to degree completion by meeting with an interdisciplinary advisor.

Minor, Health Sciences for Pre-Professionals

This flexible minor supports students who intend to apply to a post-baccalaureate professional school in a health field, such as medical school, dental school or nursing. In most health professional fields any major can be completed by students for their bachelor’s degree. In fact, most health professional schools don't consider applicants' majors in the admission process, but they do care about whether prerequisite courses have been taken and how well applicants performed in those courses. The UAF Health Sciences for Pre-Professionals minor allows students, regardless of their major, to take the prerequisite courses they need to apply for the health professional schools of their choice. Entering health professional schools can be competitive, so it is important to start early in your planning and research. Students considering this minor should: 

• Meet with a UAF pre-professional advisor to explore health careers and get help making an academic plan to help you reach your educational goals. Pre-professional advisors can approve courses for this minor that are specific to individual students' needs, targeting the prerequisite courses required for the health professional degree program they plan on applying to after graduating from UAF.
• Visit UAF’s Pre-Health website.
• Research specific schools that you plan on applying to. Prerequisite requirements/recommendations can vary from school to school even for the same type of professional degree.
• Be aware that a successful application to a health professional program may require elements in addition to prerequisite courses, such as appropriate experience and an interview.

For more information and pre-professional guidance, contact one of the pre-professional advisors listed on the UAF Pre-Health website. Courses for this minor can also be approved by advisors in the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies department. Click on the "schedule an appointment" link on the undergraduate interdisciplinary studies website to make an appointment with an interdisciplinary advisor.

Requirements for the Health Sciences for Pre-Professionals Minor:15-29 advisor-approved credits.

Minor, Interdisciplinary Environmental Change

The Interdisciplinary Environmental Change Minor provides students with an integrative understanding of the causes, impacts, and potential mitigation of anthropogenic environmental change by combining relevant knowledge, perspectives, and critical thinking skills from across the natural sciences, engineering, technology, social sciences, humanities, and Alaska Native studies. This minor is intentionally interdisciplinary, reflective of the multidimensionality of the social-ecological issue of environmental change, and flexible to allow students to pursue their individual lines of interest within this broad field. UAF is a world leader in environmental change and Arctic research due in part to its location, where the impacts of climate change can be observed and felt at an accelerated pace, and is an ideal setting in which to engage with faculty possessing expertise in multiple dimensions of environmental change, through in-person and/or online coursework.

Minimum Requirements for Interdisciplinary Environmental Change Minor:15 credits

For more information or to apply, please click on the "schedule an appointment" link on the undergraduate interdisciplinary studies website.

Minor, Interdisciplinary Studies

The interdisciplinary minor provides flexibility to students who have educational goals that do not fit into one of the established minors offered by the university. Interdisciplinary minors must include courses from at least two different disciplines that focus on a shared theme. Students must complete and Interdisciplinary Studies minor approval form where they will document the title, description and list of courses within their minor. Help with the interdisciplinary studies minor approval process is available by making an appointment with the undergraduate interdisciplinary studies department. All interdisciplinary studies minors will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the UAF vice provost for approval.

Minimum Requirements for Interdisciplinary Studies Minor: 18 credits

Degrees

• A.A.S., Interdisciplinary Studies
• B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies - General Studies Concentration (Degree Completion)
• B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies - Goals Option
• B.A.A.S., Interdisciplinary Studies - General Studies Concentration (Degree Completion)
• B.A.A.S., Interdisciplinary Studies - Goals Option
• B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies - General Studies Concentration (Degree Completion)
• B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies - Goals Option

Minors

• Minor - Environmental Change
• Minor - Interdisciplinary Studies
• Minor - Health Sciences for Pre-professionals