School of Education

School of Education: Preparing Educators to Transform Lives

We are pleased to announce the BA in Early Childhood with initial licensure has been approved by the Board of Education! APPLY NOW!  For more information contact Darlene MacKinnon at 907-786-4454 or dlmackinnon@alaska.edu.

About the School of Education

The Accreditation Council of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) met on August 16, 2021. The School of Education at the University of Alaska Anchorage was granted accreditation at the advanced level. See the Accreditation Action Report for additional information.

The School offers many  opportunities for students. The programs listed below are fully accredited, scheduled and admitting new students. Please contact the Program Lead for advising or additional information on any of our programs.

Early Childhood Education
Occupational Endorsement in Infant and Toddler Development
Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development 
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education - Licensure to teach Pre-K through 3rd grade
Hilary Seitz, Faculty and Program Lead hjseitz@alaska.edu 907-786-4872
Darlene MacKinnon, Academic Advisor dlmackinnon@alaska.edu 907-786-4454

Educational Leadership
Master of Education or Graduate Certificate
Ginger Blackmon glblackmon@alaska.edu 907-786-1645

Teaching and Learning
Master of Education
Tim Jester tejester@alaska.edu 907-786-1666

Language and Literacy Education 
Graduate Certificate
Cathy Coulter cacoulter@alaska.edu 907-786-4457

Special Education
Master of Education or Graduate Certificate
Krista  James kpjames@alaska.edu 907-786-4867

Professional and Continuing Education (PACE)
500-level courses
Jennifer Harty jcharty@alaska.edu 907-786-1881

The School of Education at UAA now offers an initial licensure program, a BA in Early Childhood Education. See the Initial Licensure Program Information for a list of programs that are no longer offered at UAA.

The Dean's office and program faculty offices have relocated to the Administration/Humanities Building, in suite 103. As always, change provides new opportunities and we look forward to sharing an exciting year with our students and with the community in our new location.

School of Education Programs

UAA School of Education is currently accepting applications for the BA in Early Childhood initial licensure programs. Other initial licensure opportunities are available to students in UAA's service area through the UAF School of Education and the Alaska College of Education at UAS. 

Initial Licensure Program Information

• School of Education Motto
  Preparing Educators to Transform Lives
• School of Education Mission
  We prepare educators and support the lifelong learning of professionals to embrace diversity and to be intellectually and ethically strong, resilient, and passionate in their work with Alaska's learners, families, and communities.
• School of Education Core Values

  Intellectual Vitality: Professional educators examine diverse perspectives, engage in research and scholarship, contribute to knowledge and practice, and apply innovations in technology.

  Collaborative Spirit: Professional educators generate, welcome, and support the collaborative relationships and partnerships that enrich peoples' lives.

  Inclusiveness and Equity: Professional educators create and advocate for learning communities that advance knowledge and ensure the development, support, and inclusion of peoples' abilities, values, ideas, languages, and expressions.

  Leadership: Professional educators are committed to the highest standards of ethical behavior in their roles, using professional expertise to improve the communities in which they live and work, and demonstrating the ability to translate theories and principles into transformative educational practice. 

• School of Education Vision

  We are a community of educators dedicated to improving the quality of education and preparing educators to transform lives. Through innovative teaching, research, service, and leadership, we:

  • provide direction that inspires learning, informs the state's educational policy and research agendas, and addresses the challenges of Alaska;
  • call upon diverse cultural knowledge, values, and ways of learning and viewing the world, especially those of Alaska Natives, in order to promote the intellectual, creative, social, emotional, and physical development of educators, learners, families, and communities;
  • contribute to educators' understanding of development and learning from childhood through maturity and respond to the challenges of providing learning across the lifespan;
  • transform the beliefs and practices of educators, families, and communities in order to address the wide spectrum of human abilities in compassionate and innovative ways;
  • prepare educators with appropriate knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the judicious use of technology to enhance learning;
  • focus relentlessly on student learning; and
  • engage in dynamic partnerships with the university, community groups, and urban and rural educators to improve the quality of education in Alaska.
• Graduate Studies in Education and Leadership Mission

  School of Education graduate faculty developed mission and vision statements for graduate studies in the unit. Graduate Studies in Education and Leadership (GSEL) includes the following programs. 

  • Educational Leadership, M.Ed. and Graduate Certificate
  • Language Education, Graduate Certificate
  • Teaching and Learning, M.Ed.
  • Special Education, M.Ed. and Graduate Certificate

  
  Graduate Studies in Education and Leadership Mission
  

  We prepare scholarly practitioners grounded in purpose and research to address complex problems of practice in the context of Alaska’s Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse setting. 

  Graduate Studies in Education and Leadership Vision

  Faculty and candidates enact the Graduate Studies mission by

  • collaborating with key partners (e.g., Alaska Natives; school-based teachers and administrators; community-based leaders and Elders);
  • conducting scholarship in teaching and research that address complex problems of practice relevant to Alaska’s context;
  • implementing interdisciplinary practices indicative of a holistic, integral approach to graduate studies; 
  • framing and examining critical questions through inquiry/research;
  • engaging in self-reflection;
  • listening; 
  • examining, analyzing, evaluating, and commenting on education policies and practices; and
  • recognizing and respecting multiple perspectives and worldviews.

   

  Alignment of Graduate Studies Vision and SOE Core Values

  Graduate Studies in Education and Leadership Vision Statements	School of Education Core Values
  Collaborating with key partners (e.g., Alaska Natives; school-based teachers and administrators; community-based leaders and Elders)	Collaborative Spirit
  Conducting scholarship in teaching and research that address complex problems of practice relevant to Alaska’s context	Intellectual Vitality
  Engaging in self-reflection	Leadership
  Examining, analyzing, evaluating, and commenting on education policies and practices	Inclusiveness and Equity
  Framing and examining critical questions through inquiry/research	Intellectual Vitality
  Implementing interdisciplinary practices indicative of a holistic, integral approach to graduate studies	Intellectual Vitality
  Listening	Leadership
  Recognizing and respecting multiple perspectives and worldviews	Inclusiveness and Equity

• School of Education Specialized Accreditations

  The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) has continuously accredited the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) since 1974. Most School of Education programs also have specialized accreditations.

  View specialized accreditations.

• CAEP Accountability Measures

  The advanced certification/endorsement programs in the School of Education at the University of Alaska Anchorage are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). In accordance with CAEP requirements, supporting evidence on required performance measures is presented annually to inform the public of program outcomes and program impacts.

  View CAEP Accountability Measures.

• NAEYC

  The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Development, at the University of Alaska Anchorage, is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org. The accreditation term runs from Spring 2018 through Spring 2025. 

  View NAEYC Annual Measures.

• UAA Equity & Compliance

  UA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual:
  www.alaska.edu/titleIXcompliance/nondiscrimination.

  Visit UAA's Equity and Compliance page to learn more about UAA's nondiscrimination policies and Title I, Title IX, Title VI, and Title VII.

  The Alaska Code of Ethics of the Education Profession can be found at Professional Teaching Practices Commission. 

• Give

  Give to the UAA School of Education