Native American Studies is an academic discipline committed to examining the contemporary and past experiences and life ways of the first Americans from their perspective. The curriculum is designed to provide a study of American Indians from a holistic and humanistic viewpoint by focusing upon their cultures, history, and contemporary life. Courses are designed for both Native American and non Native American students so they can better understand human similarities and differences, thereby leading to more effective work with and within tribal communities through, stronger knowledge bases of tribal America, and the development of better communications and cross-cultural relationships.
The Native American Studies major supports the objectives of a liberal arts education. It is interdisciplinary and provides a perspective that critically analyzes and evaluates the strengths and limitations of each contributing discipline.
Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog. See index.
For the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Native American Studies, students must complete a minimum of 39 credits, 30 credits in Native American studies plus nine elective credits which can be met within the department or out-of-department. The required NAS courses are: 100H, 200, 201X, 202X, 301E, 303E, 341 or 400X, 494, and two of the following: 464X, 465X and 466X.
Beyond these 30 credits in NAS, students have the option to take an additional 17 credits from NAS as electives for a maximum of 47 credits in NAS courses. These electives include NAS 141, 142, 195, 210X, 231X, 260, 295, 300, 324X, 329, 341, 342, 344, 388, 394, 395, 400X, 403, 410, 496, 499,and one of the following: 464X, 465X, and 466X.
The credits may also be chosen from the following out-of-department courses: ANTH 102S, 323X, 330X; HSTR 367, 369 and HSTA 455 (formerly HIST 365, 366, and 467).
The Upper-division Writing Expectation must be met by successfully completing an upper-division writing course from the approved list in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog. See index.
As part of the major's liberal arts and interdisciplinary focus, all students completing the major must complete a minor in another field. The department recommends cognate areas of study for the minor including anthropology, history, sociology, and political science. Students also are encouraged to pursue a double major. The department recommends a compatible major in one of the following disciplines: anthropology, English, modern or classical languages and literatures, history, linguistics, political science, sociology, or social work. Students who pursue a second major are not required to complete a minor in addition to the second major.
| First Year | A | S |
|---|---|---|
| WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) College Writing | 3 | - |
| M 105 Contemporary Mathematics | 3 | - |
| NAS 100H Introduction to Native American Studies | 3 | - |
| NAS 201X Indian Culture as Expressed Through Language | 3 | - |
| General Education | 3 | 9 |
| Electives | - | 6 |
| Total | 15 | 15 |
| Second Year | A | S |
| NAS 200 Native American Studies Research and Writing Methods | 3 | - |
| NAS 202X Oral and Written Traditions of the Native American | 3 | - |
| General Education | 6 | 9 |
| Electives | 3 | 6 |
| Total | 15 | 15 |
| Third Year | A | S |
| NAS 301E American Indian Religion and Philosophy | 3 | - |
| NAS 303E Ecological Perspectives in Native American Traditions | - | 3 |
| NAS 341 Contemporary Issues of American Indians or 400X Tribal Sovereignty | 3 | - |
| NAS 465X History of Indian Affairs in the 19th Century (Spring) or NAS 464X History of Indian Affairs to 1776 (Autumn) | - | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | 9 |
| Total | 15 | 15 |
| Fourth Year | A | S |
| NAS 465X History of Indian Affairs in the 19th Century (Spring) or 466X History of Indian Affairs from 1890 (Autumn) | 3 | - |
| NAS 494 Readings in Native American Studies | - | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | 12 |
| Total | 15 | 15 |
To earn a minor in Native American studies the student must complete a minimum of 21 credits of the following requirements:
U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R. Credits beyond this maximum do not count toward a degree.
U 100H Introduction to Native American Studies 3 cr. Offered Autumn and Spring. Survey course to acquaint the student with Native American Studies by a general overview of Indian history, culture, philosophy, religious beliefs and contemporary issues.
U 141 Elementary Blackfoot I 4 cr. Offered intermittently autumn. An introduction to the Blackfoot language and culture. Students will learn how to write and read Blackfoot as well as how to conduct simple conversations.
U 142 Elementary Blackfoot II 4 cr. Offered intermittently spring. Continuation of 141.
U 191 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 198 Internship Variable cr. (R-9)Offered by special arrangement. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.
U 200 Native American Studies Research and Writing Methods 3 cr. Offered Autumn. Prereq., NAS major or minor. Introduction to the Research materials pertaining to the study of American Indian peoples and cultures. Emphasis on current research trends and writing.
U 201X Indian Culture as Expressed through Language 3 cr. Offered Autumn. This course has been designed to introduce students to a non-Western perspective of the relationship that exists between Indian cultures and their languages. Students will be exposed to various languages of American Indian peoples, and how through Native languages insight can be gained into history, traditions, and cultural life-ways of Indian peoples.
U 202X Oral and Written Traditions of Native America 3 cr. Offered Autumn and Spring. Analysis of the oral traditions of Native Americans including an introduction to the literary works of early leading American Indian writers.
U 210X Native American Sports and Games 3 cr. Offered Autumn or Spring. Explores Native American sports and games, both traditional and modern. Through classroom learning and actual play, students gain an understanding of how play and competition have been vital to Native communities.
U 231X Indigenous World View Perspectives 3 cr. Offered Spring. Same as ANTH 231X. Examination of Indigenous belief systems, with regard to world views, religious ceremonies, cultural ways and the impact that Anglo-European culture has had upon these systems. Focus on Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.
U 260 African Americans and Native Americans 3 cr. Offered Fall, even years. Same as AAS 260. A study of the broad scope of relations between African Americans and Native Americans in colonial and United States history. Topics explored through history, sociology, and cultural anthropology.
U 291 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
UG 300 American Indian Education 3 cr. Offered intermittently. An overview of American Indian education including a look at the unique needs of Indian children.
UG 301E American Indian Religion and Philosophy 3 cr.Offered Autumn and Spring. Same as RELS 301E. A study of selected ethical systems; origins, world views; religious beliefs and the way they have been affected by western civilization.
UG 303E Ecological Perspectives in Native American Traditions 3 cr. Offered Autumn and Spring. An examination of Native American environmental ethics and tribal and historical and contemporary use of physical environmental resources.
UG 324X Indians of Montana Since the Reservation Era 3 cr. Offered Autumn. Same as ANTH 324X and HSTA 354 (HIST 354H). Examination of the history of Montana Indians since the establishment of the reservations, contemporary conditions, and issues among both reservation and non-reservation Indian communities in the state. Special attention given to social and economic conditions, treaty rights, tribal sovereignty, and legal issues.
UG 329 Native American Literature 3 cr. Offered Autumn. Prereq., three credits of lower-division LIT courses and NAS 100H or 202X. Same as LIT 305 (ENLT 329). Selected readings from Native American Literature and criticism with emphasis on the literatures after the Native American literary Renaissance. A minimum of three genres covered and three culture areas.
UG 341 Contemporary Issues of American Indians 3 cr. Offered Autumn. Same as ANTH 341. An examination of the major issues that affect the contemporary experiences of American Indians in both Canada and the United states.
UG 342X Gender Studies in Native American Studies 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Same as WS 342. Focus on Native American gender relations and their cultural continuity and historical evolution. National in scope with concentration on certain tribes. Contemporary gender issues relevant to Native American peoples covered, including alternative genders and Two Spirits.
U 344 Native Americans and Film 3 cr. Offered Autumn or Spring. Same as ENFM 344. Surveys the image of Native Americans in American film with an emphasis on "revisionist," or "breakthrough" films. Ultimate focus will be on films featuring Native American writers, directors and actors.
UG 367 Art of the Ancient Americas 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Same as ART 367. Development of major ceremonial and urban centers throughout the Americas before the coming of Europeans. Analysis of how the visual arts articulate ancient world views or cosmologies in relation to nature. Focus on various strategies of reading the structure and meaning encoded in the layout of cities, stone sculpture, wall murals, ceramics, precious metals, and textiles.
UG 368 Latin American Art 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Same as ART 368. Offered alternate years. Exploration of themes in the development of Latin American art from the colonial period to the present, including Renaissance ideals in the "New World", syncretism of European, African, and indigenous roots, the Black Legend, and the advent of such movements as Academism, Modernism, Social Realism, Magic Realism, and Post-Modernism.
UG 388 Native American Health and Healing 3 cr. Offered alternate years. Same as ANTH 388. Examination of traditional and contemporary uses of medicine in Native American societies. Issues covered will include current health conditions of American Indians, and the relationship from a cultural perspective on health, healing and medicine.
U 394 Seminar Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Variable topics addressing Indian law, policy and culture by visiting scholars.
U 391 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 398 Internship Variable cr. (R-6) Offered by special arrangement. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.
UG 400X Tribal Sovereignty 3 cr. Offered Spring. Same as PSCI 475 (PSC 475). An examination of the evolution of tribal governments from a historical and political perspective. Particular attention is devoted to the issues of tribal sovereignty and tribal-state conflicts.
UG 403 Contemporary Tribal Resource Issues 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Same as RSCN 403. Acquaints students with contemporary tribal resource management and environmental policies.
UG 410 Studies in Native American Autobiography 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Same as LIT 429 (ENLT 429L). Prereq., LIT 300 or LIT 305/NAS 329 (ENLT 301 or ENLT/NAS 329), or consent of instr. Study of texts that present a first-person story of Native American individual's life within historical and cultural contexts, with discussion of theories of autobiography.
UG 464X History of Indian Affairs to 1776 3 cr. Offered Autumn. Same as HSTA 465X (HIST 464H). A study of American Indian relations with Europeans and the United States from first contact to 1776.
UG 465X History of Indian Affairs in the 19th Century 3 cr. Offered Spring. Same as HSTA 452X (HIST 465H). A study of tribal encounters and adjustments to the American nations in the nineteenth century.
UG 466X History of Indian Affairs from 1890 3 cr. Offered Autumn. Same as HSTA 453X (HIST 466H). A study of tribal encounters and adjustments to the American nation from 1890.
U 494 Reading Seminar in Native American Studies 3 cr. (R-6) Offered Spring. Prereq., NAS major or minor, 18 credits in NAS, and junior standing or higher. Senior reading capstone course for the review of past and current literature on and by American Indians.
UG 492 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered by special arrangement. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 496 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-6) Prereq., upper-division standing and consent of instr. Selected topics on American Indians under the direct supervision of a faculty member.
U 499 Senior Thesis in Native American Studies 3-9 cr. (R-9) Offered by special arrangement. Prereq., NAS major or minor, 18 credits in NAS, junior standing, and consent of instr. Independent research project in Native American Studies, supervised by a faculty member, and leading to completion of baccalaureate degree.
G 560 Methods and Sources in Native American Studies 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Field observations, interviews, special collections, federal records, and library materials in Native American studies research and writing.
G 594 Seminar in Native American Studies 1- 3 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr.
G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
G 596 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., graduate standing and consent of instr. Study of selected topics or problems on American Indians under the direct supervision of a faculty member.
G 598 Internship Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office.
Richmond L. Clow, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 1977
David R. M. Beck, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, 1994, Chair
S. Neyooxet Greymorning, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1992
Kathryn W. Shanley, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1987
Wade M. Davies, Ph.D., Arizona State University, 1998
Angelica Lawson, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 2006
George Price, Ph.D., The University of Montana, 2006
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Phone: (406) 243-2995
Fax: (406) 243-4807
