University of Montana 1998-1999 Catalog 1998-99 Catalog
Department of Native American Studies

Larry LaCounte, Acting Chair

Native American studies, as an academic discipline, is committed to examining the contemporary and ancient experiences and ways of life 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 cultural, historical, 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 the development of increased communications and good interpersonal relationships.

The Native American studies major realizes the objectives of a liberal arts education. The curriculum helps students develop cultural breadth through the study of Native American perspectives and world view. At the same time, the Indian perspective of the major offers students a broader view of history and cultural change than is ordinarily found in the traditional liberal arts courses and is appropriate to the pluralistic society of our time. As a result, the Native American studies major is interdisciplinary, offering courses from literature to history, and provides a perspective that critically analyzes and evaluates the strengths and limitations of each contributing discipline.

Special Degree Requirements

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 mst complete 30 credits in Native American studies plus nine elective credits out-of-department. The required NAS courses are: 100H, 102H, 200, 202L, 301E, 303E, 341S, 465H, and 499. The nine out-of-department credits may be chosen from the following: ANTH 180S, 320, 323H, 324, 388, 419; HIST 365, 366, 467; and SOC 308S.

Beyond the requirement of 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 195, 295, 300, 342, 394, 395, 400 and 496.

As part of the major's liberal arts and interdisciplinary focus, all student completing the major must complete an minor in another field. The department recommends cognate areas of study for the minor including anthropology, history, sociology, and political science. Students are encouraged to pursue a double major. The department recommends a compatible major in one of the following disciplines: anthropology, English, foreign languages and literatures, history, linguistics, political science, sociology, or social work.

Suggested Course of Study

First Year A S
ENEX 101 Composition 3 -
MATH 107 Contemporary Mathematics 3 -
NAS 100H Introduction to Native American Studies 3 -
NAS 102H Indian Culture as Expressed Through Language - 3
General Education 6 6
Out of department electives - 6
Total 15 15
Second Year
NAS 200 Native American Studies Research and Writing Methods 3 -
NAS 202L Oral and Written Traditions of the Native American 3 -
General Education 6 3
Out of department electives 3 -
Electives - 6
Total 15 15
Third Year
NAS 301E American Indian Religion and Philosophy 3 -
NAS 303E Ecological Perspectives in Native American Traditions - 3
NAS 341S Contemporary Issues of American Indians 3 -
Upper-division writing course - 3
Electives 9 9
Total 15 15
Fourth Year
NAS 465H History of Indian Affairs to 1865 3 -
NAS 466H History of Indian Affairs Since 1865 - 3
NAS 499 Readings in Native American Studies - 3
Electives 3 9
Total 15 15

Requirements for a Minor

To earn a minor in Native American studies the student must complete the following requirements:

1. Complete NAS 100H, 202L, 301E and 303E.

2. Complete at least 9 credits of electives from the following approved cognate courses: ANTH 180S, 320, 323H, 324, 341S, 419; SOC 308S; HIST 365, 366; NAS 102H, 195, 300, 342H, 465H, 466H, 394, 395, 400, 496.

Courses

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.

U 100H Introduction to Native American Studies 3 cr. Survey course to acquaint the student with Native American studies by a general overview of Indian history, culture, philosophy and religious practices.

U 102H Indian Culture as Expressed through Language 3 cr. Introduction to the language of American Indian peoples. Understanding, through the language, of the history, traditions, and modern life of Indian peoples.

U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 198 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-6) 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 Cooperative Education Office.

U 200 Native American Studies Research and Writing Methods 3 cr. Prereq., NAS major or minor. Introduction to the Research materials pertaining to American Indian peoples and cultures. Emphasis on current research trends and writing.

U 202L Oral ad Written Traditions of the Native American 3 cr. Analysis of the oral traditions of Native Americans including a study of the literary works of leading American Indian writers.

U 295 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

UG 300 American Indian Education 3 cr. A study of Indian education from the Parochial Period to the Self-Determination Period; examination of Johnson O'Malley funding for Indian education; and a look at the unique needs of the Indian child.

UG 301E American Indian Religion and Philosophy 3 cr. Prereq., lower-division course in Perspective 5 or consent of instr. Same as RELS 301E. A study of selected ethical systems; origins, world views; religious ceremonies and the way they have been affected by western civilization.

UG 303E Ecological Perspectives in Native American Traditions 3 cr. An examination of Native American environmental views and tribal and historical and contemporary use of physical environmental resources.

UG 329 Native American Literature 3 cr. Prereq., ENLT 220 and 221 or six credits in NAS. Same as ENLT 329. Selected readings from Native American Literature with special emphasis on the literature of writers from the Rocky Mountain West.

UG 341S Contemporary Issues of American Indians 3 cr. Same as ANTH 341S. An examination of the major issues that affect the contemporary experiences of American Indians.

UG 342H Native American Women 3 cr. Focus on American Indian women and their cultural continuity and historical evolution. National in scope with concentration on certain tribes. Group analysis of contemporary issues relevant to Native American women.

UG 367H Art of the Ancient Americas 3 cr. Prereq., consent of instr. Same as ART 367H. Artistic development of major ceremonial and urban centers throughout the Americas before the coming of Europeans. Analysis of how the visual arts articulate an ancient world view or cosmology 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 368H Latin American Art 3 cr. Prereq., consent of instr. Same as ART 368H. Offered alternate years. Exploration of themes in the development of Latin American art from the colonial period to the present such as the application of Renaissance ideals in the "New World", syncretism of European, African, and indigenous roots, the Black Legend, the Anglo vs. Latin debate, and the advent of such movements as Academism, Modernism, Social Realism, and Magic Realism.

UG 388 Native American Health and Healing 3 cr. Same as ANTH 388. Offered alternate years. Examination of traditional and contemporary uses of medicine in Native American societies. Issues discussed will be the current health status of American Indians, the relationship between medicine and culture, and introduction to various techniques for assessing health status of American Indian populations.

U 394 Seminar Variable cr. (R-6) Offered alternate years. Variable topics addressing Indian law, policy and culture by visiting scholars.

U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 398 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-6) 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 Cooperative Education Office.

UG 400 Tribal Government 3 cr. Offered alternate years. An examination of tribal governments from a historical and political perspective. Particular attention is devoted to te issues of tribal sovereignty and tribal-state conflicts.

UG 465H History of Indian Affairs to 1865 3 cr. Same as HIST 465H. A study of tribal encounters and adjustments to European and American powers.

UG 466H History of Indian Affairs Since 1865 3 cr. Same as HIST 466H. A study of tribal encounters and adjustments to the American nation from 1865.

UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) 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.

UG 499 Readings in Native American Studies 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., NAS major, minor, or graduating standing in a related field. Senior reading capstone course for the review of past and current literature on American Indians.

G 560 Methods and Sources in Native American Studies 3 cr. Prereq., consent of instr. Methods, sources for, and actual experience in the use of field observations, interviews, special collections, federal records, and library materials in Native American studies research and writing. Required of all Native American studies affiliated graduate students.

G 594 Seminar in Native American Studies 1- 3 cr. (R-6) 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) 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 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-6) 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 Cooperative Education Office.

Faculty

Professor

Henrietta Mann, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 1982

Richmond L. Clow, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 1977

Assistant Professor

Debra Earling, M.F.A., Cornell University

Stephen Greymorning, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1992

Adjunct Professor

Rodney Brod, Ph.D., Stanford University, 1972

Adjunct Associate Professor

Patrick Weasel Head, Ph.D., University of Oregon, 1989


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