Major in First Nations Studies (BA) at University of Northern British Columbia

Programme overview

The Major in First Nations Studies is a 120 credit hour Bachelor of Arts requiring 54 credit hours of First Nations Studies, at least 24 of them upper-division. The program takes the points of view of First Nations people and communities as the starting point for description and analysis.

Faculty: Indigenous Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities | Department: First Nations Studies | Study mode: full-time | Location: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

What you will study

Required courses are FNST 100 The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada, FNST 200 Perspectives in First Nations Studies, a First Nations language or culture course (e.g. Dakelh/Carrier, Haisla, Nisga'a, Tsimshian, Metis), FNST 300 Research Methods and FNST 440 Internship, plus 18 credit hours of upper-level First Nations Studies or approved ancillary courses from disciplines such as Anthropology, History, Geography and Nursing.

Career pathways

The major suits students aspiring to careers in education, business, public administration, law, communications, cultural property management, social services and health care delivery and administration, and leads to graduate and professional programs.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

UNBC undergraduate admission (applies to all bachelor's programmes). BC and Yukon applicants: approved Grade 12 graduation with an acceptable average calculated on the five best Grade 12 courses from the course list of the programme's degree group. Ontario applicants: OSSD with five Grade 12 U or 4U/4M courses and an overall 65% average, including ENG4U plus four additional 4U/4M courses (no more than one from the Arts category). Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut applicants: five courses with an overall 65% average including English Language Arts 30-1. Saskatchewan: 65% average including English A30 and B30. Manitoba: 65% average including one English 40S. Quebec CEGEP: at least 12 pre-university courses with a minimum 70% average, including at least two English courses. International applicants must meet the equivalent of these standards. Applicants whose first language is not English must show English proficiency, for example IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no module below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 with at least 20 in each component, Duolingo English Test 125 with at least 115 in each component, or PTE Academic 65 with at least 60 in each skill.

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the courses you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Intakes: September, January and May semesters for general entry BA, BComm, BPl and BSc programs. Competitive entry programs (BASc Engineering, BHSc, BEd, BSW, Nursing) admit for the September semester only, with no January intake.

General entry (BA, BComm, BPl, BSc): domestic applicants are accepted continually; international deadlines are 11 July for September, 8 November for January and 9 March for May. Applications for the 2027-2028 intake open in early October.

BASc (Engineering) applications close 1 March 2027 for September 2027; BHSc closes 15 May 2027; BEd closes 15 February 2027; BSW closes 1 February 2027; Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing (domestic only) closes 31 March 2027; Northern Baccalaureate Nursing LPN pathway closes 15 January 2027.

Graduate application fee: CAD 76.50 for domestic applicants and CAD 153.00 for international applicants, non-refundable and paid at submission online or through the Cashier's Office.

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