About the College: A Community of Discovery

The University of Alaska Anchorage's College of Arts and Sciences is a broad and diverse academic unit within the University of Alaska. We offer a wide-variety of courses every semester to students from all across the University of Alaska Anchorage. The College of Arts and Sciences has twenty-four major areas of study, and many more areas of concentration, including minors and professional certificates. Additionally, the College offers an Associate of Arts degree, and various Bachelor's of Science and Bachelor's of Arts degrees, as well as master’s and Ph.D. programs. We take pride in the quality of our instruction, the diversity of concentration areas, and our reputation as a learning community. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is a growing center of research, scholarship and creativity. With grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities and other funding agencies, CAS has managed to double its research funding approximately every seven years.

The College of Arts and Sciences at UAA offers:

  • Degree programs to prepare professionals to fill high demand jobs in Alaska in biology, chemistry, geology, anthropology, psychology, journalism and mass media.
  • Critical courses in science and mathematics for students preparing for careers in other high-demand areas such as engineering, nursing and other health occupations. 
  • The UAA Planetarium and Visualization Theater, offering a full-dome experience with an all-digital definiti projector system made by Sky-Skan, Inc.

Students who enter the College of Arts and Sciences have the opportunity to experience the breadth and depth of the intellectual life at UAA. Each academic department within the College has unique student clubs, organizations, and other co-curricular opportunities. Outside of the classroom, students also have numerous opportunities to engage in High Impact Practices, including undergraduate research, field work experiences, study abroad programs, hands-on internships, and much more.

Research Institues and Outreach Programs in CAS:

CAS is proud of its partnerships with agencies and institutions throughout the state, including the Anchorage School District, National Park Service, USGS, U.S. Forest Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Native corporations, Providence Hospital, Centers for Disease Control, National Writing Project, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and many others.

The College of Arts and Sciences is home to several research institutes and outreach programs, including:

The College of Arts and Sciences is home to premier facilities, from the ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building, which houses the UAA Planetarium and Visualization Theatre, to the renowned Recital Hall in the Fine Arts Building. 

The college serves as an important center for the arts in Anchorage, and the state of Alaska. There are many exciting opportunities to see what is happening in UAA’s arts community. Come to the Recital Hall, Mainstage Theater, and Harper studio and tap your toes at our array of musical performances by students, faculty and visiting artists. 

Yet the greatest measure of our success is in the success of our students. CAS students win highly competitive scholarships and attain national distinction as Fulbright and Truman scholars.

Further proof of our success lies in the accomplishments of our alumni. An education in the sciences, mathematics, humanities or the fine arts is a gateway to many careers. Our alumni include doctors and other health professionals; lawyers, politicians, government and business leaders; authors, playwrights, artists, poets, actors and musicians; journalists, editors, media specialists and filmmakers; teachers, scientists, scholars, translators, anthropologists and researchers; counselors, psychiatrists and social workers – all highly skilled in their related fields.

To learn more about the world of opportunities at the College of Arts and Sciences, please contact us!