Academic Programs

In addition to the programs listed below, many UVic courses have Indigenous content or focus. Please refer to the calendar for detailed course information at www.uvic.ca/calendar

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

UVIC Law 2009 Summer Session                                                                                                                 and Indigenous Law Program                                                                                                                       The Faculty of Law, University of Victoria, will once again be offering a Summer Session of fully accredited LL.B. degree courses in Summer 2009 (May 6 to August 17). In addition to course offerings in subjects such as Evidence, Business Associations, and Civil Procedure, we are particularly delighted to announce that the 2009 Summer Session will feature a special concentration in Indigenous Law - a program that consists of three innovative courses taught on an intensive basis over 6 weeks (June 29 to August 17) and focusing on the relationship between Canadian law and the legal systems of three Indigenous Nations. Email:  lawadmss@uvic.ca                                                                                            Web: www.law.uvic.ca/2009_Summer_Session/

Faculty of Education
Aboriginal education initiatives
Aboriginal Education prepares students to serve as educators in an Aboriginal context. We offer high quality, culturally appropriate programs and are committed to infusing Indigenous knowledge into existing and developing courses. In addition to an Aboriginal admissions policy, we offer support for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students through advising, research and inclusive programming. Aboriginal Education offers courses in language revitalization, counselling for Aboriginal communities, Indigenous pedagogy and Indigenous ways of knowing. Courses are offered both on campus and through community-based distance education.
Phone: 250-721-7826
Email: abeduc@uvic.ca
Web: www.educ.uvic.ca/aboriginaled

Faculty of Human and Social Development
Indigenous child welfare specialization
(School of Social Work)
Courses for the Indigenous child welfare specialization have an emphasis on the well-being of Indigenous children, families and communities. Courses are offered on campus and by distance education. Admission to the Indigenous specializations is limited to students of Indigenous ancestry. We define “Indigenous” to be inclusive of students who come from various nationhoods, including Métis and Inuit people who are Indigenous to North America.
Phone: 250-721-8036
Email: fnbsw@uvic.ca
Web: http://socialwork.uvic.ca/fn/index.htm

Indigenous specialization
(School of Social Work)
Indigenous students completing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree may choose this specialization to focus their undergraduate program on preparing for leadership roles as helpers and healers in Indigenous communities and organizations. Students will develop frameworks that centralize Indigenous knowledge, peoples, nations and communities. Courses are offered on campus and by distance education.
Phone: 250-721-8036
Email: fnbsw@uvic.ca
Web: http://socialwork.uvic.ca/programs/bsw/fnspec.htm

Nursing Program
(School of Nursing)
There is a growing need for Aboriginal nurses in Canada and internationally. As a career, nursing offers a variety of opportunities for continued learning and career development, and is fl exible to many lifestyles. The School of Nursing at UVic offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for registered nurses and students continuing from partner institutions. A list of current partners is available from the School of Nursing website at www.uvic.ca/nurs and at www.caen.ca. Continuing students in Victoria complete their fi rst two years of BSN studies at Camosun College, which currently has eight seats designated for Aboriginal applicants. Seats at UVic for years three and four are guaranteed for students meeting minimum progression requirements at the end of year two.
Phone: 250-721-7961
Email: jgillie@uvic.ca
Web: www.uvic.ca/nurs and www.caen.ca

Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences
Minor in Indigenous Studies
The Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences jointly offer an interdisciplinary program in Indigenous Studies intended to provide both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students with a core program incorporating Indigenous world views and ways of knowing.
Phone: 250-721-7047
Email: obonsaw@uvic.ca

Faculty of Law
Aboriginal Law Program
One of the most pressing challenges facing British Columbia and Canada is the need to achieve reconciliation and restitution with Indigenous people. The University of Victoria leads Canadian law schools in developing expertise on Aboriginal law by establishing a unique program for Indigenous students and adopting an Aboriginal equity plan. The Faculty of Law has a separate admissions program for Indigenous people. The selection criteria include such factors as educational background, employment history, community involvement and the potential to succeed in law school.
Phone: 250-721-8171
Email: mmatilpi@uvic.ca
Web: www.law.uvic.ca

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Faculty of Education
Master of Education in Counselling for Aboriginal Communities
Graduates of this program will have the necessary background to provide culturally responsive counselling to Aboriginal communities. This program is community-based and developed with the support and guidance of local Aboriginal communities. Open to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students, the courses follow requirements for counsellor certification with the Canadian Counselling Association and the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.
Phone: 250-721-7815
Email: amarshal@uvic.ca

Faculty of Human and Social Development
Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance
The Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance (MAIG) program provides students with a strong background in the values, perspectives, concepts and principles of Indigenous political cultures. As more communities reject the models of government imposed on them and return to their traditions, Indigenous leaders and state policy makers alike will benefit from an understanding of traditional thought and its application to contemporary concerns. The MAIG provides students with a strong foundation of basic and applied scholarly research as well as a path to understanding government and politics among Indigenous peoples, with a special emphasis on the nature and context of Indigenous governments in Canada.
Phone: 250-721-6438
Email: igov@uvic.ca
Web: www.uvic.ca/igov

Master of Social Work – Indigenous Specialization
The School of Social Work has a new Master of Social Work (MSW) program with an Indigenous specialization. This dynamic program is offered through a combination of on-campus, distance education and summer courses. The specialized program of studies is designed to meet all regular MSW degree program requirements while ‘centering’ Indigenous culture, knowledge and understanding. It aims to develop critical awareness and capacity for analysis, skills in practice and policy development for Indigenous service agencies, and knowledge and skills for the conduct of research that will contribute to Indigenous knowledge building and transmission. Students in this program come from a variety of professional social work backgrounds within the Indigenous social service sector.
Phone: 250-721-6275
Email: lbrown@uvic.ca
Web: http://socialwork.uvic.ca/programs/msw/fnmsw.htm

CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

Certificate in Foundations in Indigenous Fine Arts
The Faculty of Fine Arts offers this certifi cate in co-operation with the En’owkin International School of Writing and Visual Arts in Penticton, BC, where students complete their course requirements. The certificate program is designed primarily for mature Indigenous students who wish to develop specialized skills in creative writing or visual arts in an Indigenous context. All courses meet the academic standards of the University of Victoria and emphasize Indigenous perspective and cultural content.

Certificate in Aboriginal Language Revitalization
The Department of Linguistics and the Division of Continuing Studies offer this certificate program in co-operation with the En’owkin Centre in Penticton, BC. Students attend two summer sessions of one to three weeks in length: one at the En’owkin Centre in July and the other at UVic in August. These programs cover the core content of the certificate. Participants also choose three additional electives from a range of UVic courses or courses based in Aboriginal communities.
The program is designed to be completed on a part-time basis and encourages participants to relate their learning to practical issues of language loss and strategies for recovery within their communities. For information on both certificate programs, contact:
Phone: 250-721-6119
Email: calr@uvcs.uvic.ca
Web: www.uvcs.uvic.ca/calr

Diploma in Indigenous Child and Youth Care (online)
This program is offered by distance education by the School of Child and Youth Care. It includes community-based, culturally sensitive course work that focuses on the child and youth care needs of Indigenous communities. Please contact The School of Child and Youth Care for details.
Email: fnpp@uvic.ca
Web: www.uvic.ca/chil