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Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
(Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
B349 Loeb Building
carleton.ca/northernstudies

This section presents the requirements for programs in:

M.A. Northern Studies (5.0 credits)

Requirements:
1.  2.0 credits in:2.0
NRTH 5000 [1.0]
Core Seminar: Northern Environments, Northern Societies, Northern Policy
NRTH 5001 [1.0]
Core Seminar: Northern and Arctic Issues
2.  0.0 credit in:0.0
NRTH 5008 [0.0]
Introductory Northern Field Course
3.  0.5 credit in:0.5
NRTH 5009 [0.5]
Field Course in Can. North
4.  1.0 credit in:1.0
NRTH 5901 [0.5]
Practicum in Northern Studies
NRTH 5905 [0.5]
Comprehensive Examination
5.  0.5 credit from:0.5
GEOG 5003 [0.5]
Critical Approaches to Qualitative Inquiry
PECO 5001 [0.5]
Methodologies of Political Economy
SOCI 5105 [0.5]
Special Topics in Social Research
6.  1.0 credit in additional course work chosen from the following list, or as approved by the program supervisor.1.0
ANTH 4610 [0.5]
Anthropology of Indigeneity
ANTH 5004 [0.5]
Ecological Anthropology
ANTH 5208 [0.5]
Anthropology of Indigeneity
CDNS 5101 [0.5]
Indigenous Peoples, Canada and the North
CDNS 5700 [0.5]
Arctic Passages: The Changing Dynamics of Canada's North
GEOG 5600 [0.5]
Empire and Colonialism
PADM 5224 [0.5]
Indigenous Policy
PADM 5614 [0.5]
Natural Resource Management
Total Credits5.0

Notes:

  1. Advanced standing may be granted for up to 1.0 credit for GEOG 5003, SOCI 5105, PECO 5001, GEOG 5001 or an approved course in research methods, and for other elective courses.
  2. Up to 1.0 credit at the 4000-level may be selected, with the approval of the program.

M.Sc. Northern Studies (5.0 credits)

Requirements:
1.  2.0 credits in:2.0
NRTH 5000 [1.0]
Core Seminar: Northern Environments, Northern Societies, Northern Policy
NRTH 5001 [1.0]
Core Seminar: Northern and Arctic Issues
2.  0.0 credit in:0.0
NRTH 5008 [0.0]
Introductory Northern Field Course
3.  0.5 credit in:0.5
NRTH 5009 [0.5]
Field Course in Can. North
4.  1.0 credit in:1.0
NRTH 5901 [0.5]
Practicum in Northern Studies
NRTH 5905 [0.5]
Comprehensive Examination
5.  0.5 credit in:0.5
GEOG 5001 [0.5]
Modeling Environmental Systems
6.  1.0 credit in additional courses as listed below, or as approved by the program supervisor. 1.0
GEOG 4013 [0.5]
Cold Region Hydrology
GEOG 4017 [0.5]
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
GEOG 4108 [0.5]
Permafrost
GEOG 5303 [0.5]
Geocryology
GEOG 5804 [0.5]
Geographic Information Systems
Total Credits5.0

Notes:

  1. Advanced standing may be granted for up to 1.0 credit for GEOG 5003, SOCI 5105, PECO 5001, GEOG 5001 or an approved course in research methods, and for other elective courses.
  2. Up to 1.0 credit at the 4000-level may be selected, with the approval of the program.

Graduate Diploma in Northern Studies (3.0 credits)

Requirements (Type 2 and Type 3 Diplomas):
1.  2.0 credits in:2.0
NRTH 5000 [1.0]
Core Seminar: Northern Environments, Northern Societies, Northern Policy
NRTH 5001 [1.0]
Core Seminar: Northern and Arctic Issues
2.  0.0 credit in:0.0
NRTH 5008 [0.0]
Introductory Northern Field Course
3.  0.5 credit from:0.5
GEOG 5003 [0.5]
Critical Approaches to Qualitative Inquiry
PECO 5001 [0.5]
Methodologies of Political Economy
SOCI 5105 [0.5]
Special Topics in Social Research
GEOG 5001 [0.5]
Modeling Environmental Systems
or another course in research methods approved by the Program Supervisor
4.  0.5 credit from:0.5
ANTH 4610 [0.5]
Anthropology of Indigeneity
ANTH 5004 [0.5]
Ecological Anthropology
ANTH 5208 [0.5]
Anthropology of Indigeneity
CDNS 5101 [0.5]
Indigenous Peoples, Canada and the North
CDNS 5700 [0.5]
Arctic Passages: The Changing Dynamics of Canada's North
GEOG 4013 [0.5]
Cold Region Hydrology
GEOG 4017 [0.5]
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
GEOG 4108 [0.5]
Permafrost
GEOG 5303 [0.5]
Geocryology
GEOG 5600 [0.5]
Empire and Colonialism
GEOG 5804 [0.5]
Geographic Information Systems
NRTH 5009 [0.5]
Field Course in Can. North
PADM 5224 [0.5]
Indigenous Policy
PADM 5614 [0.5]
Natural Resource Management
A maximum of 1.0 credit may be taken at the 4000-level. No more than 0.5 credit may be taken as a Directed Study or Graduate Tutorial. Courses must be taken from at least three disciplines (as indicated by course prefixes).
Total Credits3.0

Note: advanced standing may be granted for up to 1.0 credit for GEOG 5003, SOCI 5105, PECO 5001, GEOG 5001 or an approved course in research methods, and for other elective courses.

Northern Studies (NRTH) Courses

NRTH 5000 [1.0 credit]
Core Seminar: Northern Environments, Northern Societies, Northern Policy

Disciplinary perspectives on the biophysical, social, and policy environments of northern Canada. Resource development, devolution, local governance and sovereignty in a time of rapid environmental change.
Prerequisite(s): NRTH 5008 or permission of the Northern Studies program supervisor.

NRTH 5001 [1.0 credit]
Core Seminar: Northern and Arctic Issues

Research and evaluation using interdisciplinary perspectives on biophysical and social issues faced by northern Canadians. Topics will vary from year to year. Research activities may be in collaboration with northern agencies.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): NRTH 5000 (may be taken concurrently).

NRTH 5008 [0.0 credit]
Introductory Northern Field Course

Overland field excursion to a northern community in the first week of the fall term or the week before the fall term. The course may last six days. Graded SAT/UNS.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): Enrolment in the first year of a Northern Studies program.

NRTH 5009 [0.5 credit]
Field Course in Can. North

Field observation and methods in a selected region of northern Canada on a group basis. A supplementary fee will apply.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): NRTH 5000, NRTH 5001, NRTH 5008, NRTH 5905 (NRTH 5905 may be taken concurrently), and permission of the Northern Studies Supervisor.
Field course to take place for two or three weeks in the summer.

NRTH 5901 [0.5 credit]
Practicum in Northern Studies

Research activity under the supervision of professionals in museums, government departments, nongovernmental organizations, embassies, or another professional research setting. The research must be in Northern Studies. Graded SAT/UNS.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): NRTH 5000 (may be taken concurrently) and permission of the Northern Studies supervisor.

NRTH 5905 [0.5 credit]
Comprehensive Examination

This examination focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to resolution of biophysical, social, or policy problems with respect to northern Canada. A specific theme will be identified for each candidate. The exam will comprise a research paper, common language summary, interview, and oral presentation.
Prerequisite(s): NRTH 5000, NRTH 5001, or permission of the Northern Studies supervisor.

Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca.

Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Academic standing of B- or higher must be obtained in each course counted toward the fulfilment of the degree or diploma requirements.

Admission


M.A. and M.Sc. Northern Studies

The minimum requirement for admission to the M.A. or M.Sc. program in Northern Studies is normally an Honours degree (or four-year degree) with B+ standing. Customarily, applicants will have degrees in the environmental sciences, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, geography, or a related field. Applicants with degrees in other disciplines, or without an honours degree, must demonstrate equivalent experience that may have prepared them for the program. Applicants must present a succinct 500-word statement indicating why they anticipate academic success in an interdisciplinary environment and outlining their motivation for taking this program.

Diploma in Northern Studies (Type 2)

  • Enrolment in a master's or doctoral degree program.
  • Letter of support from the student's supervisor.
  • A 500-word letter from the applicant outlining the reasons for wishing to enrol in the Diploma program, including comments on why they desire an interdisciplinary academic experience, why they expect to succeed in an interdisciplinary environment, and a proposed course schedule that will enable timely completion.

Diploma in Northern Studies (Type 3)

  • Honours or four-year degree with B+ standing. Customarily, applicants will have degrees in the environmental sciences, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, geography, or a related field.
  • Two letters of reference that indicate why the applicant is likely to succeed in the program. The referees must have a university degree, and preferably a graduate qualification.
  • Applicants with degrees in other disciplines may present professional experience to supplement their academic record. In such cases, additional references may be requested as well as an interview with the applicant. Referees must have a university degree, and preferably a graduate qualification.
  • A 500-word letter from the applicant outlining the reasons for wishing to enrol in the Diploma program, including comment on why they desire an interdisciplinary academic experience, why they expect to succeed in an interdisciplinary environment, and a proposed course schedule that will enable timely completion.