Northern Studies (BA Program)

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 249-3 Aboriginal Resource Planning
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 Literature in Canada and the United States
ENGL 420-3 Special Topics in Indigenous Literature
ENGL 431-3 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: June 26, 2024