American Indian Studies Minor

Program Coordinator/Contact

Mark Freeland, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of American Indian Studies
School of American and Global Studies
West Hall 106, Box 510
605-688-4311

Program Information

The American Indian Studies program prepares critical thinkers for living in an interrelated world with the rigorous engagement of Indigenous intellectual traditions, interdisciplinary theories, methods and community engagement.  The AIS Minor provides a useful complement to any major by developing a deeper understanding of cultural competency and working across difference.  Coursework provides an understanding of an American Indian worldview as a lens to comprehend traditional knowledge and culture.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Identify and analyze the trajectory of colonization and decolonization among Indigenous peoples in the North American context. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Apply a theory of Indigenous worldview to effectively demonstrate cultural difference among Indigenous peoples and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge)
• Critically analyze and evaluate contemporary Indigenous issues working across academic disciplines to further the process of decolonization and Indigenization. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)

Course Delivery Format

Program courses are taught on campus, online, and in field based settings.