International Indigenous Studies
Bachelor of Arts
(Faculty of Arts)
International Indigenous Studies is the examination of the experiences, culture and artistic endeavors, and current status of Indigenous people from around the world. Interdisciplinary in nature, International Indigenous Studies draws from areas of disciplines across the Faculty of Arts, Social Work, and Education, to study the experience of Indigenous peoples.
The International Indigenous Studies degree combines instruction in both Indigenous and Western worldviews. This program is designed to attract both Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons in the interests of reaching a new understanding of each other. The program is designed to appeal to prospective students who are enrolled in Indigenous post-secondary institutions in Alberta and who may wish to complete their degree at the University of Calgary. This innovative program merges expertise from Native and non-Native knowledge frameworks to reach a higher level of understanding of the structures and relationships which both join and separate our societies. The program exposes Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, be they Canadian or international, to ideas from diverse frameworks in challenging environments. Students are encouraged to critically assess new structures and mechanisms that are appropriate to present-day realities both in Indigenous peoples’ relations with the larger society and in their own communities.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission applicants are required to present appropriate high school subjects and a competitive average.
Application/Document Deadlines
Why take this program?
The program includes an emphasis on: academic excellence, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies, experiential learning, international content, a field immersion experience, and service to Indigenous communities. The program includes a variety of courses found throughout the University, along with core courses specific to this degree program. These core courses are further supplemented by bringing in scholars from around the world to teach classes on Indigenous issues.
Hallmarks of the International Indigenous Studies program include its international content, its breadth, its collaboration with Indigenous communities and colleges, its attention to research and service, and its academic rigour. Together these will prepare students to take their place in a global knowledge economy.
What will I study in my first year?
All first-year International Indigenous Studies take Development Studies 201, Introduction to Development Studies, an interdisciplinary course focusing on development in both a northern and international context. Native Languages 205, Native Languages I, a course that has a primary emphasis on the acquisition of conversational skills and vocabulary. Also, Indigenous Studies 201, Introduction to International Indigenous Studies, a multi-disciplinary, theoretical and empirical overview of the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial situations.
What will I study in later years?
As a result of the broad interdisciplinary nature of International Indigenous Studies, students are required to take courses from a number of disciplines to provide them with an integrated understanding of Indigenous peoples, past and present, in Canada and abroad.
What can I do with this degree? (Courtesy of Career Services)
Those with a BA degree in International Indigenous Studies have the skills to communicate across cultural boundaries to deal with and understand Indigenous communities and individuals. This degree also prepares you for graduate work for advancement of the field of Indigenous Studies locally, regionally, and nationally, or entrance into related fields of study at the masters and doctoral level, e.g., Anthropology, Canadian Studies, and other disciplines.
For a more comprehensive list of careers, visit the Career Services website. Take a look at the profiles for Anthropology and Canadian Studies to get an idea of some of the career paths available to you.
Additional Information
Student Finance
