Two Students Receive UAA's First Doctorate Degrees

The University of Alaska Anchorage campus is giving out its first two doctorate degrees this weekend.
   
Psychology students Cody Chipp and Jaymes Gonzales will be the first to receive PhD's from the campus that traces its history back to Anchorage Community College.
   
Their degrees are both in clinical-community psychology and will carry the names of both UAA and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Psychology departments at the two campuses proposed a joint program in 2005 as a way to maximize their strengths.
   
The program started the next year, but until now the Ph.D.s were only awarded by UAF.
   
With its new status, UAA can consider granting doctorates in other disciplines in the future, not only as joint degrees but as diplomas awarded solely by UAA. The next degree is likely to be in nursing and a doctorate in educational leadership may be offered in the future.