Indigenous-Focused Academic Programs

The University of Winnipeg actively encourages faculty to incorporate Indigenous perspectives and content in their coursework. Study in the area of Indigenous peoples is integrated into several degree programs, including Anthropology, Education, English, History, Political Science, Religion and Culture, and Sociology, and the University offers language courses in Ininew (Cree) and Anishnabemowin (Ojibwe), the two most commonly spoken Indigenous languages in Canada. We have developed a variety of degree and diploma programs specifically to meet the evolving needs of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students:

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Indigenous Studies is offered as a 3- or 4-year or honours degree. Students will be offered courses on a variety of topics, including an introduction to Indigenous issues in Canada and the world, and alternative worldviews involving interrelated themes of land, self-determination, cultural preservation and revitalization, Indigenous knowledge and natural resources, historical agency, and representations of Indigenous peoples. Students who wish to combine knowledge on Indigenous topics with other majors are encouraged to pursue the Minor in Indigenous Studies. A diploma option is also available in partnership with Red River College.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Urban and Inner-City Studies is an interdisciplinary major that can best be thought of as urban studies “from the margins,” by which we mean that the focus is on those urban spaces and people who are typically most marginalized. We offer courses in Colonization and Aboriginal Peoples, Poverty and the Law, Women and the Inner City, and Community Organizing. Most of our courses are offered in a unique off-campus setting on Selkirk Avenue in Winnipeg’s North End. Our Department attracts significant numbers of Indigenous and newcomer students, and students with a strong social justice orientation.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Indigenous Languages is offered as a 3- or 4-year degree. This program provides students with an interdisciplinary education in Indigenous Languages that focuses on revitalization, planning, and communication. Through core courses in Indigenous Studies and Linguistics, students grow as speakers of an Indigenous language and as capable proponents of Indigenous language revitalization. Students have opportunities for experiential learning to complement teaching and research.

CATEP (Community-Based Aboriginal Teacher Education Program) is a partnership between The University of Winnipeg and Winnipeg 1, Seven Oaks, River East/Transcona and Lord Selkirk School Divisions, as well as Sagkeeng First Nation and South East College. The program provides Aboriginal teaching assistants with the opportunity to attain a university degree part-time and become certified teachers, while continuing to work within the school system.

Winnipeg Education Centre (WEC) Bachelor of Education ACCESS Program (BA/BEd) provides an opportunity for students from Winnipeg’s inner city with non-traditional academic backgrounds to become teachers. Half the enrolment is reserved for Indigenous students. Academic supports, counselling services, cultural teachings, and a warm supportive environment are part of the 5-year integrated program.

Indigenous Spiritual and Pastoral Care Diploma is a two-year post-secondary program offered through the United Centre for Theological Studies. It is accredited professional preparation for Indigenous Spiritual and Pastoral Care-giving in Manitoba. The intent is to provide training for Indigenous people by Indigenous instructors, and graduates have specialized training to provide spiritual care.

Indigenous History Courses

Graduate Programs

Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) in Indigenous Development

Guided by an understanding of Indigenous principles, experience, knowledge, and rights, the University of Winnipeg’s Master’s in Development Practice: Indigenous Development (MDP) provides students with the range of skills, knowledge, and understanding required to practice sustainable development effectively. Culture, identity, and the right to self-determination infuse the comprehensive curriculum, which includes the environmental and social sciences, and health, economic, and management disciplines.

Master of Arts (MA) in Indigenous Governance is one of the only graduate programs of its kind in Canada. Students earn an MA in Indigenous Governance, a multidisciplinary program grounded in an understanding of Indigenous peoples’ values, principles, and philosophies. An international focus prepares students of all backgrounds to take leadership positions in the private and public sectors, to create and influence policy, to approach development creatively from an Indigenous perspective, and to promote the visibility and recognition of sovereign Indigenous peoples and communities in Canada and abroad. A pre-MA program is available for students who need additional coursework prior to applying for the MA.

Want to Prepare for University?

• Introduction to University
  This course is intended for prospective and newly admitted students wishing to prepare for university-level studies. This course provides practical strategies for reading, note-taking, and studying effectively. Participants gain an understanding of the key elements involved in the writing process, critical thinking, listening, learning styles, memory, and time management. A writing component is included that provides students with hands-on experience creating thesis statements, doing library research, and writing a research paper. Transfer Credit: The Introduction to University course is eligible for transfer credit toward a University of Winnipeg degree if a minimum grade of C is achieved.

• University Preparation Program
  Completion of this program makes University of Winnipeg post-secondary education accessible for adult learners who do not possess University admission requirements. The UPP is open to all members of the Winnipeg community!
  
  A 14-week program beginning in October-May of each year. The program is delivered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

• Beginning University Successfully (B.U.S). Program
  Designed for students who don’t have their Grade 12, this is an access program by which students achieve Mature Student status. Students take "Introduction to University" and "Academic Writing" in a single term and need a C or better to earn the Mature Student status designation.This program is currently being offered at the Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies located at 519 Selkirk Avenue.