Liberal Arts Degrees | College of Liberal Arts – UAF

Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts

2023 Holi Festival hosted outside of the Wood Center Pavilion, 3/25/23.
UAF Photo by Leif Van Cise

Chart your course in a place where learning is hands-on, purpose-driven, and built to help you forge a path that truly means something.

At UAF’s College of Liberal Arts, your education is rooted in place, possibility, and real-world experience. You can study mental health policy while working with rural communities, carve bone in the Native Arts Studio, explore political cooperation in the circumpolar North, or conduct archaeological fieldwork just miles from campus. And along the way, you’ll gain the critical skills to think deeply, communicate clearly, and create meaningful change—wherever your path leads.

Our programs are designed to let you build a college experience as unique as your ambitions. With close faculty mentorship, small classes, and opportunities for hands-on research, fieldwork, and cultural engagement, you'll connect disciplines in unexpected ways and graduate with both practical experience and a broader perspective. And with �ֻ�ֱ�� as your backdrop, your college journey will be as adventurous as it is inspiring.

Start exploring. Your future begins here.

The CLA Experience

(from left) Rei Suzuki-Smith, Jose Rodriguez, Cole Newcomer and Lizzie Stitz tend to the wood-fired kiln in the early morning hours as UAF Ceramics Professor and Department Chair Jim Brashear leads students and volunteers in the loading, firing and unloading of the Anagama, or Japanese tunnel kiln, located on the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station in April 2024. UAF Photo by Eric Engman — UAF Photo by Eric Engman
(from left) Rei Suzuki-Smith, Jose Rodriguez, Cole Newcomer and Lizzie Stitz tend to the wood-fired kiln in the early morning hours in April 2024.

Joey Sparaga sifts dirt through a sieve while participating in an archeological field camp at a dig site near Delta Junction. UAF Photo by Todd Paris — UAF Photo by Todd Paris
Joey Sparaga sifts dirt through a sieve while participating in an archeological field camp at a dig site near Delta Junction.

Sean Enfield (MFA '21) performs as Gil Scott-Heron for Dead Writers 2018. UAF Photo by Sarah Manriquez — UAF Photo by Sarah Manriquez
Sean Enfield (MFA Creative Writing, '21) performs as Gil Scott-Heron for Dead Writers 2018.

Brandon Boylan, Arctic and Northern Studies program director and Political Science Department Chair, welcomes the crowd at the first annual Arctic and Northern Studies program reception held in Anchorage, �ֻ�ֱ�� in April 2025. UAF Photo by Sarah Manriquez — UAF Photo by Sarah Manriquez
Brandon Boylan, the program director of Arctic and Northern Studies (ACNS), welcomes the crowd at the first annual ACNS program reception held in Anchorage, �ֻ�ֱ�� in April 2025.

UAF Photo by Sarah Manriquez
An audience member poses a question at the Journalism, the First Amendment, and Covering Trump panel held in April 2025.

Joy Castro reads an excerpt from her book Island of Bones as part of the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series in 2025. UAF Photo by Sarah Manriquez — UAF Photo by Sarah Manriquez
Joy Castro reads an excerpt from her book Island of Bones as part of the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series April 3rd, 2025.

UAF students in an Intro to American Politics class visited the Morris Thompson Cultural Center to explore �ֻ�ֱ��’s political history through culture, land, and language. December 2024. UAF Photo by Carol Gray — UAF Photo by Carol Gray
UAF students in an Intro to American Politics class visited the Morris Thompson Cultural Center to explore �ֻ�ֱ��’s political history through culture, land, and language.

The Circumpolar Music Series led by Term Assistant Professor, Sean Dowgray, accompanied by fellow Music Department students, faculty, and volunteers at the Davis Concert Hall, on Feb. 21, 2025. (UAF photo by Leif Van Cise) — UAF Photo by Leif Van Cise
The Circumpolar Music Series led by Term Assistant Professor, Sean Dowgray, accompanied by fellow Music Department students, faculty, and volunteers at the Davis Concert Hall, on Feb. 21, 2025.

Created by UAF film students in FLPA 271/431/498/499, Pink Violet follows a college actor whose intense dedication to her role sparks concern from those closest to her. Photo courtesy of UAF Theatre & Film — UAF Photo by Maya Salganek
Created by UAF film students in FLPA 271/431/498/499, Pink Violet follows a college actor whose intense dedication to her role sparks concern from those closest to her.

Faculty and students of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program prepare to Chalk the Walk for Suicide Prevention Month in September 2024. UAF Photo by Carol Gray — UAF Photo by Carol Gray
Faculty and students of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program prepare to "Chalk the Walk" for Suicide Prevention Month in September 2024.

West Valley teacher Joy Grubis, left, and UAF Associate Professor Dani Sheppard show off some cool shades during the Psychology Fair hosted by UAF students and West Valley High School. UAF Photo by Todd Paris — UAF Photo by Todd Paris
West Valley teacher Joy Grubis, left, and UAF Professor Daní Sheppard show off some cool shades during the Psychology Fair hosted by UAF students and West Valley High School.

Dr. Robin Shoaps, Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics & Anthropology, mentors undergraduate UAF Department of Anthropology student, Meredith McMahon (Spring 2023 Student Project Awardee) UAF Photo by JR Ancheta — UAF Photo by JR Ancheta
Robin Shoaps, Professor of Applied Linguistics & Anthropology, mentors undergraduate UAF Department of Anthropology student, Meredith McMahon, an URSA Spring 2023 Student Project Awardee.

Inuit-soul group Pamyua performed and led an interactive workshop at UAF’s Davis Concert Hall as part of the Circumpolar Music Series in the Davis Concert Hall, September 2022. UAF Photo by Todd Paris — UAF Photo by Todd Paris
Inuit-soul group Pamyua performed and led an interactive workshop at UAF’s Davis Concert Hall as part of the Circumpolar Music Series in the Davis Concert Hall, September 2022.

UAF's Student Drama Association hosts the first Enchanted Eyes Masquerade Ball in the Great Hall on Saturday, October 26, 2024. UAF Photo by Marina Barbosa Santos — UAF Photo by Marina Barbosa Santos
UAF's Student Drama Association hosts the first Enchanted Eyes Masquerade Ball in the Great Hall on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Need to Know

Time to Register!

Wondering who to talk to for academic advising? First-year students and anyone with fewer than 24 credits start with the UAF Advising Center. CLA undergraduate students with more than 24 credits meet with our CLA undergraduate advisors. Grad students: connect with your department's program coordinator.

Find Your Advisor

New Student Orientation

Join UAF’s New Student Orientation and get connected to the people, programs, and tools that will help you succeed. These four packed days are designed to guide you through campus life, resources, academics, and everything in between.

New Student Orientation

Party in the Park

Kick off fall 2025 at Party in the Park on August 28 from 12–3 p.m. at Constitution Park! Meet UAF clubs and departments, explore resources, and connect with fellow students at this fun, high-energy start to the semester.

What Our Students Say

Nels Ure, '25

B.A., Climate and Arctic Sustainability: Arctic History and Politics

"We’re so lucky to still have lots of wild public lands that sustain industry, economy, culture, community. I just really hope to take the research and what I’ve learned at UAF and amplify that in my master’s program to come back to �ֻ�ֱ�� and really make sure that our environment stays as amazing, grand, and pristine as it is.”

Hannah Meltzer

Spanish program

"Learning new skills is super important to staying sane in such a remote place, and Spanish has been great for that in Antarctica. Some of the challenges that come up are that work schedules in a field camp are hard to predict, and occasionally workdays end up stretched to 18+ hours if we have unexpected weather or resupply missions to support. Balancing that with school can be hard, but my teachers have been incredibly accommodating and it helps that the work is self-paced."

Danelle Shellikoff. Photo credit: Andy Padilla Photography

Danelle Shellikoff, '25

B.A., Social Work

"The biggest lesson that I learned with UAF is that healing and education can go together. The classes that I took in social work expanded my knowledge on the people that have gone through harsh experiences in their life... It's going to allow me to help others that have also experienced hard times and show them change is possible."

Indi Walter, '21

M.F.A., Art: Sculpture, Native Art

"The Native Arts and Sculpture [programs] were central in my applying and enrolling in the Master's program. I am primarily a carver of bone and wood. UAF's art department has deep connections to both contemporary and modern techniques for carving that have shown me more about my media than I could have otherwise hoped to learn. The community here is the main draw and the lifeblood of the department!"

Benjamin Anderson

Music Education

"The music department here at UAF is nothing less than magical. From faculty who work harder than anyone I've ever met, to opportunities to perform every single week, this department is like no other. I moved to UAF to experience this music department after researching it back home in Ohio, and all I can say is that it was definitely worth it!"

Riley von Borstel stands with UAF Chancellor Dan White after being awarded the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award, which recognizes an outstanding bachelor's degree candidate during UAF's 101st commencement ceremonies May 5 in the Davis Concert Hall. Von Borstel received bachelor’s degrees in justice, political science and performing arts, with minors in social work, psychology and creative writing.

Riley von Borstel, '23

B.A., Political Science, Justice and Performing Arts: Theatre

"I [majored] in three different departments: Political Science, Justice, and Performing Arts. They are all amazing in their own individual ways, but something they all have in common is how they are all tight-knit and are led by passionate faculty that want nothing more than to help their students succeed."

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News

The Impact of Abortion Restrictions on Violence Against Women

October 16, 2025

Explore how abortion restrictions affect survivors of violence--talk by Dr. Ingrid Johnson for the UAF Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies program.
dis/comfort in the North

October 16, 2025

Fifty artists, sixteen countries: Katie Ione Craney's "dis/comfort in the north" probes how the Arctic is felt, imagined, and lived.
Desert Convergences

October 13, 2025

Mary Ludwig's work reveals how the Gila River Indian Community and Japanese Americans forged compassion during wartime incarceration.
Winter Shorts, Thawed

October 02, 2025

Winter Shorts returns with two student-directed plays, offering UAF students hands-on experience and heartfelt storytelling.
Celebrating UAF CLA 2024-2025 Promotion & Tenure Recipients

September 22, 2025

Meet the 2024-2025 UAF CLA tenure & promotion recipients and celebrate their contributions to our community.

More News

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