Program Overview

University of Alaska Fairbanks

The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers a comprehensive program in Rural Development, designed to educate a new generation of community leaders for rural Alaska.

Program Overview

The Rural Development program is offered through the College of Rural and Community Development, Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development. The program provides students with a broad understanding of Alaska's relationship to the global economy and an appreciation for sustainable development strategies. Students learn specific tools essential for community leadership, including business plan and grant proposal writing, community visioning and planning processes, computer business applications, project management, and evaluation techniques.

Degree Options

The program offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, which can be earned either on the Fairbanks campus or through distance delivery. A Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is also available. Additionally, students can pursue a minor in Rural Development.

Admission Requirements

Students applying for acceptance into the Rural Development program need to complete two department-specific requirements in addition to general university admission:

• An oral interview with faculty
• A written questionnaire

Program Requirements

To complete the B.A. degree, students must:

1. Complete the general university requirements
2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements
3. Complete the following core courses:
   • RD F300W: Rural Development in a Global Perspective (3 credits)
   • RD F325: Community Development Strategies (3 credits)
   • RD F350O: Indigenous Knowledge and Community Research (3 credits)
   • RD F351: Strategic Planning for Rural Communities (3 credits)
   • RD F352: Rural Business Planning and Proposal Development (3 credits)
   • RD F400: Rural Development Internship (3 credits)
   • RD F450: Managing Rural Projects and Programs (3 credits)
   • RD F475W: Rural Development Senior Project (3 credits)
4. Complete an RD elective (3 credits) and RD, ANS, TM, or ED electives (6 credits)
5. Complete one of the following concentrations:
   • Community Health and Wellness
   • Community Research and Indigenous Knowledge
   • Indigenous Organization Management
   • Natural Resource Development
   • Rural Community Business and Economic Development Planning

Concentrations

Each concentration requires the completion of 21 credits from a specified list of courses.

Community Health and Wellness

This concentration is for students with a strong interest in health and wellness. Students focus on the various facets of a healthy rural community, exploring different aspects of wellness within a community and developing tools to attain community wellness goals.

Community Research and Indigenous Knowledge

This concentration is for students with interests in applied research involving Alaska Native communities, cultures, languages, ceremonial performances, and histories. Students learn principles of ethical research, explore issues of intellectual and cultural property rights, and acquire skills to do ethnographies, oral histories, community surveys, and needs assessments, and archival research.

Indigenous Organization Management

This concentration is designed for students interested in the development and operations of indigenous organizations in rural Alaska. Students develop an understanding of the history and constitutional basis for tribal governance, basics of federal Indian law, principles and practices of self-determination, and the mandates of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Natural Resource Development

This concentration is designed for students with an interest in land and resources development, co-management, and conservation. Students learn about traditional ecological knowledge, principles of natural resources management and policy, adaptive management, conservation, and ecotourism, and skills for effective public/private/tribal collaboration in resource management.

Rural Community Business and Economic Development Planning

This concentration is for students interested in creating sustainable economies in rural and indigenous communities, with a focus on small business development. Students learn to develop business and marketing plans, economic development planning, and basic principles of financial and human resources management for rural enterprises.

Minor in Rural Development

To complete a minor in Rural Development, students must:

1. Complete any three-credit RD course at the 300 level or above (3 credits)
2. Complete RD electives at the F200 level or above (12 credits) The minimum credits required for the minor is 15 credits.

Accreditation

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.