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