Program: Minor in American Indian Studies
Program Description
The minor in American Indian Studies is intended to impart knowledge of the diverse cultures and histories of the Indigenous peoples of the United States. Students can learn of the many challenges overcome by American Indian communities, including those in Los Angeles, and gain an appreciation of the many accomplishments of American Indian activists, spiritual leaders, artists, writers, and scholars. The minor emphasizes the importance of tribal sovereignty in the face of continued settler colonial practices in the United States.
Many AIS courses satisfy requirements in several majors and in General Education. AIS 101 Introduction to American Indian Studies, AIS 304 American Indian Law and Policy and AIS 333 American Indian Philosophy will meet the General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies requirement. AIS 222 Gender, Sexuality, and American Indian Communities will meet the General Education, Social Sciences requirement, and AIS 301 American Indians and Popular Culture meets the General Education, Lifelong Learning requirement. In addition, AIS 401 Contemporary American Indian Social Issues is a community-partnership course. The program provides background for undergraduate or advanced study in anthropology, art, business, communication, criminology, education, English, geography, health sciences, history, language and linguistic studies, political science, pre-law, philosophy, psychology, religious studies, sociology, women’s studies and comparative study in other ethnic study programs.
Program Requirements
1. Required Courses (9 units)
AIS 101 Introduction to American Indian Studies (3)*
AIS 401 Contemporary American Indian Social Issues (3)
HIST 369 Native Peoples and Cultures (3)*
2. Electives (9 units)
Select three courses from the following:
AIS 222 Gender, Sexuality, and American Indian Communities (3)**
or GWS 222 Gender, Sexuality, and American Indian Communities (3)**
AIS 301 American Indians and Popular Culture (3)***
AIS 304 American Indian Law and Policy (3)*
AIS 314 North American Indian Literature (3)
or ENGL 314 North American Indian Literature (3)
AIS 333 American Indian Philosophy (3)*
or PHIL 333 American Indian Philosophy (3)*
ANTH 306 Anthropology of Native North America (3)
ANTH 307 Anthropology of Native California and the Southwest (3)
ART 401 History of Native North American Art (3)
HIST 402 Writing Family History (3)
*General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies.
**General Education, Social Sciences.
***General Education, Lifelong Learning.
Total Units in the Minor: 18
Contact
American Indian Studies Program
Director: Scott Andrews
Jerome Richfield (JR) 219
(818) 677-5030
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the minor in American Indian Studies will be able to:
- Explain critical concepts in American Indian Studies, including tribal sovereignty, settler colonialism, kinship epistemology, relational accountability, and decolonization.
- Apply critical concepts in American Indian Studies to understand past and current events involving American Indian communities.
- Describe contemporary challenges facing American Indian communities, including food security/sovereignty, educational equity, environmental justice, treaty rights, and other movements in self-determination.
- Analyze cultural expressions by or about American Indians, including literature, art, and film.
- Demonstrate active engagement with California Native communities.