UAF Arctic and Northern Studies Program

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UAF Arctic and Northern Studies Program

Explore the Arctic at America’s Arctic university.

Arctic & Northern Studies connects history, politics, cultures, and climate change to prepare leaders for a rapidly changing North. Arctic and Northern Studies is an interdisciplinary program for the study of problems and policy issues specific to the North. Arctic and Northern Studies themes include, but certainly aren't limited to,

Arctic policy
northern history
individual topics

northern arts, culture, and sports
psychology
security
social issues
tourist industry
well-being

At the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Arctic and Northern Studies students can benefit from the extensive northern expertise and research activities of UAF faculty, the rich Alaska and circumpolar collections of the UAF library and museum, and, of course, the fact of being surrounded by the North itself. Arctic and Northern Studies faculty have won major awards for excellence in teaching, research, and public service. Arctic and Northern Studies include faculty and courses from:

Alaska Native Studies
Anthropology
Art
English
Geography
History
Music
Political Science
Russian Studies

05/27/2026

From Arctic and Northern Studies student to Chancellor of America’s Arctic University.

Please join us in congratulating Russell Vander Lugt, who has been named the next chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Col. Vander Lugt earned both his master’s degree in Arctic and Northern Studies and his interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Arctic and Northern History at UAF. His work bridges Arctic history, security studies, anthropology, and Indigenous knowledge systems, reflecting the interdisciplinary spirit at the heart of our program.

As a long-time Alaskan, Arctic scholar, educator, and military leader, he brings a unique perspective to the future of UAF and the North.

We are incredibly proud to count him among our alumni and look forward to the leadership he will bring to UAF and the broader Arctic community.

04/29/2026

Finals week now—fieldwork next?

The CLA StoryWorks Field Intensive takes students into the field in Tok, Alaska to document research happening in real time. This is an opportunity to engage directly with northern research environments while learning how to communicate complex work through storytelling.

📍 Fairbanks + Tok, Alaska
📅 June 7–13, 2026
👥 4 students selected
💰 All expenses covered + $1,000 compensation

🗓 Apply by May 1 at 5pm AKST
👉 https://forms.gle/VDqDPHtrPLDyNnBs9

Made possible by Transformative Experience Funding.

04/06/2026

Explore Alaska through story and research. The CLA StoryWorks Field Intensive invites students to document real fieldwork in Tok, Alaska, capturing research, environment, and experience in a northern context. No experience required.

📍 Fairbanks + Tok
📅 June 7–13
💰 All costs covered + $1,000 compensation
👥 4 students selected

👉 Apply now: https://forms.gle/VDqDPHtrPLDyNnBs9
🗓 Deadline: May 1

This opportunity is made possible through UAF Transformative Experience Funding, supported by the Matriculation Fee.

03/26/2026

What does a liberal arts education give you? “A more fulfilling life.”

Brandon Boylan, Department Chair of Political Science and Director of Arctic and Northern Studies, puts it simply. The liberal arts sharpen how we think, how we understand the world, and how we apply our knowledge in meaningful ways.

This is about more than a career path. It is about building the skills, curiosity, and perspective to navigate life, contribute to your community, and pursue what matters.

That is worth investing in.

👉 Give now: https://qrco.de/bgfs3p

03/23/2026

We invite you to help shape the future of the UAF College of Liberal Arts. Join us as finalists for the CLA dean position present their vision for the college. Attend in person or via livestream, ask questions, and share your feedback.

📅 Public Presentations (8:30–9:30 a.m.)
• Dr. MaryTheresa Seig — Monday, March 30
• Dr. Alvin Malesky — Tuesday, March 31
• Dr. Carrie Baker — Tuesday, April 7

📍 BP Design Theatre (in person + livestream available)

Additional opportunities to connect:
• Faculty & Staff Meet and Greet: 2–3 p.m.
• Student Meet and Greet: 3:30–4:30 p.m.

RSVP, livestream links, candidate info, question submission and feedback forms:
https://www.uaf.edu/provost/provost-units/cladean.php

03/13/2026

Arctic and Northern Studies director Brandon M. Boylan is helping prepare the next generation of leaders to navigate the political and security challenges shaping the circumpolar North.

Recently honored with a citation from the Alaska State Legislature, Boylan’s work combines scholarship, teaching, and global collaboration to advance understanding of Arctic governance and international relations.

He also co-founded the Model Arctic Council, an experiential learning program that connects students across the circumpolar world and immerses them in real Arctic policy challenges.

📖 Read the story about Boylan’s impact on Arctic education and leadership:
https://www.uaf.edu/cla/news/2026/advancing-arctic-knowledge.php

02/20/2026

Nichole Schmidt and Tara Petito — mother and stepmother of Gabby Petito — will visit UAF to speak about recognizing the warning signs of domestic violence and the importance of community awareness.

In Alaska, where rates of domestic violence remain among the highest in the nation, conversations about prevention, bystander responsibility and community response are especially important. After Gabby’s death in a nationally known case of intimate partner violence, her family turned their loss into advocacy focused on education and prevention.

This event is open to UAF students, high school students, parents and community members. Together, we can raise awareness, support one another and help break the silence surrounding domestic violence.

Come informed! Join us Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 PM in the Hess Recreation Center for a screening of the Netflix documentary, American Murder: Gabby Petito.

Gabby’s Voice: Breaking the Silence on Domestic Violence
Monday, March 2, 2026
6–8 PM
Schaible Auditorium
Zoom: https://alaska.zoom.us/j/84948897311

Hosted by the UAF Department of Justice in partnership with the Gabby Petito Foundation.

12/19/2025

📰🔬 Why Journalism and Science Matter to Democracy—Now More Than Ever. This spring, the UAF Department of Science and Environmental Journalism is offering a timely, discussion-driven seminar that explores the shared foundations of journalism, science, and democratic society. JOUR F391: Issues in Science and the Environment—Journalism, Science and Democracy examines why both journalism and science are essential to free thinking, public knowledge, and open debate—and why both institutions are increasingly under pressure.

Meeting Wednesdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in person, this seminar-style course invites students and community members to explore the deep connections between scientific inquiry, journalistic practice, and democratic values. Through readings, discussion, and critical analysis, participants will examine how these fields support one another, how they are being challenged and defunded, and what it means to cover science and democracy in a rapidly changing media landscape.

Taught by Snedden Chair Paula Dobbyn, the course is especially well suited for upper-division students, working professionals, and anyone who cares about science, journalism, and a free press.

📍 In person | Wednesdays, 6–9 p.m. | CRN 34895
📩 Questions? Contact Paula Dobbyn at [email protected]

12/17/2025

🧠 Learn How to Listen, Ask Better Questions, and Understand People’s Stories. This spring, students interested in clinical work, advocacy, community-based research, or graduate school are invited to enroll in PSY F480: Qualitative Social Science Research. Offered in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00–3:30 p.m., this course gives students hands-on experience learning how to design and conduct qualitative research that centers people’s lived experiences.⁠
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In this class, students will practice designing a qualitative study, conducting open-ended interviews, collecting real-world data, and making meaning from stories and narratives. You’ll learn how qualitative methods complement the quantitative tools introduced in earlier research courses—and why listening carefully to people’s experiences is such a powerful research skill.⁠
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This course fulfills a requirement for the Graduate School Preparation Concentration and is especially valuable for students planning careers in psychology, social services, advocacy, public health, or community-engaged research.⁠
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The course is taught by Christine Kindler, a clinical psychologist whose work focuses on trauma, memory, intergenerational storytelling, and how individuals and communities make meaning after adversity.⁠
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📍 In person | CRN 34979⁠
📘 Prerequisite: PSY F275⁠
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If you’re wondering whether the course is a good fit, you’re encouraged to reach out to [email protected]⁠
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12/05/2025

❄️ ACNS F494: Race, Ethnicity, & Gender Law and Politics. A nw trial course is coming you this Spring being offered on T/Th 11:30–1:00 p.m. in-person • Zoom • Asynchronous • Honors option available

This course tackles the legal and political forces shaping the lives of Alaska Native peoples and other communities across the North. Topics include voting rights, Supreme Court decisions, climate change impacts, and the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

A powerful option for students interested in northern governance, Indigenous rights, and intersectional policy studies.

Address

Fairbanks, AK
99775

Website

https://www.uaf.edu/arctic/

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