Native American and Indigenous Studies (A.A.)
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) explores both the historic and contemporary experience of the indigenous peoples of North, Central, and South America, including diasporic and mestizo identities, as well as immigrant and refugee histories. This program examines subjects ranging from cultural production and representation to history, law, economics, sustainability, politics, language and literature. Emphasizing the autonomous nature of indigenous societies and epistemologies, NAIS encourages students to engage in a critical analysis of issues such as indigeneity, colonialism, cultural diversity, sovereignty, ecological relations with the land, modes of cultural preservation, and community building.
As an interdisciplinary program, NAIS honors the cultural complexity and intersectionality shared by programs such as Black/Africana Studies, Chicano Studies, Visual and Cultural Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies. This program is designed to prepare students to major in Native American and Indigenous Studies at either a CSU or UC.
In addition, a degree in Native American and Indigenous Studies will enhance the study of economics, philosophy, sociology, environmental studies, political science, amongst others. Graduates pursue careers in a wide variety of fields, such as education, tribal governance, non-profit organizations, social work, law, journalism, public policy, or cultural heritage management.
Students will participate in experiential learning activities such as field trips, research projects, service learning, and activism in order to deepen their understanding of indigenous communities. The ultimate purpose of this program is to help create an understanding of the lived experiences and cultural complexities of Native American and Indigenous people and build empathy toward a shared struggle for social justice.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the fields, approaches, theoretical frameworks, and important scholarship that define and make up the discipline of Native American and Indigenous Studies.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the historical, political, social, economic, and cultural influences on the representation of Native American and Indigenous identities.
- Evaluate the ways in which Native American and Indigenous identities are shaped through mediated representations, socialization, institutional systems, and historiography and analyze counternarratives and various forms of resistance
- Explain the historical development of tribal governments and the current functions of those governments, including the history of settler colonialism and the modern concept of tribal sovereignty.
- Develop an understanding of the methodologies used in the evolution and preservation of Native American and Indigenous spoken, written, and visual languages.
- Evaluate how Native American and Indigenous identities intersect with elements of race, gender, class, ability, and sexual orientation, including diasporic, mestizo, immigrant, refugee populations.
Program Requirements
| Code Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (6 units): | ||
| NAIS 100 | Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies | 3.0 |
| NAIS 101 | Engaging with Native American Communities I | 3.0 |
| Section A (6 units): | ||
| NAIS 110 | Introduction to Federal Indian Law and Policy | 3.0 |
| NAIS 120 | Introduction to Native American Music | 3.0 |
| Section B (3 units): | ||
| NAIS 201 | Engaging With Native American Communities II | 3.0 |
| Section C (Select one course for 3 units): | 3.0 | |
| Introduction to Native American Art and Visual Cultures (3) | ||
| Native American Literature (3) | ||
| Section D (Select one course for 3 units): | 3.0 | |
| The Rhetoric of Black Resistance (3) | ||
| Introduction to Ethnic Studies (3) | ||
| Ethnic Studies, Places, and Social Justice (3) | ||
or ETHN 135 | Ethnic Studies, Place, and Social Justice | |
| Introduction to Social Justice (3) | ||
| History of California (3) | ||
| History of the Americas (3) | ||
| History of the Americas (3) | ||
| History of Mexican and Latino Americans in the United States (3) | ||
or CS 108 | History of Mexican and Latino Americans in the United States | |
| Health and Social Justice (3) | ||
| Race and Ethnic Relations in the U.S. (3) | ||
or ETHN 210 | Race and Ethnic Relations in the U.S. | |
| Total Units | 21 | |
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Complete a minimum of 60 units to include (1) the above major requirements, (2) the General Education requirements, and (3) electives as needed.