Program Overview
The Faculty offers three- and four-year majors and a minor in Aboriginal and Northern Studies. These programs build from a focus on Aboriginal cultures of Northern Manitoba, this interdisciplinary program aims to further understandings of the experiences of Aboriginal peoples and communities in the past and present and to consider regional, national and international dimensions.
Aboriginal ways of knowing and western approaches to knowledge are explored and integrated throughout the curriculum as learners are exposed to a variety of perspectives, sources and intellectual traditions within a decolonizing methodology. Offering a variety of interrelated courses, key areas of study include Aboriginal history and culture, politics, governance and justice, community development, indigenous knowledge, and Aboriginal languages.
Certification Options
Program Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in the major as part of the three-year Bachelor of Arts degree.
- At least 12 credit hours must be at the 2000 level or higher.
- A further minimum of 12 credit hours must be at the 3000 level or higher.
Required Courses
The following courses are required:
- ANS 1000 – Introduction to Aboriginal Studies I (3 credit hours)
- ANS 1001 – Introduction to Aboriginal Studies II (3 credit hours)
- ANS 2100 – Research Methods in Aboriginal and Northern Studies I (3 credit hours)
Additional Course Requirement
Students must complete one of the following options:
- At least 3 credit hours of Aboriginal language courses, including ANS 1100 or demonstrated competency in an Aboriginal language,
OR - 3 credit hours of Indigenous knowledge courses, including one of the following:
- ANS 2150 – Kayas Achanohkewina: Stories of Long Ago
- ANS 2400 – Northern Manitoba First Nations and Environment
- ANS 3400 – Philosophy and Culture of the First Nations of Northern Manitoba
- Other courses as designated by the Faculty of Arts, Business and Science
Program Requirements (Four-Year BA Degree)
Students must complete a minimum of 42 credit hours in the major as part of the four-year Bachelor of Arts degree.
- At least 6 credit hours must be at the 2000 level or higher.
- A minimum of 12 credit hours must be at the 3000 level or higher.
- A minimum of 12 credit hours must be at the 4000 level.
Required Courses
The following courses are required:
- ANS 1000 – Introduction to Aboriginal Studies I (3 credit hours)
- ANS 1001 – Introduction to Aboriginal Studies II (3 credit hours)
- ANS 2100 – Research Methods in Aboriginal and Northern Studies I (3 credit hours)
Additional Course Requirement
Students must complete one of the following options:
- At least 3 credit hours of Aboriginal language courses, including ANS 1100 or demonstrated competency in an Aboriginal language,
OR - 3 credit hours of Indigenous knowledge courses, including one of the following:
- ANS 2150 – Kayas Achanohkewina: Stories of Long Ago
- ANS 2400 – Northern Manitoba First Nations and Environment
- ANS 3400 – Philosophy and Culture of the First Nations of Northern Manitoba
- Other courses as designated by the Faculty of Arts, Business and Science
Why Study Aboriginal and Northern Studies (BA) at UCN?
- Career flexibility and relevance
- Students get a deep understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, and perspectives
Career Outcomes and Community
A BA with a major in Aboriginal and Northern Studies is a valuable undergraduate degree oriented towards northern cultural, economic, social and geographic realities. Successful graduates will be prepared for employment in education, business, law, justice, communications, social services, health care delivery and administration, and many other fields. With an undergraduate major in Aboriginal and Northern Studies students may apply for admission to graduate programs in several academic disciplines, and to many professional programs. Students intending to apply for graduate or professional programs should ensure that their programs include all required prerequisites.
Program Schedule
| Course | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS.1700 | First Nations Languages and Governance |
| ANS.1000 | Introduction to Aboriginal Studies |
| ANS.1001 | Introduction to Aboriginal Studies 2 |
| ANS.1100 | Introduction to Cree Language 1 |
| ANS.1101 | Introduction to Cree Language 2 |
| ANS.2000 | Aboriginal Politics 1 |
| ANS.2001 | Aboriginal Politics 2 |
| ANS.2015 | Introduction to Cree Syllabics |
| ANS.2100 | Research Methods in Aboriginal and Northern Studies 1 |
| ANS.2150 | Kayas Achanohkewina, Legends of Long Ago |
| ANS.2155 | Learning Cree Through Storytelling |
| ANS.2200 | The History of the Fur Trade and Aboriginal Societies 1600–1870 |
| ANS.2250 | The Metis Nation |
| ANS.2300 | Images of the North 1 |
| ANS.2301 | Images of the North 2 |
| ANS.2400 | Northern Manitoba First Nations Environment |
| ANS.2450 | Aboriginal Women of Northern Manitoba |
| ANS.2900 | Selected Topics in Aboriginal and Northern Studies |
| ANS.2950 | Selected Topics in Aboriginal and Northern Studies |
| ANS.3000 | Aboriginal Law 1 |
| ANS.3001 | Aboriginal Law 2 |
| ANS.3100 | Research Methods in Aboriginal and Northern Studies 2 |
| ANS.3101 | Oral History Methodology |
| ANS.3200 | History of the Canadian North |
| ANS.3250 | History and Sociology of Genocide in Canada and the United States |
| ANS.3300 | Indigenous Women and Literature 1 |
| ANS.3301 | Indigenous Women and Literature 2 |
| ANS.3400 | Philosophy and Culture of the First Nations of Northern Manitoba |
| ANS.3450 | Aboriginal Medicine and Health |
| ANS.3600 | Community Economic Development in Circumpolar World |
| ANS.3700 | Community Development, Local and Global Perspectives |
| ANS.3900 | Selected Topics in Aboriginal and Northern Studies |
| ANS.3960 | Selected Topics in Aboriginal and Northern Studies |
| ANS.4200 | The Changing Circumpolar North |
| ANS.4250 | Topics in Colonialism |
| ANS.4255 | Colonial Encounters |
| ANS.4260 | Gender and Colonialism |
| ANS.4360 | Critical Theory, Aboriginal and Northern Studies |
| ANS.4900 | Selected Topics in Aboriginal and Northern Studies |
| ANS.4950 | Selected Topics in Aboriginal and Northern Studies |
| ANS.4960 | Directed Readings |
| RJP.2010 | Aboriginal Experience of the Criminal Justice System |
| RJP.2040 | Aboriginal Restorative Justice Initiatives in Manitoba |
| Course | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENG.2000 | Contemporary Canadian Aboriginal Literature 1, Prose |
| ENG.2001 | Contemporary Canadian Aboriginal Literature 2, Poetry and Drama |
| ENG.3005 | Indigenous Literature of the Americas |
| ENG.3006 | Indigenous Literature of the World |
| Course | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BCS.3521 | Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World 1 |
| BCS.3522 | Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World 2 |
| BCS.3531 | Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World 1 |
| BCS.3532 | Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World 2 |
| GEO.3910 | Special Topics in Human Geography |
| PHI.2010 | Selected Topics in Philosophy |
| SOC.3010 | Selected Topics in Social Inquiry |
| SOC.3250 | Special Topics in Sociology of Education |
| SOC.3460 | Special Topics in Societies and Cultures |
| SOC.3750 | Special Topics in Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality |
| SOC.3801 | Special Topics in Sociology |
| SSC.3150 | Special Topics in Research Methods |
| SSC.4450 | Advanced Topics in Post-Colonial Studies |
| SSC.4801 | Advanced Topics in Social Sciences |
| SSC.4900 | Directed Reading in the Social Sciences |
Admissions
Requirements
Regular Student
a) Grade 12 graduate with a regular or mature high school diploma, with
b) Language Arts (English) 40S, one credit, and
c) Pre-calculus Mathematics 40S, Applied Mathematics 40S or Essential Mathematics 40S,
d) Or equivalencies of above.
Mature Student
a) Mature student is or will be 19 during the first year of
registration,
b) And is a high school graduate without the requirements for
regular status,
c) Or has completed at least three 40S courses,
d) Or has GED standing,
e) Or has attended another university under mature status and achieved a minimum C standing,
f) Or completed a full semester with a minimum C standing from an accredited post-secondary institution,
g) Or has demonstrated readiness to succeed at the university entry level
Estimated Cost
Application Fee
- Domestic Student Application Fee: $50
- International Student Application Fee: $158
Important Dates and Deadlines
Program Start Date
September 8, 2026
Program End Date
June 11, 2027
