The Bachelor of Arts, Nisg̱a'a Language Fluency degree provides an immersive education in the Nisg̱a'a language, intended to create new Nisg̱a'a language speakers. The fundamental pedagogical approach is to offer as much Nisg̱a'a language instruction as possible, as early as possible. The program is offered in a manner that recognizes that learners, knowledge keepers, and their communities as a whole benefit from, and contribute to, the (re)development of Nisg̱a'a language fluency.
Students are required to complete 120 credit hours including a minimum of 60 credit hours of upper-division coursework. 84 credit hours (including 36 credit hours at the upper level) consists of courses with a Nisg̱a'a language component.
For the purpose of the Bachelor of Arts, Nisg̱a'a Language Fluency, all courses with Nisg̱a'a language, history and/or culture from the following areas are considered:
- Anthropology
- Arts
- Biology (Ethnobotany)
- First Nations Studies
- History
During the first year of the degree students take the following courses:
Learning Strategies | |
Research Writing | |
or | Writing and Communication Skills |
Nisg̱a'a Language: Level 1 | |
Nisg̱a'a Language: Level 2 | |
Nisg̱a'a Language Immersion: Level 1 | |
Nisg̱a'a Oral Culture Level 1 | |
Nisg̱a'a Culture: Level 1 | |
Nisg̱a'a Culture: Level 2 | |
Nisg̱a'a Language Immersion: Level 2 | |
Nisg̱a'a Oral Culture Level 2 |
During the second year of the degree students take the following courses:
Computer Applications | |
or 3 credits of Mathematics at any level | |
Introduction to Linguistics | |
Nisg̱a'a Language: Level 3 | |
Nisg̱a'a Language: Level 4 | |
Nisg̱a'a Culture: Level 3 | |
Nisg̱a'a Culture: Level 4 | |
Nisg̱a'a Language Immersion: Level 3 | |
Nisg̱a'a Language Immersion: Level 4 |
Subject Requirement
Six additional credit hours of electives at any level; it is recommended that these be taken in the second year.
During the third year of the degree students take the following courses:
Ethnobotany | |
Research Methods in First Nations Studies | |
Lisims Anadromous Summer and Fall Fisheries in Nisg̱a'a Culture and History | |
The Spring Anadromous Fisheries of Lisims in Nisg̱a'a Culture and History | |
The Structure of a First Nations Language | |
First Nations Advanced Composition and Conversation: Level 1 | |
First Nations Advanced Composition and Conversation: Level 2 | |
Advanced First Nations Language Immersion | |
First Nations Language Mentoring |
And one of the following courses:
Art and Material Culture of BC First Nations | |
First Nations Health and Healing | |
First Nations Religion and Philosophy | |
Indigenous Environmental Philosophy | |
Seminar in First Nations Studies |
During the fourth year of the degree students take the following courses:
Community-Based Research Project | |
Developing Language Materials | |
First Nations Songs and Poetry | |
First Nations Speeches and Stories | |
A Study of a First Nations Language Family and Its Linguistic Relatives | |
Oral History |
And two of the following courses:
Advanced Topics in First Nations Art and Material Culture | |
Internship in First Nations Studies | |
Senior Project in First Nations Studies | |
Special Topics in First Nations Studies |
Updated: June 26, 2024