Social, Cultural, and Media Studies

Diaspora Studies certificate

Migration is a central feature of the modern world; in both colonial and post-colonial eras, people have moved voluntarily and been moved involuntarily across national borders, even as such borders have been constructed, and shifted, in response to historical, political, and social forces. Migrant peoples construct new social relationships in their destinations even as they reconstruct and maintain connections to their homelands.

The migration, movement, or exile of a people from an established or ancestral homeland, and the subsequent re-creation of home and belonging in the new land, is referred to as a diaspora. The interdisciplinary and comparative field of diaspora studies analyzes experiences of transnational movement and settlement in terms of how these are historically and politically informed, how they shape forms of cultural production, expression, and identity, and how they are lived in everyday life.

This 21-credit certificate, which draws its offerings from across a number of UFV Arts disciplines, is designed for students who are considering diaspora-related graduate work or careers in public service, community development, social policy, immigration and settlement, and diaspora-related arts. Students will develop knowledge and skills that will help them develop their careers and pursue further studies in these areas. The certificate will also prepare them to be thoughtful, informed, and engaged citizens of an increasingly complex world.

Entrance requirements

UFV students who have completed at least 45 university-level credits are eligible to take the Diaspora Studies certificate. This certificate is intended for students who wish to complete it at the same time as they pursue another program. Students must ensure that they meet course prerequisites.

Visiting exchange students may wish to complete this certificate as part of their study abroad experience, and will be accepted upon recommendation by UFV-International and approval of their proposed program of study. Applicants must satisfy the English language proficiency requirement. For details on how this requirement may be met, see English language proficiency requirement section of the calendar.

How to apply

New students should apply to Qualifying Studies. Students will be required to meet the admissions requirements for the university, as well as meet course prerequisites.

Students currently enrolled in other post-secondary programs and who have completed at least 45 university-level credits are required to meet only the course prerequisites.

Program duration

Students should expect to dedicate one to three semesters to completing this certificate.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section.

Program requirements

Certificate offerings are drawn from across a number of UFV Arts disciplines. The Diaspora Studies certificate can be taken within or as part of existing UFV Arts degrees. This certificate offers students two options: Option A is composed entirely of academic course work; Option B will provide students with an internship or service learning experience that will enrich and complement their academic studies.

Students must complete the core program as well as either option A or option B, for a total of six courses worth a minimum of 21 credits, as follows:

Core program

• Core course, ANTH 367/ENGL 367 (4 credits)
• Two courses in the list of primary electives from any two disciplines (6-8 credits)

Option A — Coursework

• An additional three courses from either the primary or secondary electives lists (9-12 credits)

Option B — Internship/Service Learning

• ARTS 280, Special Topics: Arts Internship in a Specific Discipline (3 credits)
• An additional two courses from either the primary or secondary electives lists (6-8 credits)

Program outline

Core course:

Primary electives:

Secondary electives:

Note: Additional courses, such as ANTH 270/SOC 270/MACS 270, ENGL 229, ENGL 341, ENGL 369, and SOC 475, may be approved as certificate electives when the topics are appropriate to this program. Contact the Chair of the Diaspora Studies certificate Program Committee for advice in these regards on a term-by-term basis. Directed Studies courses will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Residency

The core program must be completed at UFV. Up to six credits can be transferred from other institutions to meet elective requirements. Exchange students can complete the certificate in one semester by transferring up to six credits from their home institutions to meet elective requirements; please contact UFV International regarding this process, at international@ufv.ca.

Undergraduate continuance

Students enrolled in undergraduate courses (courses numbered 100 or above) must maintain an undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.00 to remain enrolled in Good Academic Standing at UFV. Students in Good Academic Standing will have no registration limits placed on them. Failure to meet the minimum CGPA requirement will result in restrictions on registration and may eventually lead to academic suspension from undergraduate studies at UFV. Students on Academic Warning or Academic Probation are limited to registering in 10 credits. For further details, see the Undergraduate Continuance section of the academic calendar. Academic standing is governed by UFV’s Undergraduate Continuance policy (92).

Graduation requirements

Students are required to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 in all courses applied to the certificate. Students can apply for and receive the certificate retroactively.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.