Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences website to learn more about Indigenous Studies.
View full program detailsProgram information
In the interdisciplinary Indigenous studies program, you’ll learn about Indigenous perspectives and governance, the justice system, land claims, traditional ecological knowledge and the protection of heritage in the Okanagan, Canada, U.S., and world communities.
Program overview
- Campus
- Okanagan
- Program length
- 4 years
- Faculty
- Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Co-op Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent congue purus nibh, vitae ultrices urna consectetur id. Aenean consequat condimentum auctor.
- Yes
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts
- Honours Nunc posuere lacus felis. Proin libero turpis, aliquam nec laoreet non, congue a nibh. Quisque non tellus iaculis, bibendum magna vel, viverra felis.
- No
What you'll learn
Indigenous Studies offers interdisciplinary perspectives on indigenous peoples from the Okanagan, Canada, and world communities. You’ll examine topics such as Indigenous governance, the justice system, land claims, traditional ecological knowledge, the protection of heritage, Indigenous theory, and more.
In third or fourth year, you have the option of completing directed studies, where you will undertake a supervised investigation of an assigned topic in Indigenous Studies, culminating in a major term paper.|In third or fourth year you have the option of completing directed studies, where you will undertake a supervised investigation of an assigned topic in Indigenous studies, culminating in a major term paper.
The Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences holds an annual undergraduate research conference on UBC’s Okanagan campus to showcase student research projects.|UBC is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. The involvement of the Okanagan Nation and the En’owkin Centre in its development and in ongoing partnership provides a strong foundation in the Okanagan community, and ensures continuing input from Indigenous perspectives.
Experiential learning and research
In third or fourth year you have the option of completing directed studies, where you will undertake a supervised investigation of an assigned topic in Indigenous studies, culminating in a major term paper.
The Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences holds an annual undergraduate research conference on UBC’s Okanagan campus to showcase student research projects.
Campus features
UBC is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. The involvement of the Okanagan Nation and the En’owkin Centre in its development and in ongoing partnership provides a strong foundation in the Okanagan community, and ensures continuing input from Indigenous perspectives.
Program advantages
Build the foundational skills needed to pursue a career in government, Indigenous Peoples organizations, Indigenous leadership roles, and resource management. Design research projects relevant and respectful to a particular Indigenous community or agency, and implement the project working on-site in that community or agency. Put your classroom learning to the test with co-op job placements throughout the region and beyond.
Most popular courses
Provides students with an overview of the discipline of Indigenous studies including the history, cultures, and experiences of Indigenous people
Overview of the contemporary socio-economic, political, cultural, and environmental characteristics of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Legal theories under British Law or its historical derivations that have been used to justify the colonization of Indigenous peoples. Legal arguments and anthropological evidence raised by Indigenous groups to challenge those theories. Particular reference is paid to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States
The planning of research projects from the perspective of Indigenous cultures and values. Topics include project development, community relations and ethics, and identification and acquisition of appropriate resources
Outcomes
A UBC degree is respected by employers around the globe. Build the foundational skills needed to pursue a career in government departments and agencies, media and publishing, and non-government organizations or services, or to pursue graduate studies. Indigenous Studies will prepare you for a wide range of careers, from Aboriginal rights research, economic development advisor, and journalist, to policy analyst, tourism worker, and community development consultant.
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Program requirements
Choose application type:
English-language requirements
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
IB Diploma Programme
- Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.
IB Certificate Courses
- IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
- IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Arts
- No specific courses required beyond those needed for general admission
Related courses
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.
- Language Arts
- Mathematics and Computation
- Second Languages
- Social Studies
- Visual and Performing Arts
Want to get a feel for campus?
If you’re unable to visit UBC in person, or you just want to get a sneak peek at your new home campus before you arrive, take one of our virtual tours. Current UBC students walk you through UBC’s residences, study spots, recreational facilities, lecture halls, academic buildings, and more.
Related programs
Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences website to learn more about Indigenous Studies.
View full program details