Native American and Indigenous Studies Minor
The Native American and Indigenous Studies minor is an academic program dedicated to the interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary study of understanding Native American and Indigenous issues across historical and contemporary contexts.
Program Overview
NAIS is an academic program dedicated to the interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary study of understanding Native American and Indigenous issues across historical and contemporary contexts. This includes a critical examination of the local, regional, and global dynamics of power, as well as the challenges and successes of Native and Indigenous nations and communities, within the context of social, economic, and political transformations affecting Native American and Indigenous societies.
Our interdisciplinary curriculum trains students to analyze the past and present through the perspectives that challenge dominant narratives and center the experiences and agency of Native and Indigenous people as they navigate representation, identity, traditional knowledge, and economic, political, and social change.
Our courses equip students with a diverse range of methodological skills and perspectives, enabling them to conduct their own research and creative activities.
Why Study Native American and Indigenous Studies?
Sharing accurate Native American and Indigenous perspectives, histories, and cultures provides all students with a space in the classroom to foster an understanding of positive Indigenous identities, cultural persistence, self-determination, and tribal resiliency. Further, the NAIS program highlights the contributions and agency of Tribal communities and nations to the U.S.
The Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) program grows out of a recognition that Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary experiences are foundational to understanding the past, present, and future of the region and the nation, especially since East Tennessee is the ancestral homeland of at least 11 different tribal nations (Cherokee, Yuchi, Muscogee, Shawnee, and the Coushatta, to name a few).
The program responds to longstanding student and faculty interest in more sustained, interdisciplinary engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems, sovereignty, creativity, and resilience. NAIS seeks to center Indigenous voices and perspectives while fostering ethical, community-engaged scholarship that connects academic study with lived realities.
What Can You Do with a Minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies After Graduation?
A minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies prepares students for a wide range of careers. You’ll have opportunities for positions in government and law, working in public policy, legal studies, social justice groups, and even federal agencies where cultural competency and intercultural communication are highly valued.
Other pathways might include working in education where you might teach history or social studies, or go on to advocate for Indigenous initiatives in non-profit and community organizations. A minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies prepares students to make a meaningful impact no matter what their chosen field of study.
Whether you want to make an impact in healthcare, business, or even media and communications, the Native American and Indigenous Studies minor prepares you with the skills needed hit the ground running.
Featured Courses
HIUS 329 Native American History
Histories of Native Americans East and West of the Mississippi.
ANTH 461 Applied Archaeology: CRM Laws, Ethics, and Practice
Federal legislation and regulations affecting identification, protection, and management of archaeological resources. Professional ethics and responsibilities and relationship of federal and state agencies, public interest groups, and professional archaeologists in conduct of federally sponsored archaeology.
PHIL 382 Philosophy of Feminism
A philosophical exploration of feminist perspectives on issues related to gender, sex, and sexuality, labor, sexism and racism, intersectionality, colonialism, oppression, and sexual violence.
ANTH 426 Decolonization
This course will be a deep dive into the histories, philosophies, and praxis of decolonization. We will investigate colonial histories across the globe, the writings of major participants in decolonization movements, and contemporary settler colonialisms and resistance against them.
Looking For More Options?
The College of Arts and Sciences offers students the broadest range of academic programs and opportunities for research and creative activities at the University of Tennessee, powered by faculty expertise across every discipline.
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