Native Studies - Association on American Indian Affairs

Native American studies (also known as American Indian, Indigenous American, Aboriginal, Native, or First Nations studies) is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the history, culture, politics, issues, and contemporary experience of Native Peoples in North America, or taking a hemispheric approach, the Americas.*

With a degree in Native American Studies, you can pursue a career in a variety of fields, including education and academia, government and law, nonprofit and advocacy, business and community development, healthcare and science, social work, the arts, and many more areas. A minor, certificate, or concentration in Native American Studies enhances your ability to think in non-traditional, non-Western ways and interact more effectively with diverse peoples.

Native American studies is a good fit if you:

Want to learn about American Indian cultures
Value intercultural communication skills
Are engaged by history and politics
Are interested in community involvement
Enjoy literature and languages

Suggested Educational Pairings:

Business Studies
Legal Studies
Political Science
Environmental Science
Pre-Med
English
History
Education Studies
Museum Studies
Youth and Community Work

Program List

Search for programs by region.

Rocky Mountains

*Heitshu, Sara C.; Marshall, Thomas H. (2009). Native American Studies: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources. Social Sciences (2nd revised ed.). Libraries Unlimited, U.S. ISBN 1-56308-971-8.

This page is intended to be a comprehensive list of Indigenous studies programs across the United States. If there are any programs missing from this list, please email us at general@indian-affairs.org

Member of Newberry Consortium = *

Northeast

Undergraduate

University of Maine

Dartmouth College

Bristol Community College

University of Massachusetts Boston

Tufts University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT Indigenous Languages Initiative

University of Connecticut

Yale University*

Brown University

Colgate University

Columbia University

Cornell University*

Ithaca College

New York University

St. Lawrence University

SUNY at Cortland

SUNY at Fredonia

SUNY at Oswego

SUNY at Potsdam

Syracuse University

Vassar College

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

West Chester University

John Hopkins University

Wells College

University of New Hampshire

The Five College Consortium: Amherst College, Mt. Holyoke College, Smith College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Hampshire College

Minor

Major & Minor

Certificate

Minor

Minor

-

Minor

Concentration in American Studies Major and English Major, Native American Language Program (Online)

Concentration in Ethnic Studies Major

Major & Minor

Specialization in Center for Study of Ethnicity and Race
Major

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor (Interdisciplinary)

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor and a certificate program in Haudenosaunee linguistics

Correlate Sequence with American Studies Program

Minor

Concentration in English Department

Concentration in Ethnic Studies Major

Minor in First Nations and Indigenous Studies

-

Minor, Native American and Indigenous Studies

Native American and Indigenous Studies Certificate Program

Masters

Minor

Public Health Training Certificate
for American Indian Health Professionals

Southeast

Undergraduate

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Major & Minor

Major, Minor, Concentration

Minor

Minor

Major, Minor, Certificate in Indigenous Languages and Culture, Certificate in Mohawk Language and Culture

Cherokee Studies Minor,
Native Health Certificate Program

Minor

Certificate

Minor

Minor

Certificate

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Area of Specialization in American Studies PhD

Cherokee Studies Graduate Certificate,
Native Health Certificate Program,
Master of Arts in History, Cherokee Studies track

Certificate in Native American Studies,
Native American Studies Certificate in conjunction with Master of Landscape Architecture or Historic Preservation

Midwest-Plains

Undergraduate

Central Michigan University

University of Michigan*

Michigan State University

Northern Michigan State University

Cleveland State University

Ohio State University

University of Indiana

Purdue University

Purdue University at Fort Wayne

University of Eau-Claire

Northland College

University of Wisconsin-Madison*

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin- Green Bay

University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin-Superior

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Elmhurst College

Illinois State University

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign*

Northwestern University*

Southern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Augsburg University

Bemidji State University

Minnesota State University

Minneapolis Community and Technical College

University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota at Duluth

University of Minnesota at Morris

St. Cloud State University

Southwest Minnesota State University

Iowa State University

University of Iowa

University of Missouri

Missouri State University

Cankdeska Cikana Community College

Minot State University

North Dakota State University

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College

University of North Dakota

Sitting Bull College

Turtle Mountain Community College

Black Hills State University

South Dakota State University

University of South Dakota

Oglala Lakota College

Sinte Gleska University

Sisseton Wahpeton College

Chadron State College

University of Nebraska-Omaha

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nebraska Indian Community College

Haskell Indian Nations University

University of Kansas

Minor

Minor

Minor

Major, Minor, Certificate in American Indian Education

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Certificate

Major & Minor, Certificate,
Ojibwe Language Classes

Major

Major

Major, Certificate, Ojibwe Language Classes for Non-degree seeking students

Major & Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Area of Study in Intercultural Studies Major or Minor

Minor

Minor

-

Minor

Minor

Major & Minor

Major & Minor

Major, Minor, and Certificate

Certificate, Associate of Arts with Emphasis on American Indian Studies

Major, Minor, and Certificate,
Ojibwe Language Major

Major & Minor

Major

Minor

Indigenous and Dakota Studies Minor

Liberal Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Major and Minor

Minor and Certificate

Minor

Minor

Associates of Arts in Dakota Studies

Minor

Minor

Associates and Major

Major & Minor

Associate of Arts

Associate of Arts in Anishinaabe Language, Associate of Arts in Ogimaawi Leadership

Major & Minor (Minor with Emphasis on Teaching and Minor with Emphasis in Communications)

Major & Minor

Major & Minor
Lakota Studies Specialization

Education Endorsement Certificate in Lakota Studies
Certificate in Lakota Language,
Associate of Arts in Tribal Law,
Associate of Arts in Lakota Studies,
Bachelor of Arts in Lakota Studies

Lakota Studies Major

Dakota Studies Major,
Dakota Language Teaching Certificate

Minor

Minor

Minor

Associate of Arts

Major

-

Indigenous Law Certificate

Affiliation

Masters in American Indian Education Administration

Minor

Cluster

Certificate

Master of Arts in Lakota Leadership and Management

Minor

Master of Arts, Joint Juris Doctor and Indigenous Studies M.A. Degree Program

Southwest

Undergraduate

East Central University

College of the Muscogee Nation

Northeastern State University at Tahlequah

University of Oklahoma at Norman*

Oklahoma State University*

Oklahoma City University

Rogers State University

Rose State College

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Weatherford

Tulsa Community College

University of Texas at Austin

Institute of American Indian Arts

Navajo Technical University

University of New Mexico*

New Mexico State University

Northern New Mexico College

Western New Mexico University

Arizona State University

Northern Arizona University

University of Arizona

Arizona Western College

Diné College

Mesa Community College

Scottsdale Community College

Tohono O’odham Community College

Texas Tech University

Minor in Native American Studies,
Minor in Native American Cultural Resource Management

Associate of Arts

American Indian Studies Major or Minor, Cherokee Cultural Studies Major or Minor, Cherokee Education Major or Minor (B.A.Ed.)

Major

Minor

Certificate in Native American Enterprise Management

Associate of Arts Degree

Emphasis in Associate in Arts in Social Sciences

-

Minor

Emphasis in Associate in Arts

Certificate

Major

Bachelor of Arts in Diné Culture, Language, and Leadership

Major & Minor

Minor

Associate of Arts in Pueblo Indian Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Pueblo Indian Studies

Minor

Bachelor of Arts

Minor in Native American Studies,
Minor in Applied Inidgenous Studies,
Minor in Interdisciplinary Indigenous Health Studies,
Minor Tribal Public Administration,
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences

Major & Minor

Associate of Arts

Associate of Arts in Diné Studies,
Certificate in Navajo Nation Leadership, Certificate in Navajo Cultural Arts

Certificate in Navajo Language

Certificate of Completion in Tribal Development,
Associate of Applied Science in Tribal Development

Associate of Arts in Studies of Indigenous Borderlands,
Associate of Science in Life Studies in Studies of Indigenous Borderlands,
Associate of Arts in Tohono O’odham Studies

-

Certificate in Social Work with American Indians; Masters; Masters and Juris Doctor dual degree

Master of Science in Native American Leadership

Masters and PhD Portfolio Program

Master of Arts

Minor

Masters in Indigenous Rights and Social Justice; Masters in Tribal Leadership and Governance

Certificate in Indigenous and Tribal Nation-building

Master of Arts, PhD,
Concurrent JD/MA Degree,
AIS Graduate Certificate in Higher Education,
AIS Graduate Certificate in Native Nation Building,
AIS Graduate Certificate in Renewable Natural Resources

Certificate / Minor in Indigenous & Native American Studies

Rocky Mountains

Undergraduate

Aaniiih Nakoda College

Blackfeet Community College

Fort Peck Community College

Montana State University- Billings

Montana State University- Bozeman

Montana State University- Northern

University of Montana

Little Big Horn College

Salish Kootenai College

Stone Child College

Boise State University

Brigham-Young University

University of Idaho

Idaho State University

Lewis-Clarke State College

North Idaho College

Central Wyoming College

University of Colorado Boulder*

University of Colorado- Colorado Springs

Fort Lewis College

Metropolitan State University of Denver

University of Utah- Salt Lake City

Utah State University

Utah Valley University

University of Nevada-Las Vegas*

Associate of Arts,
Certificate in Tribal Management

Associate of Arts in Piikani Studies & Language

Associate of Arts

Minor

-

Major and Minor

Minor , Major, Certificate, Certificate in Language Rejuvenation and Maintenance

Associate of Arts in Crow Studies, Certificate in Crow Studies: Tribal Management

Associate of Arts in Tribal Historic Preservation, Associate of Arts in Tribal Governance and Administration

Associate of Arts

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor, Associate of Arts in Shoshoni

Minor and Nez Perce Language Minor

Certificate, Associate of Arts

Associate of Arts

Certificate

Certificate

Major & Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor, Integrated Studies Emphasis in American Indian Studies,
Bachelor of Science in Indian Affairs Administration Concentration

Minor

Master of Arts, Online Certificate

Master of Arts, Online Certificate

Pacific

Undergraduate

University of Alaska- Anchorage

University of Alaska- Fairbanks

University of Alaska- Southeast

Alaska Pacific University

Iḷisaġvik College

Kenai Peninsula College

Kodiak College

Evergreen State College

Gonzaga University

Heritage University

Northwest Indian College

University of Washington*

Washington State University

Western Washington University

Eastern Washington University

Central Washington University

Eastern Oregon University

University of Oregon

Southern Oregon University

Portland State University

Brandman University

University of California-Berkeley

California State University-Chico

University of California-Davis

California State University-East Bay

California State University-Fresno

University of California-Irvine

University of California- Los Angeles

California State University-Long Beach

California State University-Northridge

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

University of California-Riverside

California State University Dominguez Hills

California State University-Sacramento

California State University San Bernardino

California State University- San Marcos

University of California-Santa Barbara

Humboldt State University

San Diego State University

San Francisco State University

San José State University

Sonoma State University

Stanford University

University of Southern California

University of Hawaii-Manoa

University of Hawaii at Hilo

Kapiʻolani Community College

Kauaʻi Community College

Leeward Community College

University of Hawaii Maui College

Honolulu Community College

Hawaiʻi Community College

Palomar College

Minor in Alaska Native Business Management
Minor in Alaska Native Studies

Minor in Alaska Native Languages
Minor in Eskimo
Major in Yup'ik Language and Culture
Major in Yup'ik Eskimo
Major in Inupiaq Eskimo
A.A.S. and Certificate in Yup'ik Language Proficiency
A.A.S. or Certificate in Native Language Education

Minor in Alaska Native Studies
Minor in Northwest Coast Art
Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Northwest Art
Minor in Tlingit Language

Major in Alaska Native Governance

Associate of Arts in Indigenous Education Associate of Arts in Iñupiaq Studies

Minor in Alaska Native Studies

Minor in Alaska Native Studies,
Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Alutiiq Language

Associate of Arts Native Pathways Bridge Program

Minor

Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies Leadership
Bachelor of Arts in Tribal Governance and Business Management
Bachelor of Science in Native Environmental Science
Associate of Arts and Sciences in Public and Tribal Administration

Major & Minor
Major in Native American Documentary, Film, and New Digital Media

Minor and Certificate

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor and Certificate

Major & Minor

-

Major and Minor

Minor

Major & Minor

Minor

Minor

Minor

Major & Minor

Minor and Certificate

Minor

Minor

Major & Minor

Minor

Certificate

Minor

Minor

Major

Minor & Major

Minor & Major

Minor

Minor

Major & Minor

Minor

Major

Culture Certificate, Language Certificate, Hawaiian and Indigenous Language Medium Early Education Certificate, Multidisciplinary Hawaiian Studies Certificate, Minor, and Major

Certificate, Associate in Arts

Associate in Arts

Certificate, Associate in Arts

Associate in Arts

Associate in Arts

Certificate in American Indian Studies

Masters and PhD

South Dakota Indian Studies, Graduate-Level Professional Development Credits

PhD

Master of Arts

List compiled and transcribed by Amanda Cassano, 2019.