Native American Studies
Minor offered

The Native American studies program integrates course work from several fields into an interdisciplinary curriculum which enables students to examine the histories, cultures and contemporary issues affecting the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Courses focus on pre-contact civilizations, historic and contemporary societies, Native cosmologies, social organization, art, literature, film and environmental adaptations. In several courses, the study of the struggle for survival of Native cultures presents students with a range of issues from political/legal status, treaty rights, demography, land claims, sovereignty and self-governance to identity politics, natural resource development, preservation and reclamation.

Minor Requirements

The Native American studies minor consists of six courses. Students must complete two “foundation” courses: History 229: Introduction to Native American History and Performance and Communication Arts 322: Native American Oral Traditions. Students must also complete a 300- or 400-level course or an approved project as a senior year experience. Three other courses must be selected from the courses listed with the Native American studies program. Students are advised to contact the program coordinator for the most current information on course offerings and program requirements.

Courses

Students should check the Class Schedule each semester under both Native American Studies and the relevant departments for course offerings.

Departmental Offering:

Anthropology
255. Environmental Perception and Indigenous Knowledge.

English
263. Native American Fiction.

Environmental Studies
302. Air Pollution

Global Studies
102. Introduction to Global Studies II: Race, Culture, Identity.
250. La Frontera
260. Transnational Migration.
302. Theories of Cultural Studies.

Government
270. Special Topics in American Politics
273. Special Topics in Comparative Politics

History
103. Development of the United States (1607-1877)
229. Introduction to Native American History.
333. The Age of the American Revolution.
351. Iroquois History.
352. Playing Indian: Native American Stereotypes in American History and Imagination.

Performance and Communication Arts
322. Native American Oral Traditions.

In conjunction with the Native American Student Organization, the program sponsors films, guest speakers, and social events throughout the academic year.

Faculty

Randall T. Hill, B.A., M.A., North Carolina (Chapel Hill); Ph.D., Louisiana
Associate Professor of Performance and Communication Arts and Co-chair of Department and Coordinator of Native American Studies