The Native American and Indigenous Studies Minor:
The Native American and Indigenous Studies minor provides an expansive introduction to the histories, lifeways, and cultures of Native American and Indigenous communities in the United States with comparative examples from Indigenous communities across the world. Drawing on course offerings in Ethnic Studies, History, Literature, Oceanography, Physics, Theater and other departments, students gain an understanding of the first peoples of San Diego and the United States.
The minor is open to ALL students from ALL majors and colleges. Among the benefits of the NAIS minor are:
• A stronger understanding of Kumeyaay, California Native, and Native American/Indigenous history and culture in California, the United States, and globally
• A critical examination into the legal status of Native American and Indigenous Peoples particularly under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN-DRIP)
• A comparative and relational analysis of the construction of race, ethnicity, and cultural difference in Indigenous communities pre and post contact
• An essential introduction to urgent contemporary issues such as climate change, sovereignty, religious freedom, land and water rights, health, education, and mixed-race identity
• An engagement with written, visual, oral, auditory, tactile, and other forms of instruction that encourages growth and strength in student writing, reading, comprehension, and critical thinking skills
• Unique preparation for future graduate and professional work with Native American and Indigenous Communities
To earn a minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies take the two lower-division courses listed below and any five of the upper-division courses from the approved list.
Applicable Courses:
Lower-Division Core Courses (2 Courses/8 units):
ETHN 1. Introduction to Ethnic Studies: Land and Labor
LTEN 31. Indigenous Literature
Upper-Division/Graduate Level Electives (Select 5 courses/20 units)*:
ANSC 139. Native American Health and Healing (Cross-listed with GLBH 139 and approved via petition)
ETHN 110. Cultural Worldviews of Indigenous America
ETHN 111. Native American Literature
ETHN 112A. History of Native Americans in the United States I (Cross-listed with HIUS 108A
ETHN 112B. History of Native Americans in the United States II (Cross-listed with HIUS 108B.)
ETHN 112C. California Native American History
ETHN 113. Decolonizing Education
ETHN 114A. Representing Native America
ETHN 114B. Representing Native America—Exhibition Design
ETHN 160. Global Indigenous Studies
ETHN 162. Practicum in California Tribal Law and Journalism
ETHN 163E. Decolonial Theory
ETHN 163F. Playing Indian: Native American and First Nations Cinema (Cross-listed with TDGE 131)
ETHN 163G. Indigenous Theatre and Performance (Cross-listed with TDHT 120)
LIGN 152. Indigenous Languages of the Americas
PHYS 192. Senior Seminar on Indigenous Science
ENVR 102. Environmental Law and Federal Policies in Indian Country
ENVR 102. Indigenous Approaches to Climate Change
Additional NAS minor guidelines:
Core, Adjunct and Affiliated Faculty (CAAF)
Sarah Aarons - SIO Theresa Ambo - Education Studies (Luiseño/Gabrieliño/Tohono O’odham)
Patrick Anderson - Communication and Ethnic Studies
Adam Burgasser - Physics
Julie Burrell - Theatre
Gabriela Caballero - Linguistics
Gloria Chacon - Literature
Tom Csordas - Anthropology
Keolu Fox - Anthropology (Kanaka Maoli)
Ross Frank - Ethnic Studies
Tommi Gaines - Medicine (Diné)
Christine Hunefeldt - History
Andrew Jolivétte - Ethnic Studies (Atakapa-Ishak Nation/Tsikip Band)
Elizabeth Newsome - Art History
Shaista Patel - Ethnic Studies
Heather Poncetti-Daly - Environmental Studies/Ethnic Studies (lipay Nation Santa Ysabel)
Nancy Postero - Anthropology
Isabel Rivera-Collazo - Anthropology & SIO
Daphne Taylor-Garcia - Ethnic Studies
Kathryn Walkiewicz - Literature
Daniel Widener - History
Wayne Yang - Ethnic Studies
Community, Staff, and Student Advisory Council (CSSAC)
Elena Hood - ITRC (Absentee Shawnee/Pauma/Choctaw)
Corrine Hensley-Dellefield - ITRC (Catawba)