Tristan Pearce, Coordinator and Canada Research Chair in Cumulative Impacts of Environmental Change
Website: www.unbc.ca/northern-studies
Major in Northern Studies (BA)
Minor in Northern Studies
Major in Northern Studies
Northern Studies is an interdisciplinary field of particular importance to the University of Northern British Columbia, and of growing relevance globally. Circumpolar environmental processes are becoming recognized as key indicators of global change; circumpolar indigenous peoples are gaining a greater voice both nationally and internationally; circumpolar political arrangements are illustrating new forms of regional governance. For these and other reasons, a better understanding of northern conditions and issues is needed.
Students are required to complete 54 credit hours of coursework consisting of seven core courses (21 credit hours) one course (3 credit hours) in Methodology; at least five courses (15 credit hours) from the “Environment and Health” list of courses, and at least five courses (15 credit hours) from the “Culture and People” list of courses.
The remaining electives and prerequisites are open to design by the student, but 30 credit hours must be at the Upper-division level.
Note: Completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Northern Studies graduation requires a minimum of 120 credit hours.
Block transfer of credit up to 60 credit hours towards the BA in Northern Studies at UNBC may be given to students from Yukon University who have completed one of the following two-year diploma programs at Yukon University: Diploma of Northern Studies; Diploma of Northern Outdoor and Environmental Studies.
Program Requirements
Core Courses
| NORS 101-3 | Introduction to the Circumpolar North |
| NORS 311-3 | Lands and Environments of the Circumpolar North 1 |
| NORS 312-3 | Lands and Environments of the Circumpolar North 2 |
| NORS 321-3 | Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World 1 |
| NORS 322-3 | Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World 2 |
| NORS 331-3 | Contemporary Issues in the Circumpolar North 1 |
| NORS 332-3 | Contemporary Issues in the Circumpolar North 2 |
Note: These courses may be available in face-to-face format, cross-listed with other UNBC courses, or as web-based courses offered in conjunction with the University of the Arctic.
Environment and Health
(at least 15 credit hours)
| ANTH 312-3 | Human Adaptability and Environmental Stress |
| ANTH 409-3 | British Columbia Archaeology |
| BIOL 304-3 | Plants, Society and the Environment |
| BIOL 350-3 | Ethnobotany |
| BIOL 404-3 | Plant Ecology |
| ECON 305-3 | Environmental Economics and Environmental Policy |
| ENPL 305-3 | Environmental Impact Assessment |
| ENSC 454-3 | Snow and Ice |
| ENVS 326-3 | Public Engagement for Sustainability |
| FNST 249-4 | Land and Indigenous Reconciliation Studio |
| FNST 302-3 | First Nations Health and Healing |
| FNST 304-3 | Indigenous Environmental Philosophy |
| FSTY 425-3 | Soil Formation and Classification |
| GEOG 308-3 | Health Geography |
| GEOG 403-3 | Indigenous Geographies of Climate Resilience |
| GEOG 424-3 | Northern Communities |
| HHSC 440-(3-6) | Special Topics in Health Sciences |
| HHSC 473-3 | Health Promotion |
| INTS 225-3 | Global Environmental Change |
| NORS 498-3 | Special Topics in Northern Studies |
| NORS 499-(3-6) | Independent Research/Directed Reading in Northern Studies |
| NREM 303-3 | Aboriginal Perspectives on Land and Resource Management |
Culture and People
(at least 15 credit hours)
| ANTH 201-3 | Medical Anthropology |
| ANTH 206-3 | Ethnography in Northern British Columbia |
| ANTH 335-3 | Archaeological Heritage Management |
| ANTH 407-3 | British Columbia Ethnography |
| ANTH 409-3 | British Columbia Archaeology |
| ANTH 421-(3-6) | Ethnographic Field Methods |
| ANTH 422-(3-6) | Ethnographic Research Project |
| ANTH 451-3 | Traditional Use Studies |
| ECON 307-3 | Northern BC in the Global Economy |
| ENGL 320-3 | Indigenous Literatures in Canada and the United States |
| ENGL 420-3 | Special Topics in Indigenous Literatures |
| ENGL 431-3 | Special Topics in Northern BC Literature |
| FNST 217-3 | Contemporary Challenges Facing Aboriginal Communities |
| FNST 306-3 | Indigenous Women: Perspectives |
| FNST 350-3 | Law and Indigenous Peoples |
| GEOG 403-3 | Indigenous Geographies of Climate Resilience |
| GEOG 424-3 | Northern Communities |
| HIST 390-3 | History of Indigenous People of Canada |
| NORS 498-3 | Special Topics in Northern Studies |
| NORS 499-(3-6) | Independent Research/Directed Reading in Northern Studies |
| POLS 316-3 | Municipal Government and Politics |
| POLS 332-3 | Community Development |
| POLS 414-3 | Comparative Federalism |
| POLS 415-3 | Comparative Northern Development |
| POLS 434-3 | Resource Communities in Transition |
Methodology
(at least 3 credit hours)
| ANTH 300-3 | Qualitative Methods |
| BIOL 325-3 | Ecological Analyses |
| ECON 205-3 | Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences |
| ENPL 319-3 | Social Research Methods |
| FNST 200-3 | Perspectives in First Nations Studies |
| FNST 300-3 | Research Methods in First Nations Studies |
| GEOG 204-3 | Introduction to GIS |
| GEOG 205-3 | Cartography and Geomatics |
| GEOG 333-3 | Geography Field School |
Note: Students are encouraged to participate in an optional semester at another university in the circumpolar north, through exchange agreements between UNBC and other circumpolar universities. This should be done in consultation with the NORS Coordinator.
Elective and Academic Breadth
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credits necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Minor in Northern Studies
Northern Studies is an interdisciplinary field of particular importance to the University of Northern British Columbia, and of growing relevance globally. Many circumpolar issues are gaining importance, and there are important lessons that can be exchanged between circumpolar regions and other areas of the globe. Northern Studies can be an interesting and useful complement to students’ other areas of study.
A minor consists of eight courses (24 credit hours). Students must take seven required core courses (21 credit hours). Students must also take one methodology course (3 credit hours) from the list below.
Courses used to fulfill program requirements for a major or another minor may not be used to fulfill requirements for this minor.
Required Core Courses
| NORS 101-3 | Introduction to the Circumpolar North |
| NORS 311-3 | Lands and Environments of the Circumpolar North 1 |
| NORS 312-3 | Lands and Environments of the Circumpolar North 2 |
| NORS 321-3 | Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World 1 |
| NORS 322-3 | Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World 2 |
| NORS 331-3 | Contemporary Issues in the Circumpolar North 1 |
| NORS 332-3 | Contemporary Issues in the Circumpolar North 2 |
Note: These courses may be available in face-to-face format, cross-listed with other UNBC courses, or as web-based courses offered in conjunction with the University of the Arctic.
Methodology
(Choose one from the list)
| ANTH 300-3 | Qualitative Methods |
| BIOL 325-3 | Ecological Analyses |
| ECON 205-3 | Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences |
| ENPL 319-3 | Social Research Methods |
| FNST 200-3 | Perspectives in First Nations Studies |
| FNST 300-3 | Research Methods in First Nations Studies |
| GEOG 204-3 | Introduction to GIS |
| GEOG 205-3 | Cartography and Geomatics |
| GEOG 333-3 | Geography Field School |
Updated: December 5, 2024