The Plateau Center for American Indian Studies offers both a minor and certificate in American Indian Studies. Course requirements for the minor and certificate are the same, consisting of a nine credits from core course listings and an addition nine credits of electives coursework (for a total of 6 classes). Unlike the minor, however, a student pursuing the AIS certificate does not need to be enrolled in a degree program at WSU. Reflecting a variety of specializations, courses in the AIS program are drawn from the departments of Anthropology, Comparative Ethnic Studies, History, Music, and Fine Arts.
As spelled out in the Memorandum of Understanding between WSU and nine Columbia Plateau tribes, the certificate and minor in AIS “Promotes Native American studies and educational programs throughout the University . . . serving the needs of Native American students, other students, and the Signatory Tribes.” As such, the Plateau Center is committed to creating a regionally relevant AIS program. In addition to taking courses in the classroom, students have the opportunity to work in local indigenous communities for up to three credit hours, participating in a collaborative, tribally-directed arrangement, in a program that honors both the intent of the MOU as well as Washington State University’s responsibilities to surrounding Columbia Plateau tribes as a land-grant university.
Courses
AIS Core:
Native Peoples of North America (ANTH 320/ CES 377)
North American Indian History, Pre-contact to Present (HIST 308)
Introduction to Indigenous Studies (CES 171)
Electives:
Native Music of North America (MUS 265/ CES 271)
Arts of Native North America (FA 301)
Contemporary Native Peoples of the Americas (ANTH 327)
America Before Columbus (ANTH 331)
Time and Culture in the Northwest (ANTH 334)
Indigenous Women in Traditional and Contemporary Societies Spring 2012 (CES 372/ ANTH 312/ W ST 200) This class is an exploration of roles and activities of women in indigenous societies. Course instruction includes but is not limited to traditional gender roles, how they have developed and evolved, and contemporary indigenous women issues.
Native American Literature (CES 373)
Indigenous Film (CES 379)
History of American Indian Sovereignty and Federal Indian Law (HIST 410)
Indigenous Politics (CES 470)
Indians of the Northwest (CES 475)
Directed Independent Study in Native Communities (CES 499)
Cultural Resource Management (ANTH 535)
Inter-institutional Course Collaboration
In May of 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Lewis-Clark State College, North Idaho College, Northwest Indian College, the University of Idaho, and Washington State University to foster collaboration in work related to American Indians. The MOU called for the establishment of a Collaborations Committee comprised of representatives from the five participating colleges and universities. The Committee’s mission is to “strengthen the instruction and scholarship about, and services to Native Americans offered by each institution.” Toward this end, course collaborations are being developed by which students can take courses at any participating institution and receive credit at their home college or university. Washington State University and the University of Idaho will be the first to collaborate in this way, offering courses beginning in fall of 2011 and Spring 2012.
Indigenous Methodologies
American Indian Studies