About Us
American Indian studies (AIS) is a Bachelor of Science degree program within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. American Indian studies presents unique opportunities to evaluate issues of American Indian nations within a domestic and international context.
The AIS degree encompasses two areas of emphasis:
- Legal, policy and community and economic development
- Arts, languages and culture
Mission
American Indian studies is an academic program committed to broadening the knowledge of students interested in the histories, languages, cultures, arts and contemporary situations of American Indian nations and people. The program is designed to protect the integrity and identity of the indigenous populations of North America and to create a learning environment conducive to critical and creative thought. The program not only stresses sound academic preparation in the classroom, but also encourages students to interact and conduct research with American Indian governments and organizations. Additionally, the program emphasizes the continued effort of the university to form strong partnerships with American Indian nations at the local, regional and national levels.
Goals
- Influence the retention and academic success of American Indian students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Educate students, faculty and others about American Indian culture, research issues, history and traditions.
- Establish courses and other forms of curriculum, including basic interdisciplinary course work for the purpose of establishing sensitivity to and enhancing knowledge of cultural diversity in the general student body.
- Identify and more adequately serve the needs of community, Indian nations and organizations.
- Aid in fundraising, solicitation of gifts and other forms of support for the university and the American Indian Studies Program.
- Attract American Indian faculty, researchers, cultural speakers and other resources to the university.
- Develop American Indian studies as a discipline with its own methodology, concepts and bibliography.