American Indian Studies is a cross-disciplinary minor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences that allows students to learn more about the contemporary and historical realities of native communities in North America, to appreciate the variety of native cultures and experiences, and to be prepared for an attentive lifelong learning experience in a diverse world.
Courses focus on critical thinking and the application of knowledge in complex, diverse situations. Courses in American Indian Studies thus not only provide knowledge on specific native issues, but also prepare students for careers and further studies in fields such as community development and planning, social work, law, sociology, education, history, anthropology, agriculture, resource extraction, literature, policy, engineering, environmental issues.
Today, 80% of American Indians live outside of reservation communities. American Indian Studies students will gain the knowledge and skills they need for living and working with, in and around native communities and people who live everywhere in North America, and, increasingly, the world.
For students who are interested in deeper knowledge on the issues, a major can be pursued through the Interdisciplinary Studies major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Faculty members also are available to provide expertise to graduate students working on specific issues that involve American Indian themes.
Most American Indian Studies courses meet the university-wide U.S. Diversity requirement.
The minor in American Indian Studies is 15 credits and includes:
| AM IN 210 | Introduction to American Indian Studies | 3 |
And 12 additional credits of AM IN coursework, of which at least 9 credits need to be 300-level courses or above. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement.
The coursework will be established in consultation with the director of the program through the student's "Request for Minor" form.
Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Perceptions and realities of Native people living in and responding to American society and culture. Topics include representations, contemporary Native identity, literature, the arts, history, film, and issues of diversity.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. SS., offered irregularly.
Examines the role of American Indians in the movie industry. Explores the development of American Indian characters and filmmaking, and the relevance for Native communities, through feature films and academic analysis. One focus is a comparison of non-Native and Native films in form, content, and message, and the changing character of Native representation in both.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Introduction to the multidisciplinary aspects of American Indian Studies. Topics include the relevant events and ideas defining the contemporary American Indian experience, on and off reservation, in the United States. Sovereignty, identity, jurisdiction, taxes, economic development, education, and other issues are addressed.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). Cr. 3. F.
Cultures and histories of Native people who have called the present state of Iowa home; primary focus on the period between 1700 CE and the present; Native interactions with Spanish, French, British, and American people.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with ENGL). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Credit in or exemption from ENGL 150
Appreciation of oral and written forms of American Indian literatures. Tropes and techniques in oral, visual and written texts. Focus on the role of American Indians in interdisciplinary approaches to modern social and environmental issues as expressed in literary works.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered irregularly.Alt. S., offered irregularly.
Prereq: AM IN 210 recommended
Examines contemporary issues and important topics affecting Native communities overall.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: AM IN 210 recommended
Examines the impact of federal American Indian policies on Native communities, especially contemporary Indian Country and communities. Topics include sovereignty, recognition, the role of the Supreme Court, specific policies like allotment, and other relevant issues.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: AM IN 210 recommended
Examines current and historical issues in American Indian education. Topics include traditional education, changes to formal education, tribal colleges and universities, current school systems, and other relevant topics.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: AM IN 210 recommended
Examines Native land rights, water rights, and natural resources. Topics may include Native relations to landscapes, cultural resources and infrastructure projects, land rights, water usage agreements, and resource policies as they apply to on- and off-reservation Native communities.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: ANTHR 202
Prehistory and early history of North America as reconstructed from archaeological evidence; peopling of the New World; culture- historical sequences of major culture areas; linkages of archaeological traditions with selected ethnohistorically known Native American groups.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: ANTHR 202
Prehistoric societies of the Great Plains region of North America, from initial occupation to European contact; emphasis on sociocultural changes, continuities, and adaptations to changing environments using archaeological, ecological, ethnographic information.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or AM IN 210
Origin, distribution, and pre-contact life of the indigenous peoples of North America. Survey of culture areas; language families, social and political systems, ecological and economic adaptations, religion and spirituality; impact of European contact; cultural resilience and revitalization in contemporary American Indian life.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ENGL 250
Overview of historic and contemporary health and health care in Native Communities. Indian Health Service and specific regulations. Consideration of both cultural and scientific approaches to medicine. Specific health issues (e.g., diabetes, alcoholism, depression, etc.) in American Indian communities.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with RELIG). Cr. 3.
An introduction to the beliefs and rituals of Native American religious traditions, with attention to cultural and historical contexts and implications.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Dual-listed with AM IN 532). (Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306; ANTHR 322 or AM IN 210 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Native North America; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Native North America in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
Only 9 credits of ANTHR/AM IN 332A, 332B, 332C, 332D may count toward graduation.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Dual-listed with AM IN 532A). (Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306; ANTHR 322 or AM IN 210 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Native North America; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Native North America in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
Only 9 credits of ANTHR/AM IN 332A, 332B, 332C, 332D may count toward graduation.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Dual-listed with AM IN 532B). (Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306; ANTHR 322 or AM IN 210 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Native North America; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Native North America in a global context.
Only 9 credits of ANTHR/AM IN 332A, 332B, 332C, 332D may count toward graduation.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Dual-listed with AM IN 532C). (Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306; ANTHR 322 or AM IN 210 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Native North America; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Native North America in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
Only 9 credits of ANTHR/AM IN 332A, 332B, 332C, 332D may count toward graduation.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Dual-listed with AM IN 532D). (Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306; ANTHR 322 or AM IN 210 recommended
Exploration of key contemporary and historical issues in Native North America; discussion of current anthropological approaches to studying Native North America in a global context. Topics vary each time offered.
Only 9 credits of ANTHR/AM IN 332A, 332B, 332C, 332D may count toward graduation.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with ENGL). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ENGL 250
Survey of literature by Native Americans from pre-Columbian tales and songs to contemporary novels and poetry.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with ARCH). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: Junior classification
History, theory, and principles of Native American/American Indian architecture, landscape architecture and planning considering relationships to the culture, visual arts, site, and surroundings. Credit counts toward fulfillment History, Theory, Culture.
A maximum of 6 credits of ARCH 426 may be applied to degree program.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
Cr. arr. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits in American Indian studies; permission of instructor and program director
Designed to meet the needs of students who wish to study in areas other than those in which courses are offered.
No more than 6 credits in AM IN 490 may be counted toward graduation. If more than 3 credits in AM IN 490 are taken, they must be from different instructors.