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.
*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 ​[email protected] 

Member of Newberry Consortium = * 

Northeast
Undergraduate
Graduate
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 
Graduate
George Mason University

Virginia Tech

William and Mary

West Virginia University ​

University of North Carolina at Asheville

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ​

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

North Carolina State University ​

Queen’s University at Kingston



Western Carolina University


​
West Virginia University ​
​
University of Georgia



​
Kennesaw State University ​

Valdosta State University ​

University of Central Florida

​University of Florida

​Northern Kentucky University

Middle Tennessee State University

University of South Alabama

University of Southern Mississippi

Southeastern Louisiana University ​

Tulane University ​

University of Arkansas ​
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 
Graduate 
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 
Graduate
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 
Graduate
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 
Graduate 
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.