January 26, 2001 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia will be expanding its graduate degree offerings in the Northwest starting this summer when a master's degree program in First Nations Studies will be offered.

Students in the program will focus on the cultures and contemporary issues of northern BC nations, and students will have opportunities to learn in and from different northern BC communities. The program will be based primarily out of Terrace but courses will be offered part-time to accommodate students from throughout the region who wish to take courses while they're employed. It's expected that students will be able to complete the requirements for the degree by April 2004.

The application deadline for the MA First Nations Studies is February 15th, 2001. Students admitted into the program will proceed through the courses as a cohort of up to 12 students. As a result, students who are unable to participate in the program will be required to wait until another cohort begins. Those interested in the master's degree must already possess a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline. Admission information is available from the UNBC Regional Campus in Terrace or on the web at www.unbc.ca/calendar/graduate.

The MA First Nations Studies is the latest in a series of graduate degree programs available in the Northwest. Students in the region have previously had opportunities to pursue master's degrees in Community Health and Education. For more information about the program, contact Perry Shawana, Chair of the First Nations Studies program, (250) 960-5724, or Leslie King at the Terrace campus, (250) 615-5578.