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 A shared Circumpolar Studies course plan

This broad-based exemplar course provides UArctic instructors with materials and resources to elaborate their own version of this course and tailor it to their regional and institutional needs. The course fits the UArctic course themes of lands and environments, peoples and cultures & contemporary issues. 

While designed from an English literature and Northern Cultural Studies perspective, there is plenty of scope for parts of this course to be used in more interdisciplinary settings as well as adapted for online or distance delivery.

The exemplar course includes a course pack with overarching course description, a series of critical questions, as well as a set of course learning outcomes. There are also ten free-standing modules divided into topics, titles and brief module descriptions. Each module has a list of core and recommended texts that instructors can use as a resource for their own course development and class readings. These suggested modules can be adapted, taught non-sequentially or added to as necessary.

The exemplar course also includes a sample lesson plan to give instructors an idea of how classroom time could be structured, and a suggested assessment framework with descriptions of the kinds of assignments with which students might be tasked.

This course is licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 4.0 International. Læra Institute would like to hear from users about changes, adaptations, or additions.

Prospective instructors are free to contact Dr Drew Lyness at Yukon University with questions, ideas, or experiences of elaborating these materials.

 

Download exemplar course materials (licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 4.0 International):

 A shared Circumpolar Studies course plan

Climate change is more dramatic in northern systems compared to other locations globally, creating unique challenges and responses for regions in the Circumpolar world. This exemplar course includes broad themes including lands, wildlife, and people of the Circumpolar North that are impacted by climate change.

It begins with an overview of climate change as an issue, the historical evidence and scientific basis, and evidence from multiple cultural lenses. Further topics include the current and projected impacts of climate change on the Circumpolar North, including the land, its biota, northern communities, and drivers that shape these interactions, cumulative impacts of climate change with anthropogenic land use changes, and socio-economic changes. Climate change impacts are examined using traditional-knowledge principles from multiple cultures with long histories in the Circumpolar world.

This course follows the guidelines of the Læra Institute's Circumpolar Studies curriculum in employing a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating local First Nations knowledge, employing Indigenous learning styles, learning on the land, incorporating Elder or Knowledge-holder participation, and will cover contemporary issues, necessitated by the rapidly changing climate in the North.. 

This exemplar course could be an essential part of learning for students planning to live and work in the North and contribute to mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Students may be professionals and practicing managers and have hands on information to share regarding developing strategies and management objectives for their communities. The classroom atmosphere and style of dissemination for this course encourages sharing of ideas.

The exemplar course includes a course pack with overarching course description, modules, learning outcomes, course texts, and suggested prerequisites, format, and timetable.  It also includes a slide deck with further details about learning outcomes and resources for each course module, as well as a suggested assessment framework including assignments with which students might be tasked.

This course is licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 4.0 International with the following changes, listed here as they occur (none so far). Læra Institute would like to hear from users about changes, adaptations, or additions.

Prospective instructors are free to contact Dr Tara Stehelin or Dr Tara Howatt at Yukon University with questions, ideas, or experiences of elaborating these materials.

 

Download exemplar course materials (licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 4.0 International):

  • Course pack (including course description, modules, learning outcomes, textbook list, and suggested course prerequisites, format and timetable)
  • Slide deck (including further details about learning outcomes and resources for each course module)
  • Suggested assignment framework

How can I register for UArctic Circumpolar Studies?

The exciting UArctic Circumpolar Studies online programme is open to any students enrolled in a UArctic member institution via the UArctic’s online international exchange program.  Enroll and pay tuition at your home university, while working for credit on these courses offered by other UArctic institutions.  Learn from instructors and peers in an international setting.

Ten half-credit courses are offered every year.  These courses can be used to supplement existing Northern and Circumpolar Studies courses at your university.  You may also earn a five-credit diploma certificate, or a four-credit specialisation in Circumpolar Studies.

You are advised first to contact your UArctic representative to ask whether the UArctic Circumpolar Studies programme is applicable at your university.  You should also contact the UArctic Circumpolar Studies registration team at Trent University ask how to join the diploma or specialisation streams, or if you are unable to find a UArctic representative at your university.

If you're already part of the UArctic Circumpolar Studies programme, check back on this website every term for information about available courses and a new registration form.

Download the registration form here.

What Circumpolar Studies courses are offered this year?

Each academic year, ten core and elective UArctic Circumpolar Studies courses are offered. All Circumpolar Studies instructors are experienced in curriculum development and online pedagogy.

The credit system and semester dates in the table below are based on North American models, but the courses are open to students at any UArctic member institution, and credits can be adapted.  The accredited UArctic Circumpolar Studies programme serves as the foundation for Circumpolar or Northern Studies programmes, majors, or minors in some North American member institutions, for which course codes are provided in the table below.

The following UArctic Circumpolar Studies courses are available in the 2023-24 academic year.  Download your copy of the UArctic Circumpolar Studies brochure for more details of each course.

FALL 2023

Course title Core/Elective Institution Instructor Trent Code Yukon Code UNBC Code Lakehead Code
Introduction to the Circumpolar World Core (CS 100) Yukon, Lakehead A Graham, A Lino GEOG 1045H NOST 101 NORS 101-3 Northern Studies 1111
Lands and Environments of the Circumpolar North I Core (CS 311) Trent K Fleming GEOG-ERST 2320H NOST 326 NORS 311-3 Northern Studies 3111
Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World I Core (CS 321) Trent D King INDG 3745H NOST 328 NORS 321-3 Northern Studies 3211
Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World I Core (CS 331) Trent H Nicol GEOG-ERST 3390H NOST 324 NORS 331-3 Northern Studies 3311
Canada's People and Places Elective Trent H Nicol GEOG-CAST 2810H      
The Contemporary Canadian North in a Circumpolar Context Elective Trent H Nicol CAST 3243H      
Reading Course in Circumpolar Studies Elective Trent H Nicol GEOG 3904H      

 

WINTER 2024

Course title Core/Elective Institution Instructor Trent Code Yukon Code UNBC Code Lakehead Code
Introduction to the Circumpolar World Core (CS 100) Yukon, UNBC A Graham, S Hellyer GEOG 1045H NOST 101 NORS 101-3 Northern Studies 1111
Lands and Environments of the Circumpolar North II Core (CS 312) Trent K Fleming GEOG-ERST 2330H NOST 327 NORS 312-3 Northern Studies 3112
Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World II Core (CS 322) Trent D King INDG 3750H NOST 329 NORS 322-3 Northern Studies 3212
Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World II Core (CS 332) Trent H Nicol GEOG-ERST 3640H NOST 325 NORS 332-3 Northern Studies 3312
Arctic Environmental Security Core (CS 400) UAA D Causey GEOG 3904H      
Histories of the Canadian North Elective Trent H Nicol CAST 3241H      

 

SUMMER 2024

Course title Core/Elective Institution Instructor Trent Code Yukon Code UNBC Code Lakehead Code
Introduction to the Circumpolar World Core (CS 100) Trent K Fleming GEOG 1045H NOST 101 NORS 101-3 Northern Studies 1111
The International Arctic: Environment, Diplomacy and Geopolitics Elective Trent H Nicol CAST-GEOG 2811H      

 

What is Circumpolar Studies?

Circumpolar Studies is by definition an interdisciplinary field that explores the global Arctic region from a number of different perspectives, including the social sciences, the humanities, the natural sciences and the arts.  It brings together scholarly perspectives from educators, researchers, practitioners and Indigenous knowledge holders who live and work throughout the Circumpolar North. The result is a comprehensive study of lands and environments, peoples and places, cultures and languages, and political and economic systems.  This holistic approach permits us to understand how the Circumpolar North is connected by common environments, experiences and identities.

Circumpolar Studies does not promote abstract conceptions of the Circumpolar North, but rather strives to see the region from the perspective of its inhabitants.  Its curriculum reflects a diversity of viewpoints and and sensitivity to context.  It develops an appreciation for the connections between people and place, the impacts of globalisation and colonialism, the challenges of climate change, and the interplay between Indigenous knowledge and Western science.  This rich and situated knowledge breaks down disciplinary barriers, inviting students to understand the Circumpolar North as a unique place that is both a lived-in homeland and an emerging global region undergoing rapid change.

 

What is the UArctic Circumpolar Studies Consortium?

Led by Trent University in Canada, the Circumpolar Studies Consortium is a group of UArctic universities that offer online undergraduate Circumpolar Studies courses consistent with the UArctic core curriculum.  This shared curriculum was developed to help institutions with a focus on Northern or Circumpolar Studies to connect on a region-wide basis, to expand existing course offerings, and to deliver a high-quality and northern-centric program by building on synergies and common interests,  Today, Trent University, Lakehead University, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Washington and Yukon University are all engaged in curriculum-building and course offerings. Other UArctic member institutions participate in online learning.

 

What is the UArctic Circumpolar Studies curriculum?

The UArctic Circumpolar Studies curriculum involves eight core courses about the lands and environments, peoples and cultures, and contemporary issues of the Circumpolar North.  These core courses comprise the common UArctic programme, which together lead to the UArctic's certificate in Circumpolar Studies.  Individual UArctic member institutions may also have other elective courses beyond this core curriculum that focus on special topics. 

The core UArctic Circumpolar Studies curriculum is open to students at any UArctic member institution.  Download your copy of the UArctic Circumpolar Studies brochure for more details.

The UArctic Circumpolar Studies curriculum includes the following courses:

  • CS 100 - Introduction to the Circumpolar World: Introduces students to the landscape, peoples, and issues of the Circumpolar region.  Beginning with an examination of the geography, biological, and physical systems of the Subarctic and Arctic, the course then turns to the Indigenous and contemporary peoples of the region.
  • CS 311 - Lands and Environments of the Circumpolar North: Explores the lands and environments that define the Circumpolar region and identifies the key issues involving interaction between humans and their environments, examining climate change and its impacts on landscapes, biodiversity, and ecological systems.  Provides a broad foundation for the study of circumpolar peoples, economies, landscapes, communities, and adaptation to climate change.
  • CS 312 - Changing Resources of the Circumpolar North: Provides students with an in-depth understanding of the key issues which define the future of resources and resource use in the Circumpolar North.  Focuses upon the challenges of resource management for governments and communities, and assesses the potential conflicts derived from resource use.  Prerequisites: CS 100 and CS 311, or permission of the instructor.
  • CS 321 - Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World: An introduction to historic traditional cultures and contemporary peoples through both traditional Indigenous and Western perspectives.  Identifies the broad and basic understanding of the histories and experiences of the peoples of the Circumpolar North, and the development of northern cultures.  Explores and defines the cultural diversity present in the Circumpolar North with reference to environments, contact, and economic processes.
  • CS 322 - Language, Culture, Identity and the Circumpolar World: A broad examination of Circumpolar peoples in North America, northwest Russia, Siberia and northern Asia, Greenland, the North Atlantic, and northern Scandinavia.  Notions of identity, culture, language, and self-determination are discussed.  Provides a broad and basic description of the histories and experiences of the peoples of the Circumpolar North and the development of northern cultures.  Prerequisite: CS 100 and CS 321, or permission of the instructor.
  • CS 331 - Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World: Develops a basic appreciation of the most important contemporary challenges surrounding governance and politics, social issues, education and knowledge systems, and global issues in the Circumpolar regions of the North.  It explores the complexity and inter-relatedness of governance, social policy, gender, indigeneity, and law.  Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
  • CS 332 - Geography of the Polar Regions: Study of selected aspects of the polar regions with considerable reference to northern Canada but with the deliberate intention of developing comparisons between it and other parts of the polar regions. Prerequisite: CS 100 or permission of the instructor.
  • CS 400 - Arctic Environmental Security: Through this course, students will acquire a thorough, cross-disciplinary understanding of key issues, challenges and developments in Arctic regional security and governance.  Upon completion of the course, the students should be able to draw on both historical knowledge, international relations theory, and public international law to critically analyze and evaluate current events and future perspectives in the Arctic.  Final grades will be based on class participation, a research paper, and a presentation.

The following elective Circumpolar Studies courses have also been developed at Trent University, and they are open to students at any UArctic member institution (Trent course codes and prerequisites shown):

  • GEOG-CAST 2810H - Canada’s People and Places: Explores the geography of Canada and its peoples and places. Examines the development of Canada’s cultural landscapes and regions, and the social, economic, and political development of the Canadian nation-state. Canada’s geography is explored as an east-west nation under increasing pressure from globalization and new national agendas. Prerequisite: GEOG 1030H.

  • GEOG-CAST 2811H - The International Arctic: Environment, Diplomacy and Geopolitics: Introduces students to the international politics of the circumpolar region and concludes with a unique simulation of the Arctic Council at which students are challenged to develop real-life scenarios and to play the role of diplomatic and reach consensus on difficult areas of Arctic public policy. Prerequisite: GEOG 1045H or permission of the instructor

  • CAST 3241H - Histories of the Canadian North: Introduces students to major themes in the Canadian Northern history, from pre-contact to the creation of the territory of Nunavut in 1999. The major themes focus on evolving cultural, political, socio-economic, and environmental histories. Prerequisite: 6.0 university credits or permission of the instructor. Not open to students with credit for CAST-HIST 3240Y.

  • CAST 3243H - The Contemporary Canadian North in a Circumpolar Context: Explores issues in the contemporary Canadian North with a focus on social, political, economic, and environmental issues. Students are encouraged to critically examine Canada’s Northern strategies and compare these to the social and economic priorities of Arctic leaders and Indigenous peoples living in remote Northern communities. Prerequisite: 6.0 university credits or permission of the instructor. Not open to students with credit for CAST-HIST 3240Y.

  • GEOG 3904H - Reading Course in Circumpolar Studies: Students explore special topics of interest to them. Only open to students in the Diploma or Option in Circumpolar Studies. Prerequisite: 3.0 credits from GEOG 1045H, GEOGERST 2320H, 2330H, 3390H, GEOG-CAST 3640H, ERST-INDG 3740H, INDG 3745H, 3750H, CAST 3241H or 3243H. Written permission must be obtained from the appropriate instructor and the coordinator of the program before registration.

 

 

One of the missions of the UArctic Læra Institute for Circumpolar Education is to encourage undergraduates to dive into the UArctic Circumpolar Studies curriculum, a comprehensive series of courses introducting the lands and environments, peoples and cultures, and contemporary issues of the Circumpolar North.  The UArctic Circumpolar Studies curriculum is open to undergraduates studying at any UArctic member institution, and it's taught online.  Learn more below!

  • UArctic Circumpolar Studies — an introduction to UArctic Circumpolar Studies, including a downloadable brochure detailing the programme and the courses that may be available each year
  • Current UArctic CS Courses — a list of the UArctic Circumpolar Studies courses taught in the current academic year, including titles, teaching institutions and teaching faculty
  • UArctic CS Registration — instructions on how to register for a UArctic Circumpolar Studies course, including a downloadable registration form

If you're a faculty member at a UArctic member institution who would like to send your students to join courses, or to offer courses yourself, please contact the UArctic Circumpolar Studies Coordinator at Trent University for more information

The Læra Institute regularly sponsors academic conference sessions on educational innovation and pedagogical best practice in Circumpolar Studies.  We invite scholars, educators and practicioners to our sessions to give and discuss presentations on cutting-edge work in these areas, and we publish calls for abstracts on our news feed.  Members of the Læra Institute Steering Committee also take part in academic conferences, symposia and workshops to introduce our work, and to discuss Circumpolar education more broadly.

Future Læra Institute conference sessions and appearances are posted here and in our news.  Past sessions and appearances include (follow links for wrap-up notes and recordings):

 

On 12th March 2021, the Læra Institute held our first faculty workshop, on the topic of 'Circumpolar Studies Is...'.  The workshop took place online in two sessions—a 'Trans-Atlantic' session timed to cover North America and Europe, and a 'Trans-Pacific' session timed to cover Asia and western North America.

In our call for participation, we asked prospective workshop participants to consider what it means to say—academically, pedagogically and practically—that Circumpolar Studies is interdisciplinary, comparative, polyvocal, pedagogically diverse and interconnected.  The ensuing discussion now serves to inform our on-going work to support Circumpolar Studies teaching and learning within UArctic.  Some participants also provided written comments ahead of the workshop sessions.

The Læra Institute is most grateful to the 21 Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars from fourteen UArctic member institutions in five countries who took part in the workshop.  Their oral and written contributions constitute a rich source of information and inspiration for faculty and students teaching and learning about the Circumpolar North.  With the permission of all participants, we're pleased to be able to make available here a video recording of the 'Trans-Atlantic' session, as well as a document containing the transcript of that session.  We regret that technical difficulties precluded the recording and transcription of the 'Trans-Pacific' session, but the document also contains notes from the 'Trans-Pacific' session moderator.  The document contains copies of all written submissions as well.

Download a copy of the 'Circumpolar Studies Is...' workshop document, and watch a recording of the 'Trans-Atlantic' session embedded below or on our Vimeo channel.

 

Student Symposia

The Læra Institute holds regular symposia for students studying the Circumpolar world at UArctic member institutions.  We especially aim to serve UArctic undergraduate students, who tend to lack the same opportunities as graduate students have to take part in academic gatherings.  Our symposia give them the opportunity to share their experiences of learning about the Circumpolar World, and to offer feedback on Circumpolar Studies programmes and teaching to faculty.  They also offer students the chance to showcase their own research, and to take part in interactive experiential learning events such as Model Arctic Council.

Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic delayed our plans, we are now pleased to launch our first student symposium (follow link for further information and to register):

The Læra Institute has also taken part in student symposia sponsored by other Circumpolar institutions, including:

Faculty Workshops

 

The Læra Institute holds regular workshops to support UArctic member faculty teaching Circumpolar Studies. These workshops focus on teaching about the Circumpolar world, rather than on researching it. Our workshops give UArctic member faculty the opportunity to share pedagogical best practice — educational innovation, teaching materials and techniques, and experience of different teaching styles and contexts, from traditional teaching in the classroom to alternative methods of experiential or on-the-land teaching. Our workshops also give faculty the chance to consider Circumpolar Studies in the round — its subject matter, methods and meaning.

Future workshops are annouced here, and in our news.  Past Læra Institute faculty workshops have included (follow links for wrap-up notes):

The Læra Institute helps knit the UArctic together as a borderless academic community through our support for faculty and students studying the Circumpolar world. We are committed to fostering dialogue between UArctic member faculty teaching Circumpolar Studies, as well as to provide ways for students to make their voices heard. We aim to offer on a regular basis opportunities for faculty and students to come together:

  • Faculty workshops — gatherings of UArctic member faculty teaching Circumpolar Studies, to share educational innovations, resources and best practice, and to disseminate pedagogical research
  • Student symposia — gatherings of UArctic member students studying Circumpolar Studies, to share their learning experiences and feedback for faculty, as well as to showcase their own research
  • Conferences — side-meetings, workshops and sessions at international Arctic conferences for faculty and students to discuss Circumpolar Studies, and to give papers and presentations on educational innovation and pedagogy for the Circumpolar North

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