Indigenous Studies

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Credentials available

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts & Science
Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Management

Campus

Lethbridge

Intake

Fall & Winter

Admission requirements

Program description

Indigenous studies explores art, law, philosophy, health, politics, history, gender studies, ecology, business, customs and language — all from a unique Indigenous perspective — making this one of the most sought-after programs of its kind in Canada.

In this program, you’ll have the opportunity to investigate First Nations’, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) history, heritage and culture, as well as the contemporary issues that face FNMI communities.

As a student of Indigenous Studies, you’ll have access to Indigenous instructors, who are often nationally or internationally renowned, seasoned professionals with real-world experience.

Indigenous Students' Union (ISU) | Indigenous Studies students have an active presence on campus through the ISU, which sponsors the annual Indigenous Awareness Days and various other community events.

Indigenous Awareness Days | This annual, week-long event consists of a series of free lectures, workshops and the celebration of Indigenous culture. Indigenous Awareness Days usually takes place in March.

Minors | Adding a minor to your degree is a great way to explore academic interests beyond your major. A minor is a set of courses comprising a secondary focus of interest generally not related to your major. A minor may be required or optional.

Honours thesis | If your GPA is high enough in your fourth year, you can opt to complete an undergraduate thesis course. This is an excellent opportunity for you to earn an “Honours Thesis” designation on your degree.

Experience learning | Our students have a number of experiential learning opportunities available to them including co-operative education, international exchanges, independent and applied studies as well as volunteer opportunities. uLethbridge is the only university in Alberta to offer co-operative education to all majors in the arts & sciences, at both the undergrad and grad level. Transfer students can head out on their first work term before ever stepping foot on campus! For example, many transfer students have completed a summer work term before starting classes in September.

Skills acquired | In addition to developing exceptional written and oral communication skills in the program, you will also develop your critical and analytical thinking skills, your information acquisition and management skills, as well as your attention to detail. These abilities are highly sought after and can be applied to practically any working scenario.

Possible careers

Related fields. There are numerous interesting career options open to Indigenous studies graduates, like:

fine arts
politics
administration
Native outreach work
international affairs
art history
economics
film
human rights work
social work
Native issues lobbying
governmental diplomacy
historic site administration
public relations
art appraisal
demography
preservation planning
civil service
environmental history
historical documentation
historical film production
historic foundation
administration
genealogy
museum curation
local government
archaeology
historical research
creative writing

Professional disciplines & graduate studies. Your undergraduate degree in Indigenous Studies also provides an excellent foundation for law, management, journalism and education. The University of Lethbridge’s School of Graduate Studies offers graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels spanning over 60 disciplines — so why not consider pursuing grad school right here in Lethbridge! Whether you choose to do your advanced studies at uLethbridge or another institution, know that your undergraduate degree has set you on the path to post-graduate success.

Admission requirements for Indigenous Studies

Choose a Province/Territory:

For admission, Canadian high school students in Alberta must have completed five of the following courses with a minimum 65% average across them:

This course is required:

English Language Arts 30-1

Three of these courses are required:

Aboriginal Studies 30
Art 30 or Art 31
Biology 30
Chemistry 30
Choral Music 30, General Music 30, or Instrumental Music 30
Dance 35
Drama 30
Mathematics 30-1 or Mathematics 30-2
Mathematics 31
Physics 30
Science 30
Social Studies 30-1 or Social Studies 30-2
Five credits in Advanced-level CTS Computer Science (CSE)
One or more distinct languages at the 30 level

One additional requirement from this list:

That has not already been used
May be from the list above
Must be at the 30 level
Must be worth at least five credits (multiple courses worth a total of five or more credits can be used)
Cannot be a Special Project

Not a Canadian high school student? Find your admission requirements here

First year cost estimator
for Indigenous Studies

Let us help you understand your tuition and fees for your first year at the University of Lethbridge.

Work in silence and let your success be your noise.
- Shay-Lynn, Indigenous Studies

Sample classes

Course selections for the program will vary, but may include:

Introduction to Indigenous Studies
Indigenous Art Studio
Indigenous Histories of Canada
Indigenous Peoples and Law
The Métis
Comparative Traditional Indigenous Economies
Blackfoot & Cree Languages

Quick links

Transfer Credit Equivalencies Database

View uLethbridge Program Planning Guides