Photo by Kurt Hickman / Stanford News Service
Native American Studies Program
The purpose of the Native American Studies major and minor is to introduce students to a broad range of approaches to the academic study of Native American people, history, and culture. Students who major in Native American Studies have the opportunity of doing advanced work in a number of related fields, including literature, sociology, education, and law.
Photo by Dennis Tyler
Director of Native American Studies
All courses in the program in some way promote the ongoing discussion of how academic knowledge about Native Americans relates to experiences of Native American people and communities.
Students also have access to a variety of special resources, including academic and peer mentoring, summer paid internships, and special programs sponsored by the program and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity.
History of the NAS Program
In 1970, the newly formed Stanford American Indian Organization (SAIO) conducted a needs assessment of Native American students at Stanford. The report advocated for Native American Studies, as well as a community center, theme residence, retention services, and increased recruitment of students, staff, and faculty.
Native American Studies and other ethnic studies remained a goal of student activists for many years. In 1987, SAIO along with other organizations representing students of color formed the Rainbow Coalition and presented a list of demands to the administration including improved curriculum and ethnic studies. Student activism culminated in a sit-in in 1989.
The first Native American studies classes were offered in 1992 by Professor Robert Warrior (Osage). Finally, in 1997, Native American Studies was established officially as part of the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity.
Major Requirements
In order to earn a B.A. in Native American Studies, students must complete at least 60 units toward the major.
- 15 Units of Core Curriculum
- 4-5 Units of a Major Core Course
- 3-5 Units of a Methodology Course
- 6-10 Units if Interdiciplinary Breadth Courses
- 25-32 Units of Native American Focused Courses
- One Community Engaged Learning Course
Core Curriculum (15 Units)
Majors must take three CSRE core curriculum courses including, Introduction to Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity (CSRE 196C), an additional comparative-core course, and the CSRE Senior Seminar (CSRE 200X) taken in Autumn Quarter of their senior year.
Major Core Course (4-5 Units)
Majors are required to take one major-core course in Native American Studies. Major Core Courses Include: Sociology 138& 139, and Native American Studies 115 & 16.
Methodology Course (3-5 Units)
Majors are required to take a course focused on research methods relevant to their disciplinary approach as a student in Native American Studies. Methodology Courses can be found on Explore Courses by using CSRE::Methodology as the search key.
Interdisciplinary Breadth (6-10 Units)
Majors are required to fulfill the Interdisciplinary Breadth Requirement by taking one course in a Social Science category, and one course in an Arts & Humanities category. Both classes must have a racial component to them. Categories of classes can be found on the School of Humanities & Sciences Bulletin Page.
Native American Focus (25-32 Units)
Majors are required to complete their additional courses in Native American Studies from an approved list. All classes should have a Native American focus.
Community Engaged Learning
All majors are required to complete at least one service-learning experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by enrolling in a service-learning course, participating in an identity, race, or ethnicity focused service-learning Alternative Spring Break, participating in the Community Based Research Fellowship program, or enrolling in CSRE 198 Internship for Public Service while completing independent service work.
To find a more detailed overview of this major please visit our Bulletin Page.
If you are ready to declare, please visit the How to Declare Page
Minor Requirements
In order to earn a Minor in Native American Studies, students must complete at least 30 units toward the minor.
- 5 Units of a Core Curriculum Course (CSRE 196C)
- 5 Units of a Major Core Course
- 20 Units of Native American Focused Courses
Core Curriculum (5 Units)
Minors must take Intro to CSRE (CSRE 196C).
Major Core Course (5 Units)
Minors are required to take one major-core course in Native American Studies. Major Core Courses Include: Soc 138 & 139, and NATIVEAM 115 & 16.
Native American Focus (20 Units)
Minors are required to complete their additional courses in Native American Studies from an approved list. All classes should have a Native American focus.
To find a more detailed overview of this minor please visit our Bulletin Page.
If you are ready to declare, please visit the How to Declare Page
Faculty & Lecturers
Courses
| Code | Title | Instructor | Quarter | Day & Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIVEAM 5A | Muwekma House Seminar | Wilcox, M. (PI) | Autumn 2021 - 2022 |
|
| NATIVEAM 17 | Indigenous Peacemaking: A Framework for Learning and Practice at Stanford | Biestman, K. (PI) | Autumn 2021 - 2022 |
Monday
1:30 PM- 3:30 PM |
| NATIVEAM 100 | Introduction to Native American Studies | Wilcox, M. (PI) | Autumn 2021 - 2022 |
Monday Wednesday
11:30 AM- 1:00 PM |
| NATIVEAM 117S | History of Native Americans in California (CSRE 117S, HISTORY 250A) | Anderson, J. (PI) | Autumn 2021 - 2022 |
Tuesday
12:15 PM- 2:15 PM |
| NATIVEAM 120 | Is Pocahontas a Myth? Native American Women in History | Red Shirt, D. (PI) | Autumn 2021 - 2022 |
Tuesday Thursday
6:45 PM- 7:45 PM |
| Code | Title | Instructor | Quarter | Day & Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIVEAM 5B | Muwekma House Seminar | Wilcox, M. (PI) | Winter 2021 - 2022 |
|
| NATIVEAM 109A | Federal Indian Law (CSRE 109A) | Biestman, K. (PI) | Winter 2021 - 2022 |
Monday
1:30 PM- 3:30 PM |
| NATIVEAM 115 | Introduction to Native American History | Red Shirt, D. (PI) | Winter 2021 - 2022 |
Tuesday Thursday
6:45 PM- 8:45 PM |
| Code | Title | Instructor | Quarter | Day & Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIVEAM 111B | Muwekma: Landscape Archaeology and the Narratives of California Natives (ANTHRO 111C, ARCHLGY 111B) | Wilcox, M. (PI) | Spring 2021 - 2022 |
Tuesday Thursday
1:30 PM- 2:30 PM |
| NATIVEAM 121 | Discourse of the Colonized: Native American and Indigenous Voices (CSRE 121) | Red Shirt, D. (PI) | Spring 2021 - 2022 |
Tuesday Thursday
5:30 PM- 7:30 PM |
| NATIVEAM 126 | Mo'olelo Aloha Aina: Hawaiian Perspectives on Storytelling, Land, and Sovereignty | Wilcox, M. (PI) | Spring 2021 - 2022 |
Wednesday
5:30 PM- 7:30 PM |
| NATIVEAM 161 | Entrepreneurship for Social and Racial Equity (CSRE 161P) | RED-HORSE MOHL, V. (PI) | Spring 2021 - 2022 |
Tuesday Thursday
9:45 AM- 11:15 AM |
| NATIVEAM 240 | Psychology and American Indian/Alaska Native Mental Health (EDUC 340, PSYCH 272) |
Greyeyes, J. (TA)
LaFromboise, T. (PI) |
Spring 2021 - 2022 |
Wednesday
9:45 AM- 12:45 PM |
