UArctic Courses
As a member institution of University of the Arctic, UW students can enroll in UArctic courses at no cost. Each course is worth the equivalent of 3 UW credits. Credits will be recorded at the offering institution and transferred to on completion of the course. UArctic courses may be used as electives for the minor in Arctic studies. Courses are conducted in English. To register, fill out this form, sign, and submit to canada@uw.edu by August 1, 2023.
Fall Semester (September – December 2023)
CS 100 – Introduction to the Circumpolar World
Introduces students to the landscape, peoples and issues of the circumpolar region. Beginning with an examination of the geography, biological and physical systems of the Subarctic and Arctic, it then turns to the Aboriginal and contemporary peoples of the region. The history of the Circumpolar World is treated in a broad fashion, to provide grounding in the events and developments that have created the region’s contemporary qualities. The second part of the course surveys some of the particular issues facing the region, including climate change, economic, political and social development.
CS 311 – Land and Environment of the Circumpolar World
Provides students with an in-depth understanding of the lands and environments that define the Circumpolar North, as well as the key issues involving interaction between humans and environment. Through this class, students will have: a better understanding of the land, seas, climate, ecology, and natural resources of the Circumpolar North; an appreciation of how diverse methods contribute to understanding land and environment in the Circumpolar North; and insight into the challenges presented by the physical and natural universe, and an introduction to human influence on northern lands and environments.
CS 321 – Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World
This course introduces the peoples and cultures of the North Circumpolar region through interdisciplinary study in the fields of anthropology, sociology, history, media and cultural studies, communications and literature from both Indigenous and Western perspectives. Students will gain an integrated and multidisciplinary understanding of the circumpolar peoples and their adaptations and contributions to social, economic, political and environmental changes.
CS 331 – Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World
This course will introduce students to the important structures and forces affecting the sustainability of circumpolar communities. Students will deal with the population trends in the circumpolar region, natural resource use and the economies of these communities, and economic ownership. This course will also provide students with an appreciation of the main challenges confronting the peoples and communities of the world’s northern regions.