Work A Summer In Alaska While Receiving College Credit

Think you can’t go to college and work a travel job at the same time? Think again. While other students are sticking close to home for their credits, you could be spending the summer near the Arctic Circle in Fairbanks, Alaska, earning both college credit and dollars at the same time by pairing a job in tourism with classes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. UAF doesn’t charge out of state tuition, so no matter where you’re coming from, you’ll get a good deal on your classes. One Fairbanks transportation job even offers college credit as part of its training. Mix in the perks of spending a summer in Alaska, and you have a completely unique way to forward your education.

Dive into the sciences—hard or social.

Whether you need to check off some prerequisites or get into upper-level courses, you can keep moving forward with a degree, even during a summer in Alaska. UAF offers a variety of the classes you’ll need, from elementary algebra to anatomy and physiology. Working toward a grad degree? Check out the upper-level courses, many of which involve field excursions. UAF is a public research university, and is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska system.

Or develop your artistic side.

Ever dreamed of learning to work in ceramics or honing your drawing skills? UAF also offers art classes, from metalsmithing to sculpture. As if living and working in Alaska weren’t enough to keep you busy, access to a pottery wheel or metalsmith studio might make for one memorable summer.

Study for just six weeks or a full session.

If the idea of committing for an entire semester makes you balk, look into one of UAF’s six-week sessions. Maybe it’s an intro to Spanish. Maybe it’s a course to help boost your academic writing skills. Either way, sneaking it into the summer in six weeks lets you feel fancy free the rest of the season to enjoy all Alaska has to offer.

Move your career forward.

Got your eyes on a career in adventure travel? Or studying the business side of tourism? One way to kill two birds with one stone is to enroll in Holland America-Princess’ Commercial Driver Training Program. You can earn three credits in UAF’s Applied Business Department for ABUS 267—Transportation and Logistics Management. You’re training for a summer job in Alaska and earning college credit at the same time—a win-win situation.

Or just learn more about Alaska.

If you’re ready to be fully immersed in Alaska’s history, culture and landscape, UAF courses are the perfect way to learn. Sure, you could just work a summer in or around Fairbanks. But paired with a course in Native Cultures of Alaska or Introduction to Alaska’s Birds, and you’ve got a real learning experience.