Undergraduate Certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies (WEST)

Coordinator: Dr. Ilaheva Tua
Email: ntuaone@uccs.edu
Ph: (719) 255-4117

The Women’s and Ethnic Studies program (WEST) has a strong emphasis in diversity and social justice issues, highlighting race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, disability and environmental justice. An area that we are developing within the program is Native American and Indigenous Studies, which investigates not only American Indian issues but also the concept of Indigenous knowledge worldwide, with special emphasis on Indian Nations within the United States, First Nations in Canada, and Pacific Islanders.

Completion of a certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies can be beneficial for enhancing future career options and interests. It is marketable to a wide variety of employers and institutions, including specific American Indian tribes and tribal organizations, Native American communities, environmental organizations, libraries, archives, and museums, Government organizations (state and national parks, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Museum of the American Indian), and graduate programs and professional schools (for example, Anthropology, Art History, Museum Studies, Environmental Studies, Education, and Law). Specializing in Native American and Indigenous Studies also provides students with opportunities for networking and mentoring.

General Requirements

Students should apply for the certificate in Latino/a Studies, by completing the online WEST Certificate Declaration form here https://west.uccs.edu/west-certificates and declaring their intention to complete the certificate as soon as possible after completing WEST 1010.

In order to complete the certificate in Latino/a Studies please use the online WEST Certificate Completion form here https://west.uccs.edu/west-certificates. Students are required to submit a transcript and attach a 3-5 page, self-reflective statement evaluating  their perceptions regarding the knowledge gained in the concentration and implications for future scholarly and professional work. A certificate confirming the student’s completion of the certificate will be emailed to recipients following an audit by the coordinator.

• Independent studies may not be used to earn this certificate.
• All courses be WEST courses or cross-listed with WEST courses.
• A minimum grade of 2.0 (C) is required for each course applied to the certificate
• One course counted toward this certificate may count toward another WEST certificate.
• In order to complete the certificate program, students are required to submit to the coordinator a transcript and a five-page, typewritten self-reflective statement evaluating her/his perceptions regarding the knowledge gained in the concentration and implications for future scholarly and professional work. The certificate will be mailed to recipients upon completion of a certificate audit by the coordinator, and graduation.