American Indian Student in Class

American Indian Studies Degree

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Explore the cultures and experiences of American Indians, and prepare to thrive in a diverse world.

Build your skills as a critical thinker and effective communicator as you learn about the American Indian experience. With an American Indian Studies degree, you’ll explore a variety of American Indian perspectives and cultures, histories and contemporary experiences.

Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
4 years
Credit hours:
120 (B.A.), 21 (minor)

Why earn a bachelor's in American Indian studies?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

As an American Indian Studies major at UND, you'll learn to think critically, communicate effectively and apply your knowledge in complex situations — skills that are essential in nearly every career today. You'll gain a critical understanding of:

  • Native cultures, experiences and histories
  • The importance of Native voices and perspectives
  • The wide variety of Native experiences through history and today

You'll join a close-knit group of students and faculty who are deeply engaged in research and service to the community — and you'll prepare for a dynamic career in a diverse world.

American Indian Studies at UND

  • Engage in research through independent study courses.

  • Take on a real-world internships and get involved in service learning.

  • Join the UND Indian Association and participate in activities like a film festival and an annual week-long series of events centering on the American Indian experience.

  • Form connections with dedicated faculty and receive guidance to help you achieve your academic and professional goals.

  • Learn to promote and encourage communication about culture as a member of the Indian Studies Association.

  • UND is the only school in North Dakota's University System to offer a bachelor's degree in American Indian/Native American studies.

What can you do with an American Indian Studies degree?

11%

Job growth projected for postsecondary teachers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Postsecondary Teachers

50k

Median pay for Social Workers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Social Workers

A degree in American Indian Studies prepares you for any career that relies on strong communication skills and the ability to appreciate diverse cultural values and perspectives. Many of our students pair a major or minor in American Indian Studies with majors in the social and physical sciences.

Graduates of the University of North Dakota's American Indian Studies program go on to graduate and professional schools in areas such as:

  • Law
  • Counseling
  • Social work
  • Anthropology
  • History
  • Business and entrepreneurship
  • Health careers

American Indian Studies Degree Courses

IS 352. Native Philosophies and Religions. 3 Credits.

Introduces students to the complex and rich religions of Native Americans, from traditional religions to the Native American Church and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Both traditional and contemporary belief systems are discussed. F.

IS 311. Health and American Indian Cultures. 3 Credits.

The course investigates cultural perceptions of health as well as specific historic and contemporary health problems in indigenous communities in Canada and the United States. F.

IS 320. Native Cultural Landscapes. 3 Credits.

This course engages the notion of landscape - the environment as made meaningful by cultural perspectives on interactions and responsibilities. It investigates how American Indian cultures create, imagine, construct, map, and interact with landscapes and how they render them meaningful. F.

IS 354. Dynamics of Conquest and Resistance. 3 Credits.

This course is an advanced course on the experiences of Indian peoples in colonial Latin America and to the historical methods used to study them. The course will cover the period from late pre-Columbian times through Latin American Independence and will address topics including the conquest of core Indian civilizations, the creation of colonial Indian identities in the republica de Indios, the persistence of Indios barbaros on the frontiers, and the meaning of Latin American independence for Indians. F.

IS 360. Oral Traditions in American Indian Cultures. 3 Credits.

Despite all predictions that they would disappear, American Indian oral traditions are as strong today as ever before. This course will introduce students to the complexities, richness, and conventions of different oral traditions as well as to the collecting process. F.

IS 395. Ethnohistory of North America. 3 Credits.

This course introduces students to the historical study of Indian peoples of North America during the colonial and early national periods, particularly in situations where their voices or perspectives are not easily or explicitly captured in historical documentation of their own making. It will focus on key historiographic issues concerning the nature of frontiers and Indian agency as well as on historical method.

Lead Your Way

Learn to promote cultural diversity and traditions through coursework and campus events.

Explore More Options

Looking to add a double major, pursue graduate work or connect with the department?

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