Community and Place-Based Education

Education That Connects Culture, Community, and Place

The Community and Place-Based Education program prepares students for careers in both traditional and non-traditional education settings. Students gain a strong foundation in place-based and experiential education, deepen their understanding of Alaska Native and rural cultures, and develop outdoor skills and ethical practices needed to lead and support educational programs across Alaska.

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Pathways

Teacher Apprenticeship

  • Alternative pathway to K–8 teacher certification through the BA in Community and Place-Based Education
  • Apprenticeship-based program in partnership with participating Alaska school districts. Stay in your hometown and earn the degree!
  • Candidates are selected by their district and paired with a Field Expert Teacher for mentorship
  • Combines coursework with hands-on, on-the-job classroom experience
  • Integrates K–8 education coursework with Indigenous studies and education

This program is designed for students employed by participating school districts who are selected through an apprentice process. Apprentices work in local schools while earning their degree and K–8 teacher certification, receiving mentorship from a Field Expert Teacher and completing a Department of Labor–registered apprenticeship. The program blends online coursework, in-person intensives, and classroom-based projects, with competency-based assessments throughout. This flexibility allows students to remain in their home communities while becoming certified teachers and helps districts develop educators from within.

Apprentices are ideally prepared stay to with their school district after completion and work as a certified teacher in a K-8 classroom. 

  • May continue on to Master’s degree programs
  • Successful attainment of Alaska licensure
  • K-6 Elementary and 6-8 Middle School Teacher
  • Selected by School District as an Apprentice
  • APU Application
  • Official Final High School Transcript*
  • Official College Transcript(s)

*If less than 24 college credits earned

Minimum GPA: 2.5 or higher – If you have a GPA lower than 2.5, there is an additional step in the admissions process, and we are happy to work with you to complete your application.

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K-8 Teaching Certificate

  • Become qualified to teach in elementary and middle school classrooms across Alaska
  • Learn from APU faculty while engaging with real-world, place-based education topics
  • Build a supportive cohort of students, alumni, and educators statewide

The Teacher Education K–8 Certificate at APU is a 33-credit program for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree and want to become licensed teachers in Alaska. Aligned with Alaska Department of Education requirements and nationally recognized, the program prepares highly qualified educators through practical, school-focused coursework that supports licensure in Alaska and reciprocity in 46 states. Graduates are prepared for successful classroom careers across Alaska and beyond.

Students can also explore place-based STEM curriculum resources through PREPARES (Preparing Responsive Educators using Place-based Authentic Research in Earth Systems), a National Science Foundation–funded initiative hosted at APU. Use the ‘guest log on’ and visit the PREPARES website.

Career Opportunities

  • Successful attainment of Alaska licensure
  • K-6 Elementary and 6-8 Middle School teacher job placement
  • Continue on to Master’s degree programs
  • Teacher Apprentices will earn their K8 Teacher Education Certificate to apply for their Teaching License with the Department of Education and Early Development.
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Educational Foundations & Classroom Environment
  • Examines historical theories and practices about education, focusing also on current trends and school policies.
Partnerships & Stakeholder Accountability
  • Discusses how the home, community, and society are interconnected with teaching and learning within educational institutions.
Early Literacy
  • Evaluates how early learning theory and practice provide a framework in which children become successful readers and writers.
Master of Science Outdoor and Environmental Education

Students in the MSOEE program can also pursue an Alaska K–8 Teacher Education Certificate through a dual-enrollment pathway, earning both credentials at the same time. This option combines hands-on, place-based learning at APU’s Kellogg Campus with student teaching in Anchorage, preparing graduates for classroom success with a strong focus on environmental and outdoor education.

This flexible degree pathway opens doors to careers in public, private, and charter schools, as well as roles in land management agencies, conservation organizations, camps, and other environmental education settings.

  • Application
  • Application Fee
  • Official Transcripts
  • Resume
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Official PRAXIS CASE or CORE (Core Academic Skills for Educators) or other Basic Competency State approved qualifying exam
FLYER

Community and Place-Based Education

Bachelor of Arts

  • Prepare for careers in both traditional and non-traditional education settings
  • Build a foundation in place-based and experiential education
  • Gain understanding of Alaska Native and rural cultures
  • Develop outdoor skills and ethical practices for leading place-based programs in Alaska
  • Option to apply for APU’s graduate K–8 Teacher Education certificate during senior year

This program is a great fit for students who want to become educators in both K–8 schools and community-based settings such as nonprofits and public agencies. It prepares you to work across traditional and non-traditional education pathways by building a strong foundation in place-based and experiential learning, Alaska Native and rural cultures, and the outdoor skills and ethics needed to lead programs in Alaska. This degree combines classroom, online, and field-based learning with extensive practicum experience, and also offers a pathway to apply for the graduate-level K–8 Teacher Education Certificate during your senior year.

Career Opportunities

  • Teacher
  • Outdoor Educator or Field Instructor (e.g. Outward Bound)
  • Non-Profit Employment
  • Nature-Based/Adventure Therapy
  • Public Land Education
  • Interpretative Naturalist
  • Forest Service/ Wilderness Ranger
  • Guidance Counselor
  • Preschool Director
  • Social Worker
  • Librarian
  • Corporate Trainer
  • Human Resources Specialist

K-8 Public and Charter Schools: During their senior year, students may apply to APU’s Teacher Education K–8 Certificate program. If accepted, they complete student teaching in one semester and become eligible for K–8 teacher certification in Alaska.

Core Competencies
  • Effective Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Cultural & Historical Perspective
  • Scientific Inquiry
  • Ethical Engagement
Foundational Studies
  • Written Communication
  • Presentation & Media Literacy
  • Critical Thinking
  • Computation
  • Intellectual Traditions
  • Creative Endeavors
  • Intercultural & Spiritual Understandings
  • Biological/Physical Scientific Inquiry
  • Social/Behavioral Scientific Inquiry
  • Social Responsibility
  • Personal Responsibility
Major Studies
  • Experimental Program Design
  • Risk Management for Outdoor Professionals
  • Expedition in Teaching Science, Culture, & Community
  • Outdoor Education
  • Math Concepts
  • Indigenous Knowledges & the Sciences
  • Indigenous Well-Being & Education
  • Research Methods
  • Physical or Biological Science
  • Senior Project Proposal
  • Senior Project
Self-Determined Studies

Students are encouraged to concentrate in either:

  • Indigenous Languages
  • Outdoor/Physical Education skills

K-8 Teacher Certification 
During their senior year, students may apply to APU’s Teacher Education K–8 Certificate program. If accepted, they complete student teaching in one semester and become eligible for K–8 teacher certification in Alaska. 

Degree Completion

128 credits minimum are required to complete the degree program. Core competencies, foundational, major, and self-determined studies are offered in a mixed format of:

  • On-campus
  • Online via synchronous learning
  • Application
  • Application Fee*
  • Official Final High School Transcript**
  • Official College Transcript(s)

*Fee waiver available for those who qualify
**If less than 24 college credits earned

Minimum GPA: 2.5 or higher – If you have a GPA lower than 2.5, there is an additional step in the admissions process, and we are happy to work with you to complete your application.

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Outdoor & Environmental Education

MASTER OF SCIENCE

  • Only program of its kind in Alaska
  • Paid teaching experience
  • Outdoor classroom on an 800-acre farm and forest
  • Small cohort model
  • Cascadia Pathway = Earn-While-You-Learn Option
  • Real curriculum design experience
  • Explore Alaska + Pacific Northwest outdoors

The Cascadia Pathway is a unique partnership between Alaska Pacific University and North Cascades Institute that combines graduate study with paid, hands-on teaching experience from the start. Students spend their first year at APU’s Kellogg Field School in Palmer, Alaska, and their second year teaching at North Cascades Institute’s Environmental Learning Center in Washington. In just over two years, graduates earn a master’s degree, gain two years of professional experience, and graduate without tuition debt. Learn more.

Students learn through immersive field experiences at APU’s Kellogg Campus in Palmer, Alaska, where they design and deliver real-world curricula in a living classroom of farm, forest, and wildlands. The program blends theory with practice, building the skills needed for careers in outdoor education, environmental leadership, and community-based learning.

Career Opportunities

  • Interpretative Naturalist
  • Nature-based Educator
  • Outdoor Education
  • Outdoor Nonprofit
  • Outdoor Education Curriculum Writer Developer
  • Forest Service/ Wilderness Ranger
  • College Professor
  • Field Instruction (e.g. Outward Bound)
  • Adaptive Sports Instruction
  • Wilderness Therapy
  • Outdoor Education Instructor
  • Nature/Adventure Therapy
  • Activism and Advocacy
  • Curriculum Design for Outdoor Educators
  • Power of Place in Education
  • Teaching Methods for Experiential Education
  • Research Methods
  • Learning Theory in Outdoor Education
  • Outdoor & Environmental Literacy
  • Elective Expeditions and Skills: Sea Kayaking, Mountaineering, Leadership
  • Thesis Seminar I
  • Thesis Seminar II
  • Research Methods
  • Practicum
  • Thesis Research/Professional Project

Student Thesis Titles

Students can also earn an Alaska K–8 teaching certificate, allowing for dual preparation in outdoor and environmental education and traditional classroom teaching. The program combines immersive, place-based learning at APU’s Kellogg Campus with student teaching in Anchorage, qualifying graduates to teach elementary and middle school students.

Essay

Write and submit a 750-1000 word essay outlining your motivations for seeking the Master of Science in Outdoor and Environmental Education degree. Include your professional interests and career goals.

Test Scores (Optional)

The submission of standardized test scores such as the MAT or the GRE is optional. 

Resume

Send us your current professional Curriculum Vitae or Resume.

Letters of Recommendation

Submit three current letters of recommendation.

Background Check

All admitted students will be required to submit an Alaska State Troopers Background Check directly to the APU Outdoor Studies Department prior to engaging in coursework. A background check is required by the State of Alaska for program participation in courses that involve work with vulnerable populations.

Official Final Transcript(s)

Alaska Pacific University will require official transcripts from the institution from which the applicant has earned the highest prior degree. Additional undergraduate transcripts may be required in the following instance(s): a large portion of credits were earned at more than one institution, an evaluation of pre-requisite course requirements, and/or if transferring in graduate credits.

Transcripts are considered official when received in an envelope that was sealed by the credit-awarding institution and arrive at APU unopened. Electronic transcripts are also accepted when sent directly to APU from the credit-awarding institution via a secured electronic transcript service. All official electronic documents must be sent to admissions@alaskapacific.edu.

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Environmental Public Health

Prepare to be an environmental health professional, investigating, reporting, and addressing environmental hazards in the built and natural environment.

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Marine & Environmental Sciences

Interested in marine biology, fisheries, ecology, climate change, applied mathematics, aquarium and animal
husbandry science, or environmental policy? This degree is for you.

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Outdoor Studies

Prepare for a meaningful life and career working with people in the outdoors through expedition and active learning. The program leads to relevant practicum and employment opportunities.

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Liberal Studies

Experience an interdisciplinary program in the liberal arts and sciences, or concentrate on Writing, Pre-Law, Religious Studies, Philosophy, or Pre-Med. Faculty works closely with students to develop unique interests.

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Master of Arts Program

Self-directed learners seeking an advanced degree centered on career or personal goals find the perfect fit in APU’s low residency Master of Arts Program (MAP).

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Master of Science Outdoor & Environmental Education

Join a cohort of peers while pursuing your interest in outdoor, environmental, adventure and wilderness education in a place of unparalleled beauty.

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Education Scholarships

Supporting Alaska Native educators

University partner Sealaska Heritage has multiple scholarships for Alaska Native students enrolled in an education certificate or degree programs. Explore available funding opportunities to support your educational journey.

Sealaska SCHOLARSHIPS

Community Based Education News

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Accreditation

The APU Teacher Education K-8 Certification program is approved by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Alaska State Department of Education & Early Development (DEED). The APU Education program provides the Institutional Recommendation for initial teacher certification; certification is issued by DEED. 

CAEP Annual Measures 2026 CAEP Annual Measures 2025

Meet Our Team

Amy Potter
Assistant Director of Admissions
For All MSCP / PsyD, Non-degree, Teacher Apprenticeship, & EcoLeague / North2North / Early Honors
Last Names A-K
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