Joe E. Watkins , Director
Barbara Hobson, Assistant Director
Jerry Bread, Outreach Coordinator
216 Ellison Hall
Norman, OK 73019-3119
Phone: (405) 325-2312
FAX: (405) 325-0842
Internet: http://www.ou.edu/cas/nas/
The Native American Studies Program at the University of Oklahoma is designed to provide students with basic skills in reading, writing, and analytical thinking and an understanding of cultural diversity through comparison of Native American and other cultural values and issues. The curriculum gives students a basic understanding of American history and the role that Native Americans have played in it; an understanding of contemporary social and political issues that affect Native American communities; an appreciation of the importance of art, music, and dance in Native American life; training with community-based programs that will prepare graduates to assume positions in government, education, social services, and tribal programs; and learning skills that will enable graduates to enter academic or professional programs at the graduate level.
The major is an interdisciplinary degree offered in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students will take a core of courses offered by NAS faculty and select from courses in several departments, including anthropology, English, history, music, fine arts, communications, and geography. Students will also have the opportunity to take one of a number of native languages that the University offers.
The major requires a minimum of 39 hours, including 21 at the upper-division level. The course requirements are as follows:
Core Requirements (30 hours)
ANTH 2613, Native Peoples of North America
ENGL 2733, American Indian Literature: Early and Traditional; or 2743,
American Indian Literature: Modern and Contemporary
HIST 3633, The American Indian to 1870, or 3643, The American Indian: 1870–present
NAS 1013, Introduction to Native American Studies
NAS 3863, Native American Research Methods
NAS 4013, Senior Capstone
NAS 4803, Native American Sovereignty
NAS 4913, American Indian Education Policy, or NAS 4933, Intro. to Tribal
Economic Development
NAS 4920, Internship (3 hours)
One course from the following: MUNM 3213, Native American Music; A HI 4803,
North American Indian Prehistoric Art; A HI 4813, 19th Century North American
Indian Art History; A HI 4823, 20th Century American Indian Art History;
ARTC/NAS 4693, Native American Artist; ARTC/NAS 4893, Contemporary Native
American Artist II; NAS 3333, Native American Film.
Major Support Requirements (12 hours)
In addition, 12 semester hours not used toward the major core area must be completed from the following list for major support:
Majors must meet the College of Arts and Sciences language requirement by studying a native language. Majors must complete two introductory-level Native American language courses (ANTH/NAS/CREK/KIOW 1713 and 1723, CHER/CHOC 1715 and 1725, or the equivalent) plus a 2000-level course in a Native American language (ANTH/NAS/CHER/CHOC/CREK/KIOW 2733).
Departmental 4990 courses will apply as approved by the director of the degree program. A maximum of six of these hours will apply. Open topics courses such as Communication 3810, NAS 3693, and History 3430 will be limited to six hours.
The undergraduate Native American Studies minor requires a minimum of 15 hours of courses acceptable for major credit, including nine upper-division hours. The following specific requirements must be met; one course from each of the following four groups:
1. ENGL 2733, 2743, 3013, 4343.
2. ANTH 2613; HIST 1543, 3633, 3643.
3. NAS 4803, 4913, 4933; ANTH 3453.
4. A HI 4803, 4813, 4823, 4833; MUNM 3213; ARTC/NAS 4693.
Students will select one additional course from the following: ANTH 1613; 3503; 4653; 4663; 4673; 4693; 4813; A HI 3803; COMM 2313; ENGL 3253; 3353 4343; GEOG 4563; NAS 3113; 4913; 4933.
The master’s degree in Native American Studies is designed to allow students to expand their knowledge of American Indian cultures and strengthen their skills in writing, critical analysis of arguments and problem solving. The curriculum focuses on the study of American Indian culture, history, arts and contemporary policy issues. By bringing several disciplinary approaches to bear on a particular group of people, it allows students to deal with multiple perspectives on issues such as tribal identity, aesthetics, cross-cultural communication and conflict, and formation of federal policy.
The program has the flexibility to meet the needs of graduating seniors who wish to pursue graduate work leading toward doctoral study and careers in college teaching, employees of American Indian tribes and government agencies who want to further their careers, K-12 teachers who need graduate work to maintain certification, and individuals who are simply seeking to increase their knowledge of and skills in interpreting American Indian cultures and concerns.
The master of arts degree in Native American Studies requires a minimum of 30 hours of coursework, including seminars in history, English, anthropology, art criticism, and ethnomusicology; two courses chosen in consultation with the student's graduate adviser, which may be regularly scheduled seminars or directed readings; a one-hour seminar on thesis writing; and research for the thesis. Courses that meet these requirements are drawn from the following: