Interdisciplinary Studies

The Aurora Borealis over Chugiak/Birchwood, north of Anchorage.

Students who are interested in studies that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries are offered a unique degree that offers flexibility, creativity and collaboration. Today's students are faced with an increasing demand for interdisciplinary approaches to research and education, and may be interested in the interdisciplinary studies program in either arts or sciences. The degree is overseen by the Graduate School and combines coursework in two or more disciplines/programs and may involve more than one academic college. See the for current policies related to interdisciplinary graduate degrees.

Interdisciplinary Degrees

The interdisciplinary degree in Arctic Security prepares civilian and military students to understand security as a complex, interconnected concept involving military, cultural, sustenance, environmental and governance structures across the vast arctic region. Students may select one of four tracks including environmental security, leadership, policy, and defense operations, or choose courses across all tracks for an education like no other. A vital degree with a timely purpose.

Students pursuing this degree will create a Graduate Studies Plan (GSP) that may be guided by a desired track or selected holistically across tracks (Environmental Security, Leadership, Defense Operations, or Policy). The GSP functions as the student's interdisciplinary curriculum and is comprised of required core and elective courses for 30-33 credits. Additional courses (up to 45 credits) may be selected at the time the GSP is created.

Required Core Courses: ANTH A630 Advanced Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology -OR- AKNS A461 Decolonizing Methodologies, AKNS A346 Alaska Native Politics and Contemporary Issues -OR- AKNS A492 Cultural Knowledge of Elders, BIOL A669 Advanced Arctic Environmental Security, BIOL A690A Advanced Arctic Economic, Political and Environmental Dynamics, BIOL A690B Arctic Ecosystem Services and Security, EDTL A690 Interdisciplinary Learning, PADM A650 Alaska Policy Studies -OR- PADM A651 Issues in Arctic Studies

Choose at least ONE from the following electives: ANTH A690D Advanced Studies in the Contemporary North, JPC A463 Crisis Communications, PADM A640 Dispute Resolution.

Choose at least TWO from the following electives: ACNS F652 International Relations of the North, AKNS A490 Advanced Topics in Alaska Native Studies, BA A402 Alaska Native Corporation Leadership, BA A632 Leadership and Organizational Behavior, BA F391 Alaska Native Corporations: A Historical and Contemporaneous Perspective, GEOL A663 Environmental Geochemistry, HS A624 Circumpolar Health Issues, HS A630 Public Health Emergencies and Disasters, HSEM F603 Disaster Management Policy, HSEM F605 Community Planning in Emergency Management, HSEM F621 Circumpolar Competition - Arctic Diplomacy and Defense, HSEM F607 Vulnerability and Protection, HSEM F645 Crisis Management, HSEM F656 Strategic Leadership, HSEM F665 Strategic Collaboration, HSEM F690 Security and Disaster Management, LOG A661 Logistics and Global Supply Chain Management: Applications and Strategy, MBIO A670 Advanced Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease, NRM F649 Integrated Assessment and Adaptive Management, PADM A606 The Policy Making Process, PM A601 Project Management Fundamentals, RD F601 Political Economy of the Circumpolar North.

Information coming soon!

Information coming soon!