¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

First Nations Studies Research Certificate Program

First Nations Studies Program | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2012 Spring

This program explores the history, prehistory, culture, language and contemporary situation of Canadian Aboriginal peoples, and teaches basic research skills about First Nations/Aboriginal issues with emphasis on BC Interior Aboriginal people. All program can be completed at the Kamloops site or the Burnaby campus. Normal completion requires five full time terms. The certificate, which can be completed as a two year program or as part of a BA, is especially suited to Aboriginals who wish to gain proficiency in First Nations/Aboriginal issues, social research skills, and basic cultural resource management skills. It is also open to non-Aboriginal students.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements

Normal University admission requirements apply. Students may be admitted under regular or special categories. Assistance is available at the First Nations Studies’ Burnaby office.

Lower and Upper Division Requirements

Requirements include

  • successful completion of at least 30 units, of which a minimum 18 are earned by completing six required courses. In addition, students complete one practicum option (Option 1, 2, or 3). The remaining nine units are selected from the specified list of optional courses.
  • minimum grade point average of 2.0 calculated on all courses applied to the certificate. Duplicate courses are counted only once.
  • completion of the certificate normally within five years of program admission.

Students complete all of

  • ARCH 273 Archaeology of the New World (3)
  • FNLG 231 Introduction to First Nations Language I (3)
  • FNST 201 Canadian Aboriginal Peoples' Perspectives on History (3)
  • FNST 301 Issues in Applied First Nations Studies Research (3)

and one of

  • FNST 101 The Cultures, Languages and Origins of Canada's First Peoples (3)
  • SA 286 Aboriginal Peoples and British Columbia: Introduction (A) (4)

and one of

  • ARCH 201 Introduction to Archaeology (3)
  • SA 101 Introduction to Anthropology (A) (4)

The following course is strongly recommended.

  • SA 255 Introduction to Social Research (S or A) (4)

and nine additional units** chosen from

  • ARCH 200 Special Topics in World Prehistory * (3)
  • ARCH 332 Special Topics in Archaeology I * (3)
  • ARCH 333 Special Topics in Archaeology II * (3)
  • ARCH 336 Special Topics in Prehistoric and Indigenous Art (3)
  • ARCH 360 Native Cultures of North America (5)
  • ARCH 386 Archaeological Resource Management * (3)
  • FNLG 232 Introduction to First Nations Language II (3)
  • FNST 101 The Cultures, Languages and Origins of Canada's First Peoples (3)
  • FNST 212 Indigenous Perceptions of Landscape (3)
  • FNST 222 Selected Topics in First Nations Studies (3)
  • FNST 322 Special Topics in First Nations Studies (3)
  • FNST 325 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850 † (4) or
  • HIST 325 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850 † (4)
  • FNST 326 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America Since 1850 † (4) or
  • HIST 326 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North American Since 1850 † (4)
  • FNST 327 Aboriginal Women in Canada (4) or
  • GSWS 327 Aboriginal Women in Canada (4)
  • FNST 329 Sexuality and Gender: Indigenous Perspectives (3)
  • FNST 332 Ethnobotany of British Columbia First Nations (3)
  • FNST 360 Popular Writing by Indigenous Authors (4) or
  • ENGL 360 Popular Writing by Indigenous Authors (4)
  • FNST 363 Indigenous Poetry, Poetics, Printmaking (4)
  • FNST 376 Indigenous Weaving Technologies: Community of Beings (4)
  • FNST 383 Indigenous Technology: Art and Sustainability (4)
  • FNST 401 Aboriginal Rights and Government Relations (3)
  • FNST 402 The Discourse of Native Peoples (3)
  • FNST 403 Indigenous Knowledge in the Modern World (3)
  • FNST 419 Aboriginal/Indigenous Justice † (3) or
  • CRIM 419 Aboriginal/Indigenous Justice † (3)
  • FNST 429 Indigenous Peoples and International Law † (3) or
  • CRIM 429 Indigenous Peoples and International Law † (3)
  • FNST 433 Indigenous Environmental Activism (4)
  • FNST 442 Directed Readings in First Nations Studies (3)
  • FNST 443 Aboriginal Peoples, History and the Law (4) or
  • HIST 443 Aboriginal People's, History and the Law (4)
  • FNST 462 Indigenous Oral Testimony: Theory, Practice, Purpose, Community (4)
  • LING 160 Language, Culture and Society (3)
  • SA 386 The Ethnography of Politics (S or A) * (4)
  • SA 388 Comparative Studies of Minority Indigenous Peoples (S or A) (4)
  • SA 486 Aboriginal Peoples and British Columbia: Advanced Seminar (A) (4)
  • GSWS 200 Women in Cross-Cultural Perspective * (3)

*when topic is appropriate
**other courses that have significant First Nations/Aboriginal content may be counted towards this certificate with First Nations Studies approval
†only one of the two courses may be used and may count toward the certificate
(A) anthropology courses; (S) sociology courses

The program’s practicum component can be fulfilled by selecting one of three options. Some courses within each option have prerequisites; accordingly, students should plan their programs in advance.

Option 1

  • SA 141 Sociology and Anthropology Practicum I (3) or
  • ARCH 350 Practicum I (3)

This is the first term of co-operative education in either sociology and anthropology, or archaeology. The employment situation must be acceptable to the First Nations Studies research program.

Option 2

At least five units of an archaeology field school, involving survey and excavation of a First Nations heritage site are required.

Option 3

FNST 442 Directed Readings in First Nations Studies (3) is required, which permits a faculty member to supervise an independent field research project acceptable to the First Nations Studies research certificate.

Note: Some Burnaby or Vancouver campus courses may be used toward the certificate with steering committee approval. A three course maximum (10 units) of comparable content and level from an approved college or university may be transferred, subject to University regulations and certificate steering committee approval. Units applied to this certificate may also be applied to a major or minor or bachelor?s degree under normal program regulations, but may not be applied to another ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV certificate or diploma.

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