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American Indian Studies Minor

Prepare to thrive in a diverse world through study of the cultures and experiences of American Indians.

Supplement your education with a minor in American Indian Studies by understanding the culture, perspectives and history of American Indians.

Program type:
Minor
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
1-2 years
Credit hours:
21

Why minor in American Indian studies?

With a minor in American Indian Studies 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.

  • Gain specific knowledge about how your field relates to indigenous peoples and their situations.

American Indian Studies Courses You Could Take

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.

 

Become a Leader in Action

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

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

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