Undergraduate Program

College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Native American Studies Undergraduate Admission Requirements

A minimum of 26 credit hours; 23 credit hours must be in courses acceptable toward graduation.

A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 on all work.

  • Transfer students must have a 2.00 transfer GPA.
  • Continuing UNM students must have a 2.00 institutional GPA.

Demonstrated academic achievement by satisfying the following:

  • Completion of General Education Curriculum: Communication.
  • Completion of General Education Curriculum: Mathematics and Statistics.
  • Completion of General Education Curriculum: Second Language.

Completion of Department of Native American Studies major admission coursework with grades of "C" or better:

  • NATV 1150.
  • NATV 2110.

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies (B.A.)
    Concentrations: Indigenous Learning Communities; Leadership and Building Native Nations.

The Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to introduce students to the basic factors which underlie the distinct differences between Native societies and the larger American society. In addition, the degree provides students with the opportunity to examine the differences which continue to exist between Native and non-Native societies through multi-contextual learning activities which include experiential or service learning opportunities.

The following objectives are presented as a way to satisfy the broader goals:

  • ground students in the concepts and applications of methodologies from relevant disciplines focused on Native issues related to education, language revitalization, economics, law, policies, leadership, philosophy, psychology, arts and media;
  • provide students with relevant learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom;
  • assist students in integrating theory and practice through field and/or research experience; and
  • encourage dialogue and collaboration among students, faculty, and the Native community in the on-going development of the Native Studies curriculum.

Major Study Requirements

A major in Native American Studies requires successful completion of 36 credit hours. Students must take 18 credit hours of the required program core courses. 12 credit hours must be from one of the two concentrations in Native American Studies. The remaining 6 credit hours must be upper-division courses (300-level or above) from either the concentrations or from courses with significant Native American content offered by other departments or programs, which are subject to approval by the Chair of Native American Studies.

Credit
Hours
  Program Core
NATV 1150 Introduction to Native Studies 3
NATV 2110 Sociopolitical Concepts in Native America 3
NATV 2140 Research Issues In Native America 3
NATV 300 Research Methods in Native American Contexts 3
NATV 351
-or-
NATV 352
Individual Study

Internship
3
NATV *474 Seminar: Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy 3
Subtotal 18
  Indigenous Learning Communities Concentration
Recommended:
NATV 2315 Indigenous Language Revitalization and Community Renewal 3
NATV 305 Indigenous Self-Determination in Education 3
NATV 385 Indigenous Worldviews 3
NATV 402 Education, Power and Indigenous Communities 3
NATV *450 T: Native American Studies 1-3
NATV *461 Community-Based Learning in Indigenous Contexts 3
NATV *462 Native American Oral Tradition and Language Reclamation 3
CCST 2110 Introduction to Chicana and Chicano Studies 3
  Leadership and Building Native Nations Concentration
Recommended:
NATV 325 Tribal Government 3
NATV 326 Tribal Gaming 3
NATV 348 Native American Activism 3
NATV *423 Self-Determination and Indigenous Human Rights 3
NATV *436 Environmental Ethics and Justice in Native America 3
NATV *445 Politics of Identity 3
NATV *450 T: Native American Studies 1-3
NATV *480 Building Native Nations: Community Revitalization, Culture, Decolonization, and Indigenous Thought 3
Subtotal 12
Additional Upper-Division Courses
Chosen from the concentration lists above or from courses with significant Native American content offered by other UNM departments or programs.
Subtotal 6
Total 36

Second Major Study Requirements

Students who want to earn a second major in Native American Studies must complete 30 credit hours of the courses listed below:

  Required Core Courses Credit
Hours
NATV 1150 Introduction to Native Studies 3
NATV 2110 Sociopolitical Concepts in Native America 3
NATV 2140 Research Issues In Native America 3
NATV 300 Research Methods in Native American Contexts 3
NATV 351
-or-
NATV 352
Individual Study

Internship
3
NATV *474 Seminar: Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy 3
Subtotal 18
  Concentration
12 credit hours from one required Native American Studies major concentration:
  • Leadership and Building Native Nations courses
  • Indigenous Learning Communities courses
12
Second Major Total 30

BA to MA Shared Credit in Native American Studies

Native American Studies offers a Shared Credit Degree Program designed to allow students to complete a B.A. and M.A. in five years. To accomplish this, five courses, or 15 credit hours, are counted towards both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, which then reduces the time to complete the NAS M.A. by one academic year.

NATV 474 is a core course for the B.A. Native American Studies degree and will fulfill that requirement in the shared credit program.  The remaining four shared credit courses will meet the B.A. students’ area of concentration in either Indigenous Learning Communities or Leadership and Building Native Nations.  Those courses can also be applied to the upper division course requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.  Each course will be applied to the M.A. Native American Studies course requirements as well. A grade of “B” or better is required to count as shared credit toward the M.A. degree.

The undergraduate degree is awarded when these shared credit courses are completed in the student’s senior year.  Time-to-degree for the graduate portion of the program also begins in the senior year of the undergraduate degree. Standard Graduate Studies Leave of Absence policy and readmission procedure apply to students in Shared-Credit Programs. However, upon readmission the student is no longer eligible for the Shared-Credit Program and courses taken while an undergraduate are not applicable to a graduate degree.

 

Shared Credit Courses

Credit hours

NATV 474

Seminar: Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy

3

NATV 550

Indigenous Nations and Sustainable Communities Seminar

3

NATV 555

Native American Policy and Community Building

3

NATV 560

Research Method and Practice in Indigenous Scholarship

3

NATV Focus elective

(Select 1 NATV M.A. Focus course)

3

 

TOTAL

15


Eligibility Checklist for NAS B.A. students:

  1. Student must be admitted to the B.A. Native American Studies degree program (i.e., not in Pre-NAS major status).
  2. The following B.A. course requirement must still need to be completed:  NATV 474: Seminar: Applying Traditions in Native American Philosophy.
  3. Student must be currently taking or have already successfully completed NATV 300: Research methods in Indigenous contexts, with a "C" or better.
  4. Student must be designated at senior level status, or within 30 credit hours of graduating, by the time they start the shared credit program.
  5. Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 at the time of application to the shared credit program.

Admission to the graduate portion of the program is provisional until the undergraduate degree is awarded.

Admission Requirements: 

To apply to the BA to MA Shared Credit Program in Native American Studies, students must apply in the Spring semester of their Junior year, and they must follow the process for applying to the M.A. degree.  Application deadlines will be posted in the prior Fall semester.

To apply to the Native American Studies (M.A.) program go to NAS.UNM.EDU:

  • Eligibility Requirement:  have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or its equivalent in the last two (2) undergraduate years in your major field.
  • Submit an online application.
  • Upload a Letter of Intent (3-5 pages) that addresses educational goals, professional plans, interest in the M.A. degree program, and background in Native American Studies or Indigenous communities.
  • Upload a Writing Sample (10-15 pages) of original work that is academic, technical, professional, or artistic in nature (i.e. research paper, article, thesis, film, manuscript, reports, briefings).
  • Three (3) Letters of Recommendation.  Academic letters are strongly encouraged.
  • Upload a copy of your latest resume or CV.

Once the student is in the BA/MA Shared Credit Program and they are ready to graduate and advance to the M.A. level, students will be instructed to submit their online application and fee through the Graduate Studies office.

Escape Clause:

At any point in the senior year, students may choose not to complete both degrees.  The undergraduate degree will be awarded when all undergraduate requirements are met.

The Native American Studies department may choose not to advance a student to the graduate portion of the program if they are not meeting grade requirements and M.A. degree program expectations.


Minor Study

A minor in Native American Studies requires successful completion of 24 credit hours. Students must take 15 credit hours of required minor core courses. The remaining 9 credit hours must be upper-division courses (300-level or above) chosen from Native American Studies courses or from courses with significant Native American content offered by other departments or programs, subject to approval by the Chair of Native American Studies.

Credit
Hours
  Minor Core
NATV 1150 Introduction to Native American Studies 3
NATV 2110 Sociopolitical Concepts in Native America 3
NATV 2140 Research Issues In Native America 3
NATV 300 Research Methods in Native American Contexts 3
NATV *474 Seminar: Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy 3
Subtotal 15
Additional Upper-Division Courses
Chosen from Native American Studies courses or from courses with significant Native American content offered by other UNM departments or programs.
Subtotal 9
Total 24

Departmental Honors

Students who have earned a 3.90 GPA in Native American Studies coursework graduate with summa cum laude departmental honors. Students who have earned a 3.75 GPA in Native American Studies coursework graduate with magna cum laude departmental honors. A notation of honors is made on the student's academic record.

Eligibility for the departmental honors program is automatically considered, thus no application is necessary.


Courses

NATV 1150. Introduction to Native American Studies. (3)



NATV 2110. Sociopolitical Concepts in Native America. (3)



NATV 2140. Research Issues in Native America. (3)



NATV 2315. Indigenous Language Revitalization and Community Renewal. (3)



NATV 2996 [255]. Topics. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



NATV 300. Research Methods in Native American Contexts. (3)



NATV 305. Indigenous Self-Determination in Education. (3)



NATV 325. Tribal Government. (3)



NATV 326. Tribal Gaming. (3)



NATV 348. Native American Activism. (3)



NATV 351. Individual Study. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



NATV 352. Internship. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



NATV 385. Indigenous Worldviews. (3)



NATV 402 / 502. Education, Power and Indigenous Communities. (3)



NATV 423/523. Self-Determination and Indigenous Human Rights. (3)



NATV 424 / 524. Principles of Leadership in Indigenous Contexts. (3)



NATV *436. Environmental Ethics and Justice in Native America. (3)



NATV 445/545. Politics of Identity. (3)



NATV *450. Topics in Native American Studies. (1-3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



NATV *461. Community-Based Learning in Indigenous Contexts. (3)



NATV *462. Native American Oral Tradition and Language Reclamation. (3)



NATV *474. Seminar: Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy. (3)



NATV *480. Building Native Nations: Community Revitalization, Culture, Decolonization, and Indigenous Thought. (3)



NATV 502 / 402. Education, Power and Indigenous Communities. (3)



NATV 510. Individual Study. (1 to 6, may be repeated twice Δ)



NATV 522. Indigenous Community Approaches in Restorative Justice. (3)



NATV 523/423. Self-Determination and Indigenous Human Rights. (3)



NATV 524 / 424. Principles of Leadership in Indigenous Contexts. (3)



NATV 530. Gender and Indigenous Leadership. (3)



NATV 535. Issues in Contemporary Native Leadership. (3)



NATV 540. Indigenous Economies, Sustainability, and Environmental Protection. (3)



NATV 545/445. Politics of Identity. (3)



NATV 550. Indigenous Nations and Sustainable Communities Seminar. (3)



NATV 551. Problems. (1 to 3, may be repeated twice Δ)



NATV 555. Native American Policy and Community Building. (3)



NATV 560. Research Method and Practice in Indigenous Scholarship. (3)



NATV 570. Indigenous Thought and Ethics. (3)



NATV 590. Project of Excellence. (3 or 6, may be repeated once Δ)



NATV 595. Topics in Native American Studies. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)



NATV 665. Applied Indigenous Critical Theory. (3)



NATV 667. Action Research in Indigenous Communities. (3)



NATV 670. Comparative Indigenous Studies across Disciplines. (3)



NATV 699. Dissertation. (3-12 to a maximum of 99 Δ)



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