The Program

Native American and Indigenous studies raises questions that are critical for a meaningful liberal arts education. Concepts such as power, citizenship, culture, identity, justice and sovereignty take on new meanings in the context of colonialism and the struggles, past and present, of Indigenous peoples.

The Five College Certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies enables students to:

• Learn the depth and breadth of Indigenous methodologies and their applications to the most pressing issues of today
• Critically approach the field through engagement with Native and Indigenous intellectual traditions, histories and cultures
• Undertake meaningful research in archives, on the land and with communities
• Work with leading scholars across multiple fields, as well as with visiting tribal scholars
• Understand the unique sovereign status of Native and Indigenous peoples, the complexity of Indigenous legal and political systems and the many facets of U.S. and international law and policy

Students in this certificate program draw on the resources of not one campus but five, benefiting from a wide variety of courses exploring Native American and Indigenous histories, literatures, cultures, and contemporary issues, which are taught within the consortium each year.

Requirements

At least seven courses are required for completion of the Five College Certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies: a foundation course plus six additional courses, with no more than three of the seven courses from a single discipline (such as Anthropology or Literature). Requirements are as follows:

• One foundation course: Offered at various levels, foundation courses provide an opportunity to hear Native perspectives and are taught from a philosophical perspective that reflects Native Studies theories, pedagogies and methodologies. Consult with your NAIS advisor or the Program Chair to identify the appropriate foundations course.
• Six additional courses: Students must complete at least six additional courses, selected in consultation with your campus advisor. These may include courses from study abroad.
• Grades: Students must receive a grade of B or higher in all seven courses to receive a Certificate.

Students are encouraged to use the Certificate Application to consult with their certificate advisor, plan for both which courses to take and for completing all certificate requirements. Students are expected to finalize this form with their certificate advisor and attach a copy of their unofficial transcript during the final semester of their senior year: no later than November 1 for fall/January graduates, and April 1 for spring/May graduates.