Native American & Indigenous Studies Undergraduate Certificate (WEST)

Coordinator, Dr. Janice M. Gould; COH 1025E; E-mail: jgould@uccs.edu; (719) 255-5147

• The Women’s and Ethnic Studies program (WEST) has a strong emphasis in diversity and social justice issues, highlighting race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class. 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. For WEST majors, minors, and other students wishing to concentrate in this area, we offer a concentration in Native American & Indigenous Studies and an award of certification of study.

• Completion of the certificate can be beneficial for enhancing future career options and interests. The minor 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). Participation in the certificate program also provides students with opportunities for networking and mentoring.     

Certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies - After completing the pre-requisite WEST 2010   Introduction to Race and Gender, students are required to take 12 credits (4 courses) under the WEST prefix. Nine of the 12 credits must be upper division. A minimum grade of 2.0 (C) is required for each course applied toward the certificate.

To enroll in the certificate program, please meet with the coordinator to turn in the completed application form. In order to complete the certificate program, students are required to submit 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. Please submit the statement to the coordinator. The certificate will be mailed to recipients upon completion of a certificate audit by the coordinator and graduation.

Course selection guidelines:

• Independent studies may not be used to earn this certificate.
• All courses must be offered through the WEST program and/or affiliates.

Students may enroll in the NA certificate program by completing a brief application available on the website (www.uccs.edu/west), from the coordinator, or at the WEST office: Columbine suite 1025, (719) 255-4553.