Arctic Engineering in Alaska

As the 21st century world turns to the north for mineral resources and global supply logistics, a sustained demand exists for engineers in commercial and public service who are trained to solve problems in cold regions. The UAA Arctic Engineering program of graduate studies provides a specialized curriculum to prepare professionals for:

  • Development of cold regions natural resources
  • Multi-modal transportation improvements in cold regions,
  • Design and operation of constructed works in rural communities and winter cities, where snow, ice, and frozen ground constrain effectiveness of conventional methods, 
  • Evaluation of climate change impacts on northern infrastructure.

The UAA College of Engineering has responded to these trends with a series of new research initiatives aimed at evaluation of and response to climate change impacts on infrastructure in cold regions. UAA Arctic Engineering faculty members are leaders of national and international efforts to prepare civilization in the north for the changes of this millennium.

UAA enjoys a close association with the US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), whose headquarters are in Hanover, New Hampshire, with offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks. The University and CRREL began an educational partnership in June 2000 that allows CRREL research scientists and engineers to participate in UAA educational programs. CRREL Affiliate faculty members have developed several of the specialized graduate engineering courses of the UAA Arctic Engineering program. Students enrolled in the Arctic Engineering program of graduate studies at UAA benefit from the depth of knowledge that comes from CRREL and UAA research, whether they reside in Anchorage or use online learning resources from afar.

The online engineering courses in the Arctic Engineering Masters program are delivered via the Blackboard Learning System.

The UAA Arctic Engineering online graduate program is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Arctic Engineering Resources