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Department of Indigenous Studies | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Summer 2025

Indigenous Studies Major

Bachelor of Arts

This bachelor of arts (BA) degree program is for those who are interested in focusing and expanding their expertise in this discipline. Students will gain detailed insight into the cultures, histories and contemporary developments of Indigenous peoples in British Columbia and North America. Students will develop a solid foundation in the study of Indigenous issues from a variety of disciplinary approaches.

Program Declaration

Students seeking admission into an Indigenous Studies Academic Program must demonstrate competency in a minimum of three INDG courses at SFU with an average subject grade of C or better. Completion of INDG 101 and INDG 201W prior to declaring an INDG program is recommended.

Students who have successfully completed three or more INDG courses should contact the department advisor to review eligibility and program completion timeline.

Program Requirements

Students should plan their program in consultation with the Indigenous studies advisor.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum total of 15 units, including

INDG 101 - Introduction to Indigenous Studies (3)
INDG 201W - Indigenous Peoples' Perspectives on History (3)

and a minimum of three courses from

INDG 102 - Indigenous Academic Research (4)
INDG 110W - International Indigenous Lifewriting (4)
INDG 111 - Introduction to Participatory Indigenous Research Methods (3)
INDG 210 - Introduction to Indigenous Digital Media (3)
INDG 211 - Researching Residential Schools: An Analysis of RS in North America (3)
INDG 212 - Indigenous Perceptions of Landscape (3)
INDG 222 - Selected Topics in Indigenous Studies (3) *
INDG 232 - Introduction to Ethnoecology in Indigenous Studies (3)
INDG 250 - Introduction to Indigenous Policy (3)
INDG 286 - Indigenous Peoples and British Columbia: An Introduction (3)

Other courses which have Indigenous content may be applied toward the major as an elective, subject to approval by the department. Students are advised to consult the program advisor.

* may be completed more than once when offered as a different topic

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum total of 30 units, including

INDG 301 - Issues in Applied Indigenous Studies Research (3)
INDG 401 - Indigenous Peoples and Public Policy (3)
INDG 402W - Discourses of Indigenous Peoples (3)
INDG 403 - Indigenous Knowledge in the Modern World (3)

and at least 18 units chosen from

INDG 305 - Treaties in Canada (1)
INDG 310 - Indigenous Film (3)
INDG 322 - Special Topics in Indigenous Studies (0) +
INDG 325 - History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850 (4) ++ or HIST 325 - History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850 (4) ++
INDG 326 - History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America Since 1850 (4) ++ or HIST 326 - History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America Since 1850 (4) ++
INDG 327 - Indigenous Women in Canada (4) ++
INDG 329 - Sexuality and Gender: Indigenous Perspectives (3)
INDG 332 - Indigenous Ethnobotany (3)
INDG 333 - Indigenous Ethnozoology (3)
INDG 353W - Indigenous Heritage Stewardship (3)
INDG 360 - Popular Writing by Indigenous Authors (4) ++ or ENGL 360 - Popular Writing by Indigenous Authors (4) ++
INDG 363 - Indigenous Poetry, Poetics, Printmaking (4)
INDG 383 - Indigenous Technology: Art and Sustainability (4)
INDG 410 - Elements of Indigenous Style: Indigenous Editing Practices (4)
INDG 419 - Aboriginal/Indigenous Justice (3) ++ or CRIM 419 - Aboriginal/Indigenous Justice (3) ++
INDG 422 - Special Topics in Indigenous Studies (0) +
INDG 429 - Indigenous Peoples and International Law (3) ++ or CRIM 429 - Indigenous Peoples and International Law (3) ++
INDG 433 - Indigenous Environmental Justice and Activism (4)
INDG 442 - Directed Readings in Indigenous Studies (3)
INDG 443W - Aboriginal Peoples, History and the Law (4) ++ or HIST 443W - Aboriginal Peoples, History and the Law (4) ++
INDG 447 - Directed Studies in Indigenous Studies (3)
INDG 462 - Indigenous Oral Testimony: Theory, Practice, Purpose, Community (4)

Other special topics and/or directed studies courses may be applied toward the major, provided the content suggests a suitable substitution, and subject to approval by the undergraduate chair or program advisor. Credit accumulated in the certificate in Indigenous studies research may be applied toward the major in Indigenous studies.

+ may be completed more than once when offered as a different topic

++ only one of the two courses may be used

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs, students complete 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division overall CGPA of at least 2.0, and program CGPA and upper division program CGPA of at least 2.0 on the course work used to satisfy the minimum program requirements. FASS departments may define additional GPA requirements for their respective programs.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.