Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) is an interdisciplinary program that works to strengthen students' writing, interpretation, and knowledge involving a variety of subjects in local, regional, and global communitis. 

With the support from participants, this program aids students in understanding historical, artistic, philosophical, political, mystical, and anthropological global Indigenous and American Indian traditions. The unique interdisciplinary nature of the program allows students to approach the study of Native American and global Indigneous communities from a variety of academic perspectives. 

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Minor in Native American Studies at Valdosta State University

A minor in Native American Studies at Valdosta State University provides students with an interdisciplinary approach that accelerates a greater understanding of Indigenous and Native American peoples over time and highlights their contributions to the global community. 

Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to consider a Minor in Native American Studies as a way to strengthen their skills and promote both knowledge and workforce/graduate school preparation. Courses offer a critical examination of Native American and global Indigenous histories and prehistories, philosophies, cultures, languages, religious traditions, art, literature, and contemporary issues. Through various theoretical approaches, students will acquire an understanding of Native American and global Indignous communities.

Students who have studied in this field will benefit from these outcomes:

  1. Experience and analyze central issues and topics involving the Native American and global Indigenous communities

  2. Explain and interpret Native American epistemologies (knowledges) and ontologies (traditions/narratives)

  3. Explore contemporary relationships between various cultures

  4. Write critically and logically and create independent research, synthesizing a variety of source materials

Tentative Four Year Course Projection