Apr 15, 2026

2026-2027 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

HELP

2026-2027 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

American Indian and Indigenous Studies Certificate

Students pursuing any approved degree or credential program of the University may at the same time earn a Certificate in American Indian Studies. Courses taken to meet the requirements may be used, where applicable, to meet General Education requirements or the degree or credential requirements of cooperating departments. Certification will be issued upon the successful completion of requirements.

This certificate is state supported.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree with a major in a traditional discipline. (Certificate requirements may be completed prior to or after the completion of B.A. requirement).
Submission of all college/university transcripts to the academic advising coordinator, who will work with the student to develop a well‑integrated program of studies. Interested students are strongly encouraged to meet with the academic advising coordinator after having completed the lower division core courses.
A minimum of 21 units, distributed as follows.

Core Courses (9 units)

Take three of the following courses:

AIS 101 - Introduction to the Study of Native American People (3 units)
or
AIS 222 - American Indian Museum Studies (3 units)
AIS 308 - California Indian History (3 units)
or
ANTH 322 - California Indians (3 units)
AIS 450 - American Indian and Indigenous Cinema (3 units)
or
AIS 485 - American Indians and the Law (3 units)

Lower Division Core:

Take 3 units from the following courses:

AIS 101 - Introduction to the Study of Native American People (3 units)
AIS 105 - American Indian History - Pre 1871 (3 units)
AIS 106 - American Indian History - Post 1871 (3 units)
AIS 119 - Introduction to Racial and Ethnic Studies (3 units)
AIS 222 - American Indian Museum Studies (3 units)

Upper Division Core:

Take 3-9 units from the following courses:

AIS 308 - California Indian History (3 units)
AIS 319 - Racial and Ethnic Experience in the United States (3 units)
AIS 313 - American Indian Genders and Sexualities (3 units)
or
WGSS 313 - American Indian Genders and Sexualities (3 units)
AIS 336 - Indigenous Philosophies of Sustainability (3 units)
AIS 345 - Working with American Indian and Indigenous Families (3 units)
AIS 340 - American Indian Literature (3 units)
or
ENGL 340 - American Indian Literature (3 units)
AIS 410 - American Indian Creative Cultural Practices (3 units)
AIS 454 - Contemporary Indigenous Arts in the United States and American Territories (3 units)
or
AH 454 - Contemporary Indigenous Arts in the United States and American Territories (3 units)
or
AH 554
AIS 485 - American Indians and the Law (3 units)
AIS 490 - Selected Topics in American Indian Studies (1 -3 units)
AIS 497 - Fieldwork in American Indian Studies (1 -3 units)
AIS 499 - Directed Studies (1 -3 units)

Upper Division Electives: (0-6 units)

Note: Meet with department advisor to discuss elective options for the Certificate in AIS to complete up to 6 units in Upper Division coursework.

Take up to two of the following courses:

American Indian Studies:

AIS 319 - Racial and Ethnic Experience in the United States (3 units)
AIS 308 - California Indian History (3 units)
AIS 313 - American Indian Genders and Sexualities (3 units)
or
WGSS 313 - American Indian Genders and Sexualities (3 units)
AIS 497 - Fieldwork in American Indian Studies (1 -3 units)

American Studies:

AMST 300 - Introduction to American Studies (3 units)
AMST 350 - California Culture (3 units)

Anthropology:

ANTH 321 - North American Indians (3 units)
ANTH 322 - California Indians (3 units)
ANTH 329 - Cultural Diversity in California (3 units)
ANTH 448 - Ancient Civilizations of Mexico and Central America (3 units)
ANTH 449 - Prehistoric Cultures of North America (3 units)
ANTH 450 - Archaeological Field Research (1-10 units) (maximum 3 units approved by advisor)
ANTH 451 - Archaeological Artifacts Analyses (3 units) (can only be taken once)
ANTH 487 - Cultural Resource Management (3 units)

Art/Art History:

AH 430 - Introduction to Curatorial Practices (3 units)
AH 431 - History of Museums and Exhibitions (3 units)
ART 354A - Core Studio: Wood - Furniture (3 units)
or
ART 354B - Core Studio: Wood - Bending (3 units)
ART 440 - Art in Public Places: Theory and Practice (3 units)
or
ART 540 - Art in Public Places: Theory and Practice (3 units)
AH 456 - Native American Art (3 units)
or
AH 556 - Native American Art (3 units)

Comparative World Literature:

CWL 315 - Literature and Medicine (3 units)
CWL 320 - Comic Spirit (3 units)
CWL 415 - Ethnic Literature and Culture in America (3 units)

English:

ENGL 340 - American Indian Literature (3 units)
ENGL 375 - U.S. Ethnic Writers (3 units)
ENGL 470 - American Ethnic Literatures (3 units)
ENGL 683 - Selected Topics - Seminar in English Studies (4 units) (I) (ENG 683I is only open to English Masters Students)

Film and Electronic Arts:

CINE 316 - Popular Culture and Media (3 units)
CINE 380 - Documentary History and Theory (3 units)
CINE 486 - Alternative Media (3 units)

Geography:

GEOG 357 - Sacred Geographies (3 units)
GEOG 473 - Remote Sensing for Environment and Society (4 units)
GEOG 481 - Geographic Information Science for Natural Sciences (4 units)
GEOG 447 - Landscape Restoration (3 units)

Human Development:

Journalism:

JOUR 310 - Writing for the LBC (3 units)
JOUR 311 - News Reporting and Ethics (3 units)
JOUR 431 - Mass Media Ethics (3 units)

Kinesiology:

KIN 338 - Women in Sport (3 units)
KIN 332 - Sociocultural Dimensions of Sport and Human Movement (3 units)
KIN 335 - Historical and Cultural Foundations of Sport and Kinesiology in America (3 units)
(KIN 338 and KIN 335 are only open to Kinesiology Majors)

Museum Studies/CRM:

AH 430 - Introduction to Curatorial Practices (3 units)
AH 431 - History of Museums and Exhibitions (3 units)
ANTH 487 - Cultural Resource Management (3 units)

Music:

MUS 490 - Introduction to Music Cultures (3 units)

Philosophy:

PHIL 351 - Political Philosophy (3 units)
PHIL 451 - Liberty and Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Law (3 units)
PHIL 489 - Philosophy Internship/Pre-Law (3-6 units)

Political Science:

POSC 311 - Constitutional Law: Power (3 units)
POSC 312 - Constitutional Law: Rights (3 units)
POSC 321 - The Media and American Politics (3 units)
POSC 326 - California Government in Comparative Perspective (3 units)
POSC 323 - Racial and Ethnic Politics - U.S. (3 units)
POSC 395 - Politics Through Culture (3 units)

Social Work:

S W 330 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3 units)
S W 331 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3 units)
S W 350 - Law, Court Decisions, and Policy Practice (3 units)
S W 351 - Social Policy: Formulation and Analysis (3 units)

Women’s and Gender Sexuality Studies:

WGSS 313 - American Indian Genders and Sexualities (3 units)
WGSS 318 - Fierce Struggle: U.S. Women of Color - History and Thought (3 units)
WGSS 401 - Bodies and Borders: Feminism and Globalization (3 units)