At a Glance
I’m interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
Native American and Indigenous studies (NAIS) is an interdisciplinary minor that offers you the opportunity to study Indigenous peoples’ knowledge, histories, arts, and struggles, with particular emphasis on colonialism and the perseverance of Indigenous communities.
Our courses address the lived realities of Indigenous peoples around the world. Students in the minor take courses across a range of disciplines at the 5Cs, including history, anthropology, art history, environmental analysis, ethnic studies, and more.
What are some courses appropriate for first-year students interested in exploring this field of study?
Unless otherwise indicated by the instructor, any courses tagged with the NAIS designation are appropriate for first-year students. Courses taught at Scripps may fulfill the race and ethnicity, gender, or other General Education requirements, depending on the instructor and the criteria of the home department.
If I decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
No courses need to be taken in a specific sequence. However, you will be required to take either ANTH 127 SC: Settler Colonialism or ASAM 094 PZ: Community Health, with exceptions granted in consultation with your minor adviser. You must also take five elective courses, selected in consultation with you minor adviser. We encourage you to consult the updated list of eligible courses each semester in the course search system under the NAIS tag.
What are some common pairings with other majors for students who minor in this field?
Some of the most common pairings with our minor include majors in Spanish, media studies, Latin American studies, and history.
What other useful information should I know about this field of study?
If you’re interested in minoring in NAIS, please reach out to any of minor advisers for the program: Professors Claudia Arteaga, Gabriela Morales, and Martín Vega. Although the NAIS minor advisers are based at Scripps College, NAIS is an intercollegiate minor and is open to all students from across the 5Cs.
Faculty who teach in this field:
Program Information
Learning Outcomes
NAIS Science Minor Goals and Objectives
- Understand the history and cultural production of Indigenous peoples in the United States and globally, within both multiracial American and transnational contexts.
- Effectively evaluate how race is socially constructed, how racism has been embedded in social structures and institutions and how these structures affect people’s everyday lives.
- Understand how race intersects with gender, sexualities, and socio-economic class in the world.
- Understand ethical implications of research, creative projects, or community-based projects in Native American and Indigenous communities.
NAIS Minor Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of Indigenous histories and cultures.
- Students show comprehension of commonly used methodologies in NAIS.
- Students are able to analyze evidence.
- Students will be able to communicate effectively in written form.
- Students will be able to communicate effectively in oral form.