Northern Studies

Northern Studies is ideal for individuals, students or practitioners who wish to expand and/or formalize their knowledge of the North and its social, political and physical features, issues and stories.

The program's flexibility -- with a small core of required courses -- allows it to be self-directed and multidisciplinary. This makes it a fabulous opportunity for anyone wishing to pursue personal or professional interests in the North and the Circumpolar world, because it enables individually tailored study plans to suit specific needs by including options for independent and multidisciplinary reading, study and research in a range of academic fields.

Previous college or university study can be a step up to a Northern Studies Diploma. Those with sufficient previous university-level coursework, a Yukon University Liberal Arts certificate, another academic credential or a previous degree may be able to achieve a post-certificate or post-degree diploma in only one year of full-time study.

• English 12 (65%)

If students do not meet the admission requirement, they should explore entry options with a Program Advisor.

To graduate, students must complete 60 credits, including

• ENGL 100 and ENGL 101 (6 credits)
• Two Northern Studies (NOST) core courses (6 credits)
• Five Northern Studies (NOST) electives (15 credits)
• Two social-science electives (6 credits)
• Two science electives* (6 credits)
• Seven electives (21 credits)

Diploma students must ensure that they

• complete at least six courses (18 credits) at the 200 level or above
• demonstrate Yukon First Nations Core Competency
• complete at least 50% of the work at Yukon University
• maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C average)

NOTE ABOUT ELECTIVES

• NOST core courses and NOST electives may be used as electives provided all other requirements have been met. Course selection should be done in consultation with a program advisor.
• Diploma students may take up to 12 credits from outside the School of Liberal Arts and School of Science. However, students must recognize that such coursework may not be transferable to programs at other post-secondary institutions and may result in a credit shortfall upon transfer. Students working towards a degree should check their course selection with a Program Advisor.
• 060-level courses will not be accepted as LA or Open Electives in this program.

*NOTE ABOUT SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• As of May 2019, science elective courses no longer require labs.

A Program Advisor can discuss options.

Yukon University recognizes that a greater understanding and awareness of Yukon First Nations history, culture and journey towards self-determination will help to build positive relationships among all Yukon citizens. As a result, you will be required to achieve core competency in knowledge of Yukon First Nations.

For details, visit Yukon First Nations Core Competency

Any undergraduate-level Yukon University course that is part of the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer (BCCAT) system is eligible for dual credit. Many courses in the School of Liberal Arts are suitable for high-school students to take as dual credit courses providing any prerequisites are met.

Students have often selected ENGL 100, HIST 140, PSYC 100, PSYC 101, and SOCI 100 for dual credit, but many other first-year courses and some second-year courses are options. Beginning in Fall 2023, ENGL 101 is available.

For more information about dual credit for Yukon high-school students, see the Dual Credit program page.

For transfer information on a specific Yukon University course, click the 'Check the BC Transfer Options' link on the course’s information page. For additional information, consult a Program Advisor.

Fees

Tuition for credit programs is calculated per course credit. See money matters for more information.

Some programs and courses have additional fees - see Ancillary Fees.

Student financial awards

Education is an investment in your future, your family and your community. Yukon University is pleased to support that investment by offering some of the most competitive tuition rates in the country, as well as several student financial awards to help offset your educational and living costs.

Financial assistance

There are government programs, scholarships, bursaries, awards and First Nation funding available to financially support you throughout your academic career.

See money matters for more information, or talk to our financial advising staff in the Student Services Centre. Email or call 867 456 8574 to make an appointment.

In all School of Liberal Arts programs, students may find opportunities to engage in hands-on scholarship and research experiences in and beyond the classroom.

These experiences can enrich learning and help prepare students for future careers or advanced studies. Through scholarship, students develop critical thinking and gain insights into the research process. Working with faculty mentors or on independent projects, students discover new horizons and achieve personal growth.

Yukon University and its academic Senate has adopted the 2019 report of the Scholarly Activity Engagement Team, Scholarly Activity at Yukon University. The following has been excerpted from the report:

OUR DESCRIPTION OF SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY
Scholarly activity is an intentional, sustained process of creating, validating and transferring knowledge. Scholarly activity happens on the land, the water and in the sky, lab, field and all learning spaces; it reaches a relevant audience and engages community.