Six UAF Programs for Psychology and Counseling Careers
The University of Alaska Fairbanks appears in our ranking of the 50 Top Online Bachelor of Psychology Degree Programs.
Since August 1999, the College of Liberal Arts has granted a Psychology B.A./B.S. advised by Dr. Cecile Lardon for University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks to examine diverse behavioral perspectives with opportunities to join Psi Chi, intern at the National Institute of Health, and study abroad from England to Ecuador. Chaired by Dr. Ellen Lopez, the Human Services: Addictions Counseling A.A.S. builds a 64-credit, two-year hybrid sequence toward Alaska Chemical Dependency Counselor certification with two 125-hour practicum placements like Ralph Perdue Center. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.Ed. follows a 60-credit, CACREP-accredited path headed by Dr. Sue Renes for LPC licensure after evening or online courses, including Developmental Interventions, and 20 internship hours per week.
Online on Blackboard Collaborate, the School of Education led by Dr. Amy Vinlove presents a 54-credit School Counseling M.Ed. that fulfills Alaska’s K-12 Type C Special Services Certificate with flexible 600-level Web courses like Career Development that require 600 total practicum hours. Directed by Dr. Valerie Gifford, the Clinical-Community Psychology Ph.D. partners with the University of Alaska Anchorage for a 115-credit, APA-accredited doctorate with qualifying exams, Psychological Services Center practicum, and year-long internships for 88 percent licensure success. At the Reichardt Building, the Neuroscience Ph.D. offers a 70-credit, four-year plan under Dr. Kelly Drew where post-grads can conduct Harris Lab research, celebrate Brain Awareness Week, and join the SfN Chapter.
About the University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks originated in 1906 when the USA founded a Federal Agricultural Experimental Station in the Tanana Valley after the Alaska Gold Rush. In 1915, Congress signed legislation to found a higher learning institution on this research land. On May 3, 1917, Governor John Strong chartered the Alaska Agricultural College with Morrill Land-Grant Act funds. In September 1922, College Hill was formally opened for an inaugural schedule of 16 STEM classes. In 1935, the University of Alaska name was adopted. By 1956, the Alaska Constitutional Convention was meeting here to create the Union’s 49th state. In 1960, President William R. Wood organized the College of Liberal Arts. In 1975, the growing UA System designated this branch as the University of Alaska Fairbanks. On November 23, 2011, UAF earned accreditation for its Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology.
Endowed for $98.9 million, the University of Alaska Fairbanks now employs 546 faculty and 2,465 staff serving 8,336 Nanooks from 38 nations online, on the 2,250-acre North Star Borough campus, or at six Last Frontier extensions with 100+ clubs like Active Minds. In 2019, UAF received a National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association Honor Award. In 2018, Fairbanks accepted an SPS Marsh W. White Outreach Award. The University of Alaska Fairbanks had a 2018 U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring recipient too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked UA-Fairbanks 215th overall with the 165th best clinical psychology program. On Niche, UAF boasts America’s 263rd most diversity and 288th best professors. Forbes named Fairbanks the 211th best public college. WalletHub noticed UAF for the 379th best learning experience, 172nd safest campus, and 84th top value.
Featured Programs
University of Alaska Fairbanks Accreditation Details
On September 1, 2014, the University of Alaska Fairbanks satisfactorily submitted the Mid-Cycle Report to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) to keep Level VI accreditation through the 2019-20 evaluation visit under the 14th president, Dr. James Johnsen. Located 2,150 miles down Yukon Highway 1 in Redmond, this superb seven-state Cascadia Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department to review UAF’s 190 degrees. Further, the Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology was reaffirmed by the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation in April 2012. The Council on Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) approved UA-Fairbanks through March 2020. The School Counseling M.Ed. was also accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in November 2018.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Application Requirements
Admission to the University of Alaska Fairbanks is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 1,251 of the 1,631 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for 77 percent acceptance. First-year Nanooks seeking the Psychology B.A./B.S. must pass a 16-credit high school core curriculum or the GED equivalent. Maintaining a secondary core GPA of 2.5 or better is required. Freshmen need minimum 18 ACT or 970 SAT scores. The Class of 2022 presented an average 3.28 GPA, 1149 SAT, and 22 ACT mark. The Honors Program seeks at least 3.6 GPAs and 1300 SAT scores. College of Liberal Arts transfers skip testing with 30-90 college-level credits graded C or higher. International undergrads still must exceed the 6.5 IELTS or 79 TOEFL mark. The Graduate School typically seeks GPAs above 3.0 during regionally accredited bachelor’s prep. Counseling M.Ed. cohorts must pass a Federal Bureau of Investigation background check. Doctor of Philosophy students must land in the top 50th percentile on the GRE General Test.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks set domestic undergrad deadlines of November 1st for Spring, May 1st for Summer, and June 15th for Fall. International Psychology B.A./B.S. students must apply before March 1st or September 1st. Graduate programs have general deadlines of October 15th, March 1st, and June 1st. The Clinical-Community Psychology and Neuroscience Ph.D. programs both close on January 15th. Accordingly, complete the UAF Application online with a $50 ($75 if graduate) non-refundable fee. Forward official transcripts to PO Box 757480 in Fairbanks, AK 99775. Send testing results via SAT/GRE code 4866 or ACT code 0064. File supplemental materials, such as the passport identification, resume/curriculum vitae, education license, two-page goals statement, and 2-3 recommendations. Contact (907) 474-7007 or uaf-cla@alaska.edu with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, the University of Alaska Fairbanks is charging in-state freshmen and sophomores $8,538 annually. Non-resident lower-division tuition is $26,208 each year. The Western Undergraduate Exchange drops the price to $12,004. Upper-division courses range from $9,978 to $27,648 yearly. Residing at the Interior Alaska campus’ dorms like Wickersham Hall adds $10,440 for room and board. UAF budgets $2,000 for books and $2,650 for personal needs. Annual undergrad attendance averages $20,281 in-state and $33,842 out-of-state. Online Human Services A.A.S. students pay $223 per credit with a $60 technology fee. The Graduate School bills Alaskans $5,412 and non-residents $10,713 each semester full-time. Online Counseling M.Ed. courses would cost $513 per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Eielson Building Room 107 links 84 percent of incoming full-time UAF Nanooks to median tuition assistance of $7,391 apiece for $3.59 million combined. Psychology funds include the Arthur & Frances Buswell Scholarship, Bianca Zuckerman Scholarship, Chris Kleinke Scholarship, Dr. Jon Baker Scholarship, Everette Wagner Scholarship, Maureen Nolan-Cahill Memorial Scholarship, Richard & Minnie Crook Scholarship, Molly Redman-Ahren Scholarship, and Dr. Joseph Thompson Memorial Scholarship. The $1,500 Louis Meier Graduate Scholarship has a February 15th deadline for full-time Counseling M.Ed. students. The Cornerstone Gold Scholarship gifts $5,000 total for freshmen with minimum 1410 SAT or 30 ACT scores. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant and Direct Unsubsidized Loan, require FAFSA applications coded 001063. The Alaska Education Grant also provides $750 to $2,500 each semester.
Keep reading about the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the Department of Psychology website.