Associate of Arts

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About the Program

The Associate of Arts (AA) degrees are two-year programs emphasizing the development of general knowledge for students preparing for a variety of careers.

You have the option of pairing your degree with a minor.

Program Details

The Associate of Arts degree programs are career-oriented moving you right into a job or allowing you to easily move on to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Associate Degree Options

UMFK offers a variety of programs to match your career goals.

Behavioral Science

Prepare for a career in helping others.

Business

Acquire a broad base from learning from which to leap!

Computer Science

Dabble in computer science to diversify yourself to employers.

Conservation Law Enforcement

Protect your community!

Criminal Justice

Protect justice and equality.

General Studies

Pursue specific interests.

Human Services

Prepare for a career in caring for others.

Diverse Experience

27 countries represented on campus

7

Career Focused Concentrations

Acadia Federal Credit Union

An example of where our graduates work today

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Arts and Sciences

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About the Program

As an Arts & Sciences student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from small classes, supportive faculty, and hands-on learning as you prepare for the career you want! Opportunities to create your own minor and experience classes that you prefer make this degree program perfect for the self-starter!

You have the option of pairing your degree with a minor or with one of our three concentrations.

Arts and Science Program

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Arts and Science program.

Arctic Studies Certificate

Earn a certificate in Arctic Studies.

Concentrations

Customize your arts and sciences degree to match your career goals with one of these concentrations.

Allied Health

Prepare for a career in healthcare administration and more.

General Studies

Broaden your horizons with a concentration in general studies!

Self-Designed

Customize your studies to what you are passionate about.

Minors

Pursue a minor to gain additional specialized skills to attract an employer or pursue an area of interest.

Arctic Studies

Learn about the economics, business, governance, environment, culture, and sustainability of the Arctic.

English

Develop communication and analytical skills; broaden you knowledge of literature, writing, or editing as a complement to your major.

Self-Design

Create you own minor by selecting courses around a broad theme or question. You will work on original research or a creative work.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Completion of 120 semester hours of credit.
  2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
  3. Completion of at least 45 semester hours of upper level credits (course numbers 300 and above) and in each of which the student shall have earned the grade of “C” or better.
  4. Completion of General Education Requirements
  5. At least 30 semester hours must be completed at the University of Maine at Fort Kent or through UMFK programs.

First Mile

Mile Marker for US ROUTE 1. US Route 1 is 2,369 miles long. The northern terminus begins in Fort Kent, Maine and ends in Key West, Florida

1:16

Faculty to student ratio

French and English

UMFK is a bilingual campus.

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Business Management

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About the Program

Study business at UMFK and prepare for a career in management, entrepreneurship, finance, and more. We offer an associate’s and bachelor’s degree with a with a self-design concentration. There’s also an online degree completion option for students with at least 60 credits from another college or university.

Business Management

The Bachelor of Science in Business Management program prepares students for careers in business. The objectives of the program are that the graduate will be a knowledgeable, proficient, well-rounded, professional person who is literate, numerate, and analytical; this person will be appreciative of the arts and sciences as well as possess skills in interpersonal communication and leadership.

Concentrations

You can design your own concentration.

Students will design an independent concentration based on their career interests and goals in collaboration with and approved by their faculty advisor or mentor in the business program.

Program Requirements (Traditional)

  • ECO 100: Introduction to Macroeconomics
  • ECO 101: Introduction to Microeconomics
  • COS 221: Advanced Excel
  • COS 390: Data Analysis
  • BUS 100: Principles of Financial Accounting
  • BUS 211: Introduction of Business
  • BUS 222: Introduction to Marketing
  • BUS 260: Business Ethics
  • BUS 300: Principles of Corporate Finance I
  • BUS 336: Business Law I
  • BUS 344: Organizational Behavior
  • BUS 396: Business Career Research Seminar OR
    BUS 397: Business Internship
  • BUS 411: Business Capstone

Online Degree Completion

The online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree program at UMFK provides you the opportunity to finish your degree faster than in a traditional classroom setting. Each class runs for 7  weeks, and you can begin the program at the beginning of any 7 week session. The courses are strategically designed to maximize the applicable skills a working business professional will need in the field.

Business, AA

The Associate of Arts in Business aims to develop students as responsible, educated global citizens, life-long learners, and engaged business managers and entrepreneurs.

Business Minor

Students completing the business minor will develop an understanding of the principles of managing businesses, market forces, principles of accounting, and advanced topics in the business field.

Graduates have careers as:

  • Operations Managers
  • Sales Managers
  • Small Business Owners
  • Budget Analysts
  • Buyers and Purchasers
  • Financial Analysts
  • Loan Officers
  • Property Managers

Career outlook and earning potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

52.0101 Business/Commerce, General

BUS 211: Introduction of Business (RLE)

Designated Research Learning Experience (RLE) Course

7 weeks

Length of business courses

60+ credits

Eligible to enroll in the online degree completion program.

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Computer Systems Administration

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About the Program

Prepare for an in-demand career in software engineering, database administration, and systems management in UMFK’s Computer Systems Administration program. You will develop competencies with programming, user support, and computer hardware to establish yourself as a qualified systems administrator. You will then apply effective techniques and leverage current technologies to resolve complex computing problems. Some core courses lead to professional industry certification.

Computer System Administration

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in computer systems administration program.

Computer Science, AA

Earn an Associates of Arts degree in Computer Science.

UMFK eSports Team

Join the UMFK Bengals eSports team and get hands-on experience in Computer Systems Administration in a fun and exciting way!

Program Requirements

  • COS 111: Introduction to Computer Science
  • COS 205: Command Line Interfaces
  • COS 206: Introduction to Information Security
  • COS 211: Computer Hardware
  • COS 221: Advanced Excel
  • COS 234: Computer Operating Systems
  • COS 235: SQL
  • COS 260: Introduction to Programming
  • COS 311: Foundations of Programming II
  • COS 333: Systems Analysis & Design
  • COS 338: Introduction to Networking
  • COS 342: Cyber-Computer Ethics & Social Responsibilities
  • COS 346: Databases
  • COS 360: Computer Organization/Assembly Language
  • COS 415: Computer User Support
  • COS 450: Cloud Computing
  • COS 397: Computer Internship

Self Design Concentration

Customize your degree to match your career goals with a self-designed concentration.

  • Each student will select an area of interest around which a specialization known as the Specialized Area of Study will be developed with the approval of their faculty academic advisor and recorded on the student’s transcript.
  • The Specialized Area of Study consists of a minimum of 18 credits.

Graduates have careers as:

  • Computer Programmer
  • Computer Support Specialist
  • GIS/GPS Technician
  • Database Administrator
  • Information Security Administrator
  • Computer Scientist

Career outlook and earning potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

1 mile

Distance from the Canadian border

COS 211: Computer Hardware (RLE)

Designated Research Learning Experience (RLE) Course

7%

growth in this industry over the past year

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.

Applied Forest Management

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About the Program

Accredited by the Society of American Foresters, UMFK’s Applied Forest Management program offers small classes, hands-on learning, and experienced faculty. You’ll explore topics such as tree planting and tending, species identification, forest ecology and habitat management, and more. The degree will also provide you a pathway to becoming a Maine Licensed Forester.

Arts and Science Program

Dive deeper into UMFK’s Bachelor of Arts and Science program.

Arctic Studies Certificate

Earn a certificate in Arctic Studies.

Career Opportunities in Applied Forest Management

This is a great time to seek a career in forestry! The ratio of jobs to graduates is at an all-time high, and that ratio is only expected to increase. Changes in the forest industry have created many new, technologically advanced positions.

Graduates find work as:

  • Foresters
  • Forest technicians
  • Rangers for the Maine Forest Service
  • Forest operations
  • Rangers for federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S.D.A. Forest Service
  • GIS specialists

Professional Certification

After you earn your degree and acquire four years of supervised work experience, you’ll be eligible to become a Maine Licensed Forester. Students also test for the S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws certification and a Maine Pesticide Applicator’s License.

Minors

Customize your degree to match your career goals with one of these minors.

Forestry Minor

You will gain general knowledge of Maine’s most important natural resource and an understanding of forest biology and management.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Minor

With a GIS background you will have a competitive advantage easily find starting positions with government agencies or private firms.

Potential employers include:

  • Consulting foresters
  • Land management companies
  • Forest industry
  • Forestry, conservation, and agriculture departments of the state and federal governments.
  • Logging contractors
  • Surveyors

Employers who have hired our graduates in recent years include:

  • American Forest Management
  • Irving Woodlands LLC
  • James W. Sewall Company
  • Landvest
  • Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
  • Maine Forest Service
  • Maine Land Use Regulation Commission
  • Seven Islands Land Company
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Wagner Forest Management, Ltd.

Foresters

Foresters are responsible for the conservation of working forests. This means monitoring the health and directing the growth of forest stands where timber is harvested while following laws, best management practices, and scientific research to build and conserve habitats for fish and wildlife. Foresters understand history and write the future. Daily tasks vary according to the size and goals of the landowner or agency. A forester may provide comprehensive services to many small landowners or specialize in a particular aspect of forestry within a larger company or agency.

Two options for baccalaureate degrees are available to AFM students who wish to earn a four-year degree at UMFK that builds on the Forestry curriculum. The Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree is designed for students who wish to own a business, while the Conservation Law Enforcement with Natural Resources concentration is designed for students who wish to enter public service. Either of these degrees can be finished in four years.

While some companies have placed our graduates directly into forester positions, several local companies prefer to have employees with baccalaureate degrees. Those employers worked with UMFK to develop a baccalaureate degree in business with a concentration in forestry. Both degrees, Associate of Science Applied Forest Management and Bachelor of Science Business Management Major, can be completed in four years.

Forest Technicians

Technicians carry out the day-to-day tasks of forestry. They provide skills in areas such as forest inventory, boundary surveying, timber marking, timber harvesting and road layout, and the supervision of harvesting, thinning, and planting crews. One outstanding option for an industry position is UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Government employers may prefer UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in Conservation Law Enforcement with Natural Resources concentration or Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies.

In Maine, forest technicians and foresters compete for entry-level positions. Forest technicians generally have stronger field skills. However, individuals seeking advancement, whether in industry or government, should consider a baccalaureate degree. One outstanding option for an industry position is UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in business management. This degree is recommended by local industry representatives. Government employers may prefer UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies.

Forest Rangers

Forest rangers are in the business of forest protection.  Their job involves the detection, prevention, and suppression of forest fires and the monitoring of potentially damaging native and invasive insect populations.  Additionally, the job involves a great deal of public education. In some states, forest rangers are involved in prescribed burning. This is a forest management tool used in forest regeneration, to reduce fuels and fire potential, and to enhance wildlife habitat.

In Maine, forest rangers have the added duty of enforcing forestry and environmental law. A Maine forest ranger’s work includes preparing and updating fire action plans, training firefighters, and supervising suppression operations. They patrol assigned regions and conduct equipment inspections. They also report and prosecute violations, investigate suspicious fires and suspected criminal activities, and conduct public information and education programs. Their enforcement duties also involve preparing records and reports that are used by the Maine Attorney General.

Students wishing to pursue careers in administration or who wish to seek advancement within government agencies must consider a baccalaureate degree. UMFK offers such an opportunity through its Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, Bachelor of Science Degree in Rural Public Safety Administration, and its Bachelor of Conservation Law Enforcement with a Natural Resources concentration.

Forest Operations

Forest operators include equipment operators and crew supervisors. A recent trend has emerged where the forest industry is seeking forestry-educated individuals to run wood processors and other equipment. Several recent graduates are working in such positions. Others have become contractors and are running their own harvesting and operations companies. The UMFK business management major, coupled with a forestry degree, is a useful combination for individuals seeking careers in the business side of forestry. Both degrees can be completed in four years.

GIS/GPS Technicians

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) field continues to provide many career opportunities for our students and graduates. There have been an increased number of paid internships in GIS and global positioning (GPS) for our students. Graduates in forestry have enough background in GPS and GIS to qualify as technicians for the growing GIS Industry. GIS technicians perform digitizing (mapping), GPS data collection, and basic GIS tasks. State government and private corporations currently have openings for mapping or cartographic technicians.

Students seeking employment as a GIS specialist may further their studies with the GIS Minor if they are Bachelor’s students, or GIS Certificate if they are Associate’s students, the GIS concentration under the Computer Systems Administration Major, or one in the Environmental Studies Program. GIS specialists have more extensive training in database management, programming, and geospatial analysis and are currently sought after by the industry. Both educational options at UMFK provide graduates with the skills to compete in this growing field. UMFK is a member of the Maine GIS Education Consortium, a group of University of Maine System Schools actively promoting GIS undergraduate education and post-graduate educational opportunities.

Program Requirements

  • FOR 100: Introduction to Forestry
  • FOR 131: Spreadsheets for Natural Resource Professionals
  • FOR 109: Dendrology
  • FOR 132: Forest Protection I
  • FOR 242: Map and LiDAR Interpretation
  • FOR 208: Forest Products, Harvesting, and Transportation
  • FOR 290: Forest Mensuration
  • GEO 103: Introduction To Global Positioning Systems
  • FOR 203: Surveying for Foresters
  • FOR 226: Forest Operations
  • FOR 332: Forest Inventory and Analysis
  • BUS 211: Introduction of Business
  • FOR 260: Silvics (Forest Ecology)
  • FOR 360: Silviculture
  • GIS 300: GIS Applications I
  • ENV 302: Wildlife Conservation & Management
    OR
    ENV 334: Wildlife Science
    OR
    ENV 354: Wildlife Habitat Interactions
  • SSC 327: Interpersonal Skills for Supervisors
  • FOR 330: Forest Protection II
  • FOR 350: Forest Management Practicum
  • FOR 361: Silvics/Silviculture Lab

First Mile

Mile Marker for US ROUTE 1. US Route 1 is 2,369 miles long. The northern terminus begins in Fort Kent, Maine and ends in Key West, Florida

1:16

Faculty to student ratio

French and English

UMFK is a bilingual campus.

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.