UMass Boston

About the Program

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Native American and Indigenous Studies Program (NAIS) is an undergraduate interdisciplinary program, currently offering a minor that is open to all students at UMass Boston. Successful completion of the minor is recorded on a student’s official university transcript.

Requirements

The minor in Native American and Indigenous studies requires the completion of 3 required courses and 3 elective courses for a total of 18 credits.

Online Course Catalog and Spring 2024 Required Courses

Minor information, along with all course requirements are listed on the Native American and Indigenous Studies Minor page in the online course catalog.

2024 Winter Course Offerings NAIS

  • ANTH 106 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • ANTH 263 - Environmental Anthropology
  • ANTH 273 - Peoples and Cultures of Mesoamerica (Mexico and Guatemala)

2024 Spring Course Offerings NAIS

  • ANTH 106 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • ANTH 220G - Indigenous Peoples and Cultural Change in Amazonia
  • ANTH 224G - The Rise and Fall of the Maya
  • ANTH 263 - Environmental Anthropology
  • ANTH 264 - Shamanisms: Anthropological Perspectives
  • ANTH 273 - Peoples and Cultures of Mesoamerica (Mexico and Guatemala)
  • ANTH 274 - People and Cultures of the Caribbean
  • ANTH 361L - Indigenous Film and Critical Visual Studie
  • HIST 263L / NAIS 263L - Modern American Indian Social and Political History: From the American Revolution to Standing Rock
  • NAIS 488   Working for Native Communities: Internship/Directed Study

Goals of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Program

  • to add complexity to “history” through teaching about diverse Native American and Indigenous histories and experiences
  • to explore social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental issues affecting Indigenous people, communities, and nations in the United States and around the world, both past and present
  • to equip students with methodological and theoretical tools for living in our complex and interconnected world
  • to engage with Indigenous peoples, communities and issues in local, global, and transnational perspectives
  • to engage the University of Massachusetts Boston’s urban mission by attracting, supporting and retaining Indigenous students, and working with local community partners to establish a strong presence and support for Native students and NAIS academic studies

Additionally, students will have opportunities to partner with Indigenous communities and organizations in a service learning and research capacity through the semester-long practicum designed to be done toward the end of their career at UMass Boston.

Where Do I Go for Additional Information?

To receive additional information about the program or to enroll in the minor, you can contact us by phone at 617.287.6860 or via email at Maria.John@umb.edu.