Masters of Arts - First Nations Studies

The University of Northern British Columbia Masters of Arts program in First Nations Studies establishes the points of view of First Nations people and communities as the starting point for description and analysis, and contextualizes issues from this perspective. Courses orient students to question underlying assumptions of everyday study. A special emphasis is placed on creating opportunities for students to learn from and about the First Nations of the north. This program includes courses taught in First Nations communities, internships, and community-based research projects. Each student's program culminates in completion of either a thesis or major project.

In addition to the high priority given to the First Nations of northern British Columbia, offerings include topics relevant to the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada and indigenous peoples of the world. The areas of study within the program are: First Nations Issues and Approaches, emphasizing the development of theory and method for the understanding of contemporary issues; Northern Nations, which facilitates with the development of skills, knowledge, and experience in the study of the languages and cultures of northern British Columbia; and Aboriginal Health and Healing. Relationships with faculty in other graduate programs at UNBC enrich the options for interdisciplinary work in areas such as Health Sciences, Education, Political Science, Gender Studies, English, History, Environmental Studies, and Geography.