About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences is where innovative research and creative work culminate to transform Alaska’s next generation. The college offers an accessible and affordable education in the heart of Alaska’s diverse populations, environment and economy. The College has eighteen departments, which house a variety of undergraduate degrees, occupational endorsement certificates, minors, associate degrees, undergraduate certificates, and graduate programs. We are dedicated to preparing, educating and training students to meet the workforce needs of Alaska. We take pride in the quality of our instruction, the diversity of concentration areas, and our reputation as a learning community. 

 

CAS features premier facilities and equipment for classroom instruction. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of faculty research and express their creativity in the arts. UAA’s ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building is home to the UAA Planetarium and Visualization Theater, the Applied Science, Engineering and Technology Lab, and the Advanced Instrumentation For Microbiome Studies (AIMS) Core Lab Facility. The Fine Arts Building features specialty art studios and galleries, a Recital Hall and stages for concerts and performances. The college also houses research institutes such as the Alaska Center for Conservation Science and the Environment and Natural Resources Institute.

 

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.

The College of Arts and Sciences is a growing center of research, scholarship and creativity. The College presents our students with opportunities to solve unique challenges faced by communities across Alaska. Theoretical and applied research is integrated into undergraduate coursework, and students can pursue independent funding for projects. Students have opportunities to work alongside CAS faculty in the lab and the field. Extending beyond the classroom, experiences include field trips, international travel and presentation of research projects. CAS is a proud partner of agencies and institutions throughout the state, including the National Park Service, United States Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Native corporations, Centers for Disease Control, 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:

Additionally, the College hosts an annual Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, the Brain Bee, and houses the Ethics Center which holds public forums in the form of professional roundtables, public lectures, and white papers/advisory statements on issues relevant to UAA, Anchorage, and Alaska.

The College of Arts and Sciences is home to premier facilities and equipment for classroom instruction. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of faculty research and express their creativity in the arts. UAA’s ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building is home to the UAA Planetarium and Visualization Theater, the Applied Science, Engineering and Technology Lab, and the Advanced Instrumentation For Microbiome Studies (AIMS) Core Lab Facility. The Fine Arts Building features specialty art studios and galleries, a Recital Hall and stages for concerts and performances.   

 
College of Arts and Sciences Students

The greatest measure of our success continues to be measured in the success of our students. CAS students win highly competitive scholarships and attain national distinction as Fulbright and Truman scholars. The College hosts the annual CAS Celebration of Students to highlight the Department Excellence Scholarship recipients as well as the recipients of all College of Arts and Sciences scholarships. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is a community where students are exposed to unique experiences outside the classroom through research opportunities, student organizations and much more. CAS faculty lead the way with groundbreaking research, hands-on teaching practices and dedication to solving problems that matter. We are a community dedicated to preparing students for the workforce today and in the future.

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!