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Studies & Degrees in American Indian Studies

American Indian Studies is the academic study of the Indigenous peoples of the United States and, more widely, of North America: their histories, languages, arts, laws and governments, and their situation today. The University of Washington describes the field as grounded in the histories, cultures and dynamic societies of Indigenous peoples in North America and around the globe. It is also taught under the names Native American Studies and American Indian and Indigenous Studies.

The subject is not only about the past. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, there are 575 federally recognized tribes in the United States, and its parent office provides services to about 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. The US Census Bureau put the American Indian or Alaska Native population, alone or in combination with other race groups, at 7.7 million in 2024. Tribal nations have their own governments, and much of the curriculum deals with sovereignty, federal Indian law and policy, education, health and the environment.

What students learn

The field is interdisciplinary. Black Hills State University, for example, cross-lists its courses with English, sociology, history and political science. At the University of Washington the bachelor's degree is built around three concentrations, governance, environment and health, and culture and history, with courses such as American Indians and the Law and a Salish language sequence (Southern Lushootseed). Many departments work with nearby tribal communities, so the content has a regional focus: San Diego State University gives emphasis to the tribes of Southern California, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke to Southeastern tribes, including the Lumbee.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. A US bachelor's degree normally takes four years. Arizona State University lists a Bachelor of Science in American Indian Studies of 120 credit hours, focused on Indigenous governance, culture and leadership. At the University of Washington, students complete 55 credits in the major in addition to the university's general education requirements. The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) has offered a Bachelor of Arts in the subject since 2002, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke offers a Bachelor of Arts, and Black Hills State University a major leading to a Bachelor of Science, first offered in 1997.
  • Minors and certificates. Students of other subjects can add a minor, as at UCLA, the University of Washington and Black Hills State University. The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers an American Indian and Indigenous Studies certificate, and Arizona State University an American Indian Nation Governance certificate.
  • Master's degrees. UCLA offers a two-year master's degree in American Indian Studies. Arizona State University lists accelerated master's programmes in Indigenous rights and social justice and in tribal leadership and governance, and a fully online master's programme on Indigenous education.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists nine active schools for American Indian Studies, all of them in the United States: San Diego State University and UCLA in California, the University of Washington in Seattle, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Florida, North Idaho College, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Black Hills State University in South Dakota and Arizona State University.

Several of these programmes have long roots. The UCLA programme dates to 1969, when students and community members asked the university for a curriculum and research centre on Native American history and culture. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke was founded in 1887 to educate American Indian students. The Arizona State University programme was founded in 2002.

All programmes are taught in English, and international students need a student visa and the English level each university asks for. Arizona State University notes that its bachelor's degree is not eligible for the STEM extension of post-study work permission for F-1 students.

Careers

The degree is a general humanities and social science qualification with a specialist focus. The University of Washington reports that its alumni work in public affairs, education, tribal administration, law, filmmaking and the sciences, and that others go on to graduate study. UCLA names employment in governmental, tribal or social service and in law and policy-related fields, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke mentions education, law, social services and museum work. Many of these jobs are with tribal governments and organisations in the United States, so graduates from other countries more often use the degree as a basis for research, teaching, museum or cultural work, or for further study in anthropology, history or law.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be Native American to study American Indian Studies?

No. The programmes are open to all students. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke addresses its programme to Native and non-Native students alike, and Black Hills State University reports that quite a few non-Native students travel there to study the subject.

Is American Indian Studies the same as Native American Studies?

The names are used for the same field. Some departments now add the word Indigenous, as the University of Wisconsin-Madison does, to include Indigenous peoples beyond the United States.

Can I learn a Native American language as part of the degree?

At some universities. The University of Washington lists a Salish language sequence in Southern Lushootseed among its courses, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison department has a language learning section.

Can I study it outside the United States?

All nine schools listed here for the subject are in the United States. Students elsewhere usually approach the field through anthropology, history or American studies and can spend an exchange period at a US university.