The focus in psychology is on the science of how people think, feel, and behave. It is the mission of the faculty members in the Psychology Department at the University of Alaska Anchorage to contribute knowledge and provide effective educational experiences about behavior and mental processes that enrich psychology majors, other students, citizens of Alaska, the field of psychology and society. We achieve these goals through classroom instruction, professional development opportunities, advising, mentoring, research and service.

The Psychology Department at UAA is located in the Social Sciences Building and offers two undergraduate degrees - a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS)— a Masters of Science (MS) in clinical psychology, and jointly offers with the University of Alaska/Fairbanks a Ph.D. in clinical/community psychology with rural indigenous focus. 

The undergraduate degrees provide broad contemporary exposure to empirical findings that have emerged from over 100 years of psychological research, offering two kinds of classes: classes in the basic science of psychology, and classes aimed at applying that science into job-related knowledge that is important for work in community mental-health agencies. 

The Master’s degree focuses students toward careers as mental-health professions in community mental-health agencies, offering much of the coursework that is necessary to become a Licensed Psychological Associate in Alaska. 

The joint-PhD program prepares students for doctoral-level positions in rural mental health, by integrating clinical and community psychology and focusing on rural, indigenous, and cultural psychology with an applied emphasis.  The joint-PhD program uniquely combines the spirit of clinical and community psychology, placing strong emphasis on non-traditional service delivery and social action, as well as clinical service delivery to individuals, groups, families, and communities.