Indigenous Studies
Certificate in the College of Liberal Arts
The NAIS program has a global, comparative focus with a particular strength in the Americas. The program allows students to develop a broad and in-depth understanding of indigenous thought and indigenous issues.
NAIS fosters and supports teaching and intellectual engagements around the languages, cultures, knowledges, histories, and current political struggles of indigenous peoples. The program provides a community for NAIS students through social events, a brown bag series in which students present their work, and strong ties to student organizations.
How to Declare
ShowTo enroll in the program, students must:
- Complete the online enrollment survey.
- Contact the NAIS Undergraduate Certificate Program Director
- Obtain a list of courses each semester by contacting your faculty representative, your undergraduate coordinator, or visit our website
- Complete the 18 hours of NAIS coursework
- Complete all requirements for your bachelor's degree
Required Courses
Show- 1. Completion of major through any undergraduate college of the University.
- 2. Completion of a lower-level introductory course that surveys Native American and Indigenous issues. This may include the Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies, Native American History, Native American Literature, or a lower-division introductory course on Indigenous issues in the Americas or in a transnational and global perspective.
- 3. Completion of five courses (15 hours) that meets the following requirements:
- Students are strongly encouraged to engage with courses in two or more of the strands.
- At least four courses (12 hours) must be designated as upper-division.
- At least two courses (6 hours) must be from outside of the department of the student’s major area of study.
- One course must be designated as a “capstone course,” whereby 100% of the content is related to Native American and Indigenous issues. Students may elect to complete an internship related to Native American and/or Indigenous issues as one of their courses.
