Native American Studies

Overview

Programs in Native American studies teach about the first peoples of the United States and Canada.

Native American studies programs include topics such as:

History
Politics
Culture
Language
Art
Literature
Laws and treaties
Public policies
Indigenous peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean

Schools

Community colleges and other two-year schools offer associate degree programs in Native American studies. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete. After earning an associate degree students can transfer to a college or university for further study.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in Native American studies. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

Few universities offer graduate degrees in Native American studies. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers to Consider

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Ancient Civilizations
Anthropology
Economics
Geography
Humanities
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Second Language
Sociology
US Ethnic and Gender Studies
US History

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree and good grades. You also need to submit letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

Your bachelor's degree should be in this program of study or a related major such as American history, sociology, or ethnic studies. If it isn't, you should take several courses that are related to race and ethnicity in some way.

Additional requirements at many schools include:

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Academic writing sample
Related work or volunteer experience

You may also be required to demonstrate proficiency in a Native American language.

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Anthropology
Cultural and Ethnic Relationships
Economics
Geography
History
Language
Literature
Political Systems
Psychology
Public Policy
Research Methodology
Sociology

Graduate Program Courses

Course work in graduate programs varies. However, the outline of a typical graduate curriculum looks like the following:

Core courses
Comprehensive oral and written exams (doctoral degree only)
Thesis and thesis defense (master's degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree only)

Things to Know

The programs at some schools may focus on one particular Native American tribe, especially if the school is located near a particular tribal territory.

Colleges that do not have separate programs in Native American studies may offer elective courses as part of a major in interdisciplinary studies or liberal arts.

A background in Native American studies prepares you for a career involved in both preserving and developing Native American communities and their cultures. You could work in tribal administration and education. You could work in a government agency helping to design public policies. You could also work in museums and cultural centers, showcasing indigenous cultural artifacts.