About the Major

The Native American major and minor programs provide an interdisciplinary introduction to the indigenous cultures of the Americas. The programs rigorously examine the historical, social, economic, and cultural aspects of sovereignty and self-determination that have become an integral part of the transformation of American society in recent years. They center indigenous knowledge productions as the basis for our intellectual endeavors.

Native American Studies is an excellent preparation for careers in tribal administration, human services, museum curatorship, library science, teaching, journalism, scholarship, law, health and interethnic relations. 

Our Faculty

• Gerald Clarke
• Wesley Y. Leonard
• Robert Perez
• Charles Sepulveda
• Kēhaulani Vaughn

Major Requirements

To earn a bachelor of arts in Native American studies, you must take:

Core courses required of all majors

1. Lower-division requirements (12 units)
   1. ETST 001
   2. ETST 007
   3. One chosen from ETST 002, ETST 003 or ETST 005

2. Upper-division requirements (40 units)
   1. ETST 101A or ETST 101B
   2. ETST 100 or ETST 131
   3. ETST 157, ETST 158 and ETST 191R
   4. 16 additional upper-division units in ethnic studies chosen from courses focusing on the Native American experience
   5. One ethnic studies course chosen from one of the following four areas of emphasis (4 units)
      1. Africana Studies
      2. Asian American Studies
      3. Chicano Studies
      4. Comparative Issues

Note: no internship courses may be counted toward the upper-division electives in ethnic studies

Minor Requirements

To minor in Native American studies, you must take:

1. Lower-division requirement (4 units): ETST 007
2. Upper-division requirements: 20 additional upper-division units in ethnic studies chosen from courses focusing on Native Americans
3. Appropriate prerequisites as needed