SAGE

Approximately 35 students are currently seeking a non-teaching minor in Native American Studies (NAS) and we have 25 students in the Masters of Arts program and 35 in the graduate certificate program. There are opportunities to engage with approximately 580 Native students representing 40 tribes on campus. There are seven reservations in Montana and the state is home to 12 tribal Nations. The program has historically drawn students from international communities and has a solid reputation in indigenous education.

The Department

The Department of Native American Studies is in the College of Letters and Science. It is the only Indigenous Studies/Native American Studies program in a mainstream institution accredited by the World’s Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium. The Katz Family Endowed Chair in Native American Studies is one of only three such chairs in the United States.

The Department offers a non-teaching undergraduate minor in Native American Studies (NAS), a graduate certificate in NAS and a Masters of Arts in NAS. Courses in Native American Studies are an integral part of the Diversity Category in the University Core requirements. The teaching load is five courses over the academic year and may include undergraduate and graduate courses.

1. Generalist with specific research and teaching interests in one or more of the many areas relevant to Native American Studies, including but not limited to: linguistics and language revitalization; Native art history, appreciation, and/or creation; Native spirituality and/or philosophies; Native gender studies; Native media production; contemporary issues; higher education and/or tribal colleges; Native economics and economic development; Indigenous science;
2. Familiarity with issues affecting Native peoples of the Western hemisphere especially, and ability to put these in comparative contexts;
3. Familiarity with and willingness to explore uses of technology in teaching, including online instruction and growing collaboration with tribal colleges in Montana and beyond.