The Bachelor of Arts, Nisg̱a'a Language Fluency degree provides an immersive education in the Nisg̱a'a language, intended to create new Nisg̱a'a language speakers. The fundamental pedagogical approach is to offer as much Nisg̱a'a language instruction as possible, as early as possible. The program is offered in a manner that recognizes that learners, knowledge keepers, and their communities as a whole benefit from, and contribute to, the (re)development of Nisg̱a'a language fluency.
Students are required to complete 120 credit hours including a minimum of 60 credit hours of upper-division coursework. 84 credit hours (including 36 credit hours at the upper level) consists of courses with a Nisg̱a'a language component.
For the purpose of the Bachelor of Arts, Nisg̱a'a Language Fluency, all courses with Nisg̱a'a language, history and/or culture from the following areas are considered:
- Anthropology
- Arts
- Biology (Ethnobotany)
- First Nations Studies
- History
During the first year of the degree students take the following courses:
| ARTS 101-3 | Learning Strategies |
| ARTS 102-3 | Research Writing |
| or ENGL 170-3 | Writing and Communication Skills |
| FNST 139-3 | Nisg̱a'a Language: Level 1 |
| FNST 140-3 | Nisg̱a'a Language: Level 2 |
| FNST 141-3 | Nisg̱a'a Language Immersion: Level 1 |
| FNST 142-3 | Nisg̱a'a Oral Culture Level 1 |
| FNST 169-3 | Nisg̱a'a Culture: Level 1 |
| FNST 170-3 | Nisg̱a'a Culture: Level 2 |
| FNST 241-3 | Nisg̱a'a Language Immersion: Level 2 |
| FNST 242-3 | Nisg̱a'a Oral Culture Level 2 |
During the second year of the degree students take the following courses:
| CPSC 150-3 | Computer Applications |
| or 3 credits of Mathematics at any level | |
| FNST 220-3 | Introduction to Linguistics |
| FNST 239-3 | Nisg̱a'a Language: Level 3 |
| FNST 240-3 | Nisg̱a'a Language: Level 4 |
| FNST 269-3 | Nisg̱a'a Culture: Level 3 |
| FNST 270-3 | Nisg̱a'a Culture: Level 4 |
| FNST 341-3 | Nisg̱a'a Language Immersion: Level 3 |
| FNST 441-3 | Nisg̱a'a Language Immersion: Level 4 |
Subject Requirement
Six additional credit hours of electives at any level; it is recommended that these be taken in the second year.
During the third year of the degree students take the following courses:
| BIOL 350-3 | Ethnobotany |
| FNST 300-3 | Research Methods in First Nations Studies |
| FNST 310-3 | Lisims Anadromous Summer and Fall Fisheries in Nisg̱a'a Culture and History |
| FNST 311-3 | The Spring Anadromous Fisheries of Lisims in Nisg̱a'a Culture and History |
| FNST 320-3 | The Structure of a First Nations Language |
| FNST 321-3 | First Nations Advanced Composition and Conversation: Level 1 |
| FNST 322-3 | First Nations Advanced Composition and Conversation: Level 2 |
| FNST 324-3 | Advanced First Nations Language Immersion |
| FNST 325-3 | First Nations Language Mentoring |
And one of the following courses:
| FNST 301-3 | Art and Material Culture of BC First Nations |
| FNST 302-3 | First Nations Health and Healing |
| FNST 303-3 | First Nations Religion and Philosophy |
| FNST 304-3 | Indigenous Environmental Philosophy |
| FNST 305-3 | Seminar in First Nations Studies |
During the fourth year of the degree students take the following courses:
| FNST 400-3 | Community-Based Research Project |
| FNST 420-3 | Developing Language Materials |
| FNST 421-3 | First Nations Songs and Poetry |
| FNST 422-3 | First Nations Speeches and Stories |
| FNST 423-3 | A Study of a First Nations Language Family and Its Linguistic Relatives |
| FNST 425-3 | Oral History |
And two of the following courses:
| FNST 410-6 | Advanced Topics in First Nations Art and Material Culture |
| FNST 440-6 | Internship in First Nations Studies |
| FNST 497-6 | Senior Project in First Nations Studies |
| FNST 498-6 | Special Topics in First Nations Studies |
Updated: June 26, 2024