American Studies

Add a Certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies

Native American and Indigenous Studies provides opportunities for students to become acquainted with members of various Native tribal communities which they might not otherwise experience. It also offers students a chance to enhance their knowledge and understanding of broad themes in the histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples throughout the world. Students explore topics such as federal Indian law and policy, Indigenous foodways, the colonization of the United States and Mexico, and Native American literature.

A certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies enriches an undergraduate or graduate liberal arts degree by exposing students to Native American & Indigenous Studies; topics that are often ignored in mainstream elementary, high school and college curricula. The courses required for the certificate help broaden the scope of students' understanding of United States history, with special reference to Native Americans' role in its founding, economy, Indian-white relations, and contemporary society. 

The undergraduate certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies effectively complements degrees in professional areas such as social work, law, education and public health, and better prepares graduates in those area to understand and address issues related to the American Indian people they will serve. They also serve to make students aware of opportunities for further study and concentration in areas such as history, literature and the arts.