Introduction to American Indian Studies

Explore the field of American Indian Studies through Indigenous research methods and contemporary issues across fields such as law, health, education, business, and technology.

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Why take Introduction to American Indian Studies online?

IS 121: Introduction to American Indian Studies introduces students to the concepts, methods, and theories that shape the field of American Indian Studies. Grounded in the humanities, this course helps students understand how American Indian Studies approaches Indigenous histories, cultures, communities, sovereignty, and contemporary issues through interdisciplinary research and critical inquiry.

Students begin by exploring the foundations of American Indian Studies, including Indigenous sovereignty, American Indian nations, research sources and methods, identity, positionality, and the relationship between U.S. federal policy and Indigenous nations. The course also includes focused attention to North Dakota Indigenous history, early Indigenous activists, the Society for the American Indian, the American Indian Movement, and the rise of American Indian Studies as an academic field.

The second half of the course emphasizes how American Indian Studies methods are used across a wide range of disciplines and professional areas. Students examine oral histories, ethical community engagement, Indigenous languages and education, Indigenous engineering and business, aerospace and aviation, health systems, data sovereignty, food sovereignty, ecological systems, and federal Indian law. 

Throughout the course, students build academic reading, writing, and research skills. Assignments include journal posts, guided worksheets, source response papers, a midterm exam, and a scaffolded final research paper. The final paper process includes a proposal, annotated bibliography, first draft, and revised research paper, allowing students to develop a research topic, receive feedback, strengthen their argument, and communicate ideas effectively.

Designed for students across majors, IS 121 provides a valuable introduction to Indigenous studies, humanities research, and the ways American Indian Studies methods can be applied in many fields. Students leave the course with a stronger understanding of Indigenous sovereignty, interdisciplinary research, ethical engagement, and the role of American Indian Studies in academic and professional contexts.

Students have up to 9 months to complete this course from the time of enrollment. You may work at your own pace and complete lessons on your own schedule, submitting up to three items per week for grading. This course contains 16 lessons designed to focus your study of American history and to assist you in achieving the course learning objectives/outcomes. Your work will include videos, readings, quizzes, and essay assignments. 

Lesson Outline

Lesson 1: What is American Indian Studies?

Lesson 2: American Indian Nations and Indigenous Sovereignty

Lesson 3: American Indian Studies Sources and Methods

Lesson 4: Identity and Positionality: Why it Matters?

Lesson 5: US Federal Policies and Indigenous Nations 

Lesson 6: North Dakota Indigenous History: A Brief Overview

Lesson 7: Early Indigenous Activists and the Society for the American Indian

Lesson 8: American Indian Movement and the Rise of American Indian Studies

Midterm Exam

Lesson 9: AIS Methods: Oral Histories and Ethical Community Engagement 

Lesson 10: AIS Methods: Indigenous Languages and Education

Lesson 11: AIS Methods: Indigenous Engineering and Business

Lesson 12: AIS Methods: Indigenous Aerospace and Aviation 

Lesson 13: AIS Methods: Indigenous Health Systems and Data Sovereignty 

Lesson 14: AIS Methods: Indigenous Food Sovereignty and Ecological Systems 

Lesson 15: AIS Methods: Federal Indian Law

Lesson 16: American Indian Studies at UND

Final Paper

What are the required texts for this course?

All required readings for this course are made available digitally through the University of North Dakota library system. 

How will the course appear on my transcript?

You may enroll at any time and have up to 9 months to complete this online course. The credits earned will be recorded on your UND transcript based on the date you registered for the course. It will appear on your transcript in the same way as a course taken during a regular semester. There is no indication that the course was taken online or that you completed it at your own pace. 

Consult the table on our How Enroll Anytime Courses Work page for a current listing of Enroll Anytime Registration Dates and the semester information that will appear on a UND transcript.

Why Take Online Classes at UND?

Here are a few reasons why you should take an online enroll anytime course at UND:

• Great customer service – Our registration team is ready to answer questions quickly so you can focus on your coursework.
• Affordable – UND's enroll anytime courses are priced at North Dakota's affordable, in-state tuition rate.
• Accredited – UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
• Easily transfer credits – Transferring credits is always at the discretion of the institution to which the credits are being transferred. In general, credits from schools/universities that are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission transfer to other regionally accredited institutions. UND's online courses appear on your UND transcript in the same way as other courses.

Flexible 100% Online Course

You'll take this online course at your own pace. Some students thrive in this environment, while other students may struggle with setting their own deadlines. If you have successfully taken an independent study or correspondence course previously, UND’s enroll anytime courses may be right for you. Still not sure? Take our online quiz to help determine if online enroll anytime courses are right for you.

Course information including tuition, technology requirements, textbooks, lessons and exams is subject to change without notice.