To earn a UAF degree, three sets of requirements must be satisfied:

• General University Requirements
• Degree Requirements
• 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 2024-2025 catalog year includes fall 2024, spring 2025 and summer 2025.

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.

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

Adding or Changing a Major

Undergraduate students may add or change majors by completing the Add or Change Major form available through the Office of the Registrar forms page. Requests received after the first day of the semester will be applied to the following term. Students who wish to add or change from an associate degree to a bachelor's degree must apply for admission to the new degree following the standard admission process for bachelor’s degree programs. See admission requirements in How to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree.

Concentrations

An area of emphasis, within the student's major 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 credit hours required 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 petition concerns a disability, the coordinator of Disability Services will be consulted. Undergraduate petition forms are available on the Office of the Registrar's forms page. Forms must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar with the required signatures. The Office of the Registrar will note the completed petition in DegreeWorks once the appropriate person(s) or committee has made a decision to either approve or deny the request. Academic petitions fall into three categories, and each involves a different process:

General Education Requirement Petitions

For petitions addressing baccalaureate general education requirements for the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science library science requirement, or the Alaska Native-themed requirement, the academic advisor and the head of the department of the academic area involved must review and approve or deny the request. Student's should submit the signed petition to the Office of the Registrar. It will then be forwarded to the chair of the Faculty Senate General Education Requirement Committee for consideration.

Major or Minor Degree Requirement Petitions

For petitions requesting to substitute a course(s) or waive a requirement within a major or a minor program, the advisor and the department or program head of the major or minor area must review and approve or deny the request. Student's should submit the signed petition to the Office of the Registrar.

Petitions for Other Requirements

For petitions addressing the general university and/or specific requirements for the degree or other academic policies, the advisor and the dean or director of the college or school in which the major or minor is located must approve. Student's should 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 for graduation is required. Applying prior to the semester planned for graduation is encouraged. Applications for graduation need to be submitted via UAOnline no later than the published deadlines in the academic calendar. Applications submitted after the published deadline, are processed for the following semester. Students who apply for graduation and who do not complete degree requirements by the end of the term must reapply for graduation.

Diplomas and Commencement

UAF issues diplomas to graduates three times a year: in September following the summer semester, in January 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 the student has a directory hold on their account in UAOnline on the date the commencement program is published. Any questions regarding commencement and directory holds should be directed 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.