American Indian Studies
Bachelor of Arts
About the Major
Situated on Kumeyaay land, American Indian Studies at SDSU is one of the oldest departments of its kind in the country. The Department of American Indian Studies was founded through American Indian activism and honors this legacy with a commitment to community engagement and decolonization. Students who major in American Indian Studies do not simply learn about American Indian peoples and issues in the classroom. Instead, students build on course content with opportunities to participate in experiential learning and community-based partnerships alongside American Indian tribes, individuals, and programs. The Department of American Indian Studies' proximity to several American Indian communities in San Diego County, the county with the most tribal governments and reservations in the United States, provides students with an unparalleled environment to acquire an education based in dynamic tribal perspectives that prepares them for an impactful career.
Program Highlights
The department's course offerings are designed to provide students with a critical consciousness of American Indians' unique experiences in the United States. Grounded in an understanding of tribal sovereignty and place-based worldviews, students are exposed to a broad range of topics such as law and policy, history, popular culture, environmental justice, gender, language, literature, and art. The Department of American Indian Studies is a leader in supporting both Native and non-Native students to pursue meaningful careers that support American Indian communities.
Sample Courses
- American Indian Identity
- Federal Indian Law
- Indigenous Women in the Arts
- American Indian Worldviews and Cosmologies
Career Options
A degree in American Indian studies prepares students for various careers both in and outside Indian Country. Our interdisciplinary program teaches students about tribal sovereignty and the needs of contemporary Native communities. Students will be prepared to work in tribal education programs, social and human services programs, and cultural preservation divisions.
- Tribal Governance and Social Services
- Cultural Resources Management and Museums
- Education
- Tribal Gaming and Hospitality
Transferable Skills
- Community engagement
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Collaborative research skills
- Critical thinking
- Interdisciplinary thinking
- Cultural resource management
American Indian Studies Department
College of Arts and Letters
