You are reading the 2024/25 Academic Calendar. The 2023/24 version remains in effect until August 31, 2024 and is available here.

First Nations and Endangered Languages

The First Nations and Endangered Languages Program offers a program of study that leads to a Bachelor of Arts.

The First Nations and Endangered Languages Program (FNEL) is part of UBC's commitment to community-based collaboration with First Nations and other Indigenous peoples, in recognition of the vital importance of their languages and of the cultural traditions they represent. FNEL is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program within the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies in the Faculty of Arts.

British Columbia has an extraordinarily rich linguistic heritage, being the ancestral home of more than half of the Indigenous languages of Canada. The reality is that all of the 34 surviving First Nations languages of BC are critically endangered, many facing the loss of their last generation of fluent speakers within the next decade. The loss of any one of these languages, which have flourished for millennia being passed from generation to generation as rich and vibrant oral traditions, constitutes an irreplaceable loss of a living expression of intellect, of specific cultural understanding, of a vital link to the past, and potential keys to our collective well-being, health, and sustainability.

Through partnership with the Musqueam Indian Band, the Faculty of Arts' First Nations and Endangered Languages (FNEL) program offers university-level classes in the traditional language and cultural heritage of the Musqueam (Coast Salish) people, on whose ancestral territory UBC is situated. These classes are held at the Musqueam Indian Reserve, and are taught in collaboration with members of the Musqueam community. The program also offers courses in other First Nations and Indigenous languages, as well as courses in methodologies and technologies for endangered language documentation, conservation, and revitalization.

FNEL courses are broadly interdisciplinary in approach and hence are of relevance to students in a diversity of humanities and social sciences programs who are interested in the complex spectrum of human language diversity, and in the dynamics of change, loss, sustainability, and revitalization.

Students can pursue a Major or Minor in FNEL. Alongside classes in which students can learn First Nations languages at all levels, from introductory to advanced, FNEL courses explore the processes and protocols for the documentation, conservation, and revitalization of endangered languages, cultures, and Indigenous knowledge systems locally, regionally and internationally.

Students pursuing a Major may wish to consider a double Major or a Minor in related areas such as First Nations and Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Anthropological Archaeology, Linguistics, English Language, English Literature, History, Political Science, or Canadian Studies, among other options.

Major in First Nations and Endangered Languages

The Major requires the completion of at least 54 credits in FNEL and related areas, of which 30 credits must be at the 300/400 level.

FNEL Language Requirement

  • 12 credits of FNEL 100- and 200-level language courses or the equivalent1

1Students may satisfy this requirement by completing 12 credits of a single or multiple FNEL language courses, or the equivalent (for example: community-based language courses). Students should contact CIS Advising (cis.advising@ubc.ca) in advance to discuss their options. This requirement will be updated manually.

Lower-level Requirements

Students must complete the following 12 credits of FNEL and FNIS courses:

  • FNEL 180 (3)
  • FNEL 281 (3)
  • FNEL 282 (3)
  • 3 credits at any level from FNIS

Upper-level Requirements

Students must complete at least 12 credits of upper level FNEL courses, as follows:

  • A minimum of 3 credits from FNEL 481 (3) or FNEL 482 (3)
  • A minimum of 9 credits from FNEL 300- and 400-level courses.

In addition, students must complete at least 18 credits from the Approved Course List at the 300- and 400-level.

Students should visit the First Nations and Endangered Languages Program website for the Approved Course List and additional information.

Minor in First Nations and Endangered Languages

The Minor requires the completion of at least 30 credits in FNEL and related areas, of which 18 credits must be at the 300/400 level.

FNEL Language Requirement

1Students may satisfy this requirement by completing 6 credits of a single or multiple FNEL language courses, or the equivalent (for example: community-based language courses). Students should contact CIS Advising (cis.advising@ubc.ca) in advance to discuss their options. This requirement will be updated manually.

Lower-level Requirements

Students must complete at least 6 credits of 100- and 200-level FNEL courses, as follows:

  • 6 credits from FNEL 180, 281 and 282

Upper-level Requirements

Students must complete:

  • A minimum of 9 credits from FNEL 300- and 400-level courses.
  • In addition, students must complete at least 9 credits from the Approved Course List at the 300- and 400-level.

Students should visit the First Nations and Endangered Languages Program website for the Approved Course List and additional information.

 


UBC Crest The official logo of the University of British Columbia. Urgent Message An exclamation mark in a speech bubble. Caret An arrowhead indicating direction. Arrow An arrow indicating direction. Arrow in Circle An arrow indicating direction. Arrow in Circle An arrow indicating direction. Chats Two speech clouds. Facebook The logo for the Facebook social media service. Information The letter 'i' in a circle. Instagram The logo for the Instagram social media service. Linkedin The logo for the LinkedIn social media service. Location Pin A map location pin. Mail An envelope. Menu Three horizontal lines indicating a menu. Minus A minus sign. Pencil A pencil indicating that this is editable. Telephone An antique telephone. Plus A plus symbol indicating more or the ability to add. Search A magnifying glass. Twitter The logo for the Twitter social media service. Youtube The logo for the YouTube video sharing service.