International Relations

The International Relations (IR) program examines the global interactions between states, non-state actors, as well as economic and social structures and the processes that connect them. At UBC, the IR program enables students to develop an in-depth understanding by combining the insights and perspectives of different disciplines such as Economics, History, and Political Science, with the study of languages.

Interdisciplinary Studies (BA Program)

The Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST) BA Program offers a multidisciplinary alternative to the traditional, department-based major. Students admitted to the program design their own cross-disciplinary course of study to progress their individual academic and professional goals.

Health and Society Minor

The Health and Society Minor (HESO) offers a multidisciplinary exploration of issues pertaining to health, illness, and society from perspectives inherent to the social sciences and humanities. HESO enables students to learn about such key issues in health including: the social determinants, beliefs and behaviours, cultural representations, and inequalities.

First Nations and Indigenous Studies Program

First Nations and Indigenous Studies provides students with an understanding of the histories, contemporary realities, and political concerns of Indigenous peoples in Canada and beyond. Founded in 2001, students are provided extensive experience with Indegenous political theory and politics, aesthetics, literature, and contemporary social concerns.

First Nations and Endangered Languages Program

The First Nations and Endangered Languages Program (FNEL) marks UBC’s commitment to community-based collaboration with the First Nations people, in recognition of the profound importance of First Nations languages and the rich cultural traditions they represent. The FNEL offers courses in First Nations languages, as well as methodology classes on language documentation, conservation and revitalization.

Environment and Society

The minor in Environment and Society allows students to consider and explore both the consequences of humankind’s actions on the environment and the accumulating impact of these actions. Through Arts disciplines that focus on the human experience, students will examine strategies that address environmental problems and promote a sustainable society.

School of Creative Writing

The School of Creative Writing program at UBC combines the best of traditional workshop and leading-edge pedagogy. Taught by published and award-winning writers, this literary cross-training offers opportunities in a broad range of genres including fiction, poetry, screenplay, podcasting, videogame writing, and graphic novels.

Cognitive Systems

The UBC Cognitive Systems Program (COGS) is a multidisciplinary, undergraduate program involving four departments: Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Psychology. The program is designed to introduce students to the issues and approaches associated with the study of the mind, and of other intelligent systems, as these relate to cognition, computation, creativity, information, language, perception, and rationality.

Children’s Literature (MA program)

The Master of Arts in Children’s Literature (MACL) program is jointly offered by the Departments of English and Language and Literacy Education, the Creative Writing program, and the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies. As the only program of its kind in Canada, graduate students receive specialized education in the study of children’s and young adult literature and media.

Canadian Studies

The Canadian Studies program is a multidisciplinary community of students and scholars, who critically engage Canada’s history to understand its place in the world. With over 90 departmental disciplines working on aspects of Canada, UBC Canadian Studies span a diverse range of interests, bringing together important questions and debates about Canada from the humanities to the social sciences.