Becoming a Public Health Practitioner at UA Anchorage
The University of Alaska Anchorage appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable MPH Online Degrees in the West.
At Bragaw Hall, the College of Health offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a Pre-Professional Track and Health Educator Track where the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves can earn CHES certification for preventing disease in rural communities. Chaired by Dr. Gabriel Garcia, the 120-credit, four-year curriculum blends 300-level major courses like Introduction to Epidemiology with opportunities to join the HSSO, intern at St. Elias Specialty Hospital, and study abroad from Norway to Nepal. The Master of Public Health prepares post-grads on-campus or 100 percent online on Blackboard for designing population-based interventions that promote wellness. Directed by Dr. Elizabeth Hodges Snyder, the 42-credit, CEPH-accredited degree spans 24 months with 225 field practicum hours, thesis research, Delta Omega Chapter activities, and an optional Dual MSW/MPH Track.
About the University of Alaska Anchorage
The University of Alaska Anchorage originated in 1954 when the Board of Regents opened Anchorage Community College for an inaugural class of 414 at Elmendorf Air Force Base. In 1956, Vincent Demarest became its first associate degree graduate. On January 3, 1959, President Eisenhower admitted Alaska as the Union’s 49th state. In 1962, the State Legislature signed a bill to create the University of Alaska System. In 1971, Anchorage Senior College was formed for upper-division bachelor’s courses. The next year, ASC launched the Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies. Fully accredited in 1975, Anchorage Senior College established the College of Health in 1977. One decade later, ACC and ASC merged into one for the University of Alaska Anchorage. In 1988, the Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies was debuted. In 2010, UAA was given a $1.2 million National Institute for Health grant.
Endowed for $3.3 billion, the University of Alaska Anchorage employs 1,222 faculty teaching 10,558 female and 7,331 male Seawolves from 31 countries online, on its 387-acre “City of Lights” campus, or at six extensions with 160+ clubs like the Health Sciences Student Organization. In 2017, UAA won the Alaska Engineering Societies Project of the Year Award. In 2018, Anchorage received the Alaska Governor’s Safety Award of Excellence. The University of Alaska Anchorage had a 2017 ALPHA Public Health Practice Award recipient too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Anchorage 138th for public health education. On Niche, UAA boasts America’s 178th most conservative students and 383rd most diversity. Forbes named the University of Alaska Anchorage the 244th top public school. Washington Monthly declared UAA the West’s 181st best value. PayScale placed UAA 255th for a $397,000 net ROI.
University of Alaska Anchorage Accreditation Details
On January 31, 2019, the University of Alaska Anchorage proudly announced that the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) Board of Commissioners voted to reaffirm the Level VI accreditation status through the next 2028-29 evaluation under Chancellor Cathy Sandeen, Ph.D., who earned the NDA District VI Appreciation Award. Located 2,258 miles down Yukon Highway 1 in Redmond, Washington, this superb seven-state Pacific Northwest Region accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Education Department to review UAA’s 31 associate, 59 bachelor’s, 23 master’s, and six doctoral degrees. Particularly, the Department of Health Sciences was accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) on October 24, 2009.
University of Alaska Anchorage Application Requirements
Enrollment at the University of Alaska Anchorage is classified as “non-competitive” by Peterson’s though only 3,039 of the 3,745 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for 81 percent acceptance. First-year Seawolves seeking the B.S. in Health Sciences must verify high school graduation or GED completion. Freshmen generally need cumulative GPAs above 2.5. GPAs of 2.0-2.49 might be permitted with academic advising. The Class of 2022 presented an average GPA of 3.02. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 960-1190. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 18-25. Transfers need 24+ regionally accredited credits and 1.75 or higher GPAs. Pre-Health undergrads must complete three course prerequisites graded B or better and 20 fieldwork hours for major declaration. Non-U.S. residents prove English fluency with 71 TOEFL iBT, 6.0 IELTS, or similar scores. The Master of Public Health mandates four-year baccalaureate completion with GPAs over 3.0. Competitive MPH majors will have 24+ months of relevant experience. The Dual MSW/MPH also has two prerequisite courses in human biology and statistics.
The University of Alaska Anchorage offers rolling undergrad admission until July 15th for Fall, November 15th for Spring, and May 1st for Summer starts. International B.S. in Health Sciences students must apply by June 15th or November 1st. The Department of Health Sciences has MPH deadlines of March 1st and October 1st. Dual MSW/MPH cohorts must file before January 15th. Accordingly, complete the 30-minute UAA Application online for $50 ($75 if graduate). Send official transcripts to 3211 Providence Drive in Anchorage, AK 99508. Forward test scores using SAT/TOEFL code 4896, ACT code 0137, or DSST code 9043. Attach supplemental materials, such as the fee waiver request, I-20 form, professional writing sample, career goals essay, and current resume or CV. Contact (907) 786-1480 or admissions@uaa.alaska.edu with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, the University of Alaska Anchorage is charging lower-division Alaska undergrads $223 per credit. Non-resident Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences tuition is $789 per lower-division credit. Upper-division credits cost $269 to $835 apiece. The Western Undergraduate Exchange discounts each credit to $335. Bachelor’s majors cover the $108 athletic fee, $72 activities fee, $60 technology fee, and $168 health fee each year. Residing at the Anchorage campus’ dorms like East Hall adds $8,058 for yearly housing. Standard meal plans for Creekside Eatery are $1,864 extra. UAA budgets $1,440 for books and $4,004 for miscellaneous. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $25,122 in-state or $41,940 out-of-state. The Master of Public Health bills Alaskans $513 and non-residents $1,079 per credit. Graduate student fees total $1,608 each year.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in the University Center at 3901 Old Seward Highway connects 82 percent of new UAA Seawolves to median assistance of $6,473 each for $6.37 million combined. College of Health funds include the Dove Kull Memorial Scholarship, Second Chance Scholarship, Dixie Light Scholarship, El-Jhans Fredrico Hanson Justice Scholarship, Leonard Doak Health Literacy Scholarship, LifeMed Alaska Scholarship, Parrish Healthcare Scholarship, Louise & Harold Fournelle Scholarship, Ralph & Marie George Scholarship, Syril’s Rising Star Scholarship, and Kathy Lynn Lynch Scholarship. The $500 Eleanor Andrews AHAINA Assistance Program has a March 1st deadline for minority undergrads maintaining a minimum 2.0 GPA. The Practicum in Public Health Scholarship gifts $1,200 to in-state Master of Public Health students focused on tribal healthcare careers. Federal programs, such as the Pell Grant or Graduate Plus Loan, require FAFSA forms coded 011462. Locals could also pursue the Alaska Education Grant, Alaska Advantage Grant, Bureau of Indian Education Grant, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Performance Scholarship, and more.
Continue learning about the University of Alaska Anchorage at the Department of Health Sciences website.