In addition students must take a seminar in at least one program area. Canadian studies in the School is loosely organized into four areas of research specialization which have been more formally organized into program areas . Although students must take a core seminar in one area, they are free to move among the program areas. Many students take more than one core seminar and conduct research which draws insights from several areas. Students are registered in the Canadian Studies program per se, and not in a specific program area.
Some students pursue individual specializations which are distinct from the program areas.
The first formalization of program areas was the result of a major grant from the Donner Canadian Foundation. There is no simple correspondence between Donner candidates and the northern and Native studies program area since some of these students also pursue research which encompasses women's studies, various aspects of culture, or heritage conservation. The development of other, more formal program areas resulted from the success of the structure for northern and Native studies. Although Institute students had pursued women's studies and cultural studies research topics in previous decades, numbers warranted separate core seminars and the appointment of a program co-ordinator in each area. The seminar in Canadian women's studies was formalized as a second program area in 1983.