American Indian Studies Curriculum

Program Director: Leonard R. Bruguier
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: American Indian Studies
Minor: American Indian Studies
The American Indian Studies degree program at the University of South Dakota is offered in cooperation with Black Hills State University at Spearfish, South Dakota. The two institutions share a completely articulated program of studies with a common core, and offer an integrated, statewide opportunity for serious study and research in American Indian culture and issues. Students may freely transfer between the two programs to take advantage of varied Indian Studies perspectives. Some classes are offered through distance learning technology.
American Indian Studies programs enrich the intellectual environment through academic examination of American Indian culture, history, and contemporary issues. Degrees in American Indian Studies prepare students for a wide range of career opportunities associated with rural and urban American Indian people in South Dakota and the North American continent. Employment opportunities exist in education, resource management, economic development, cultural preservation, social work, health and medical services, law, and tribal/state/federal government entities.
The American Indian Studies major enhances the multi-disciplinary academic field of American Indian Studies and provides a complete undergraduate experience for those seeking admission into an ever-increasing number of American Indian Studies graduate programs across the nation.
The Institute of American Indian Studies is the advising center for the American Indian Studies Program. Offices are located in Dakota Hall 12 - 605.677.5209 - FAX 605.677.6525 - http://www.usd.edu/iais - iais@usd.edu.
Major: American Indian Studies
Departmental Requirements: 37 hours
No more than two courses (six semester hours) in independent study/readings/special problems may be used to fulfill requirements for this major.
Required Core: (13 hours)

AIS 101/LAKL 101 Lakota Language I (4 hours)

AIS 257/HIST 257 American Indian History and Culture I (3 hours)

AIS 465 Siouan Tribal Culture (3 hours)

AIS 466/HIST 466 Indian Americans (3 hours)
One course required from each of the following pairs: (6 hours)
Lower Level:

AIS 251/ARTH 251 American Indian Art History (3 hours)
Or

AIS 214/ENGL 214 Introduction to American Indian Literature (3 hours)

Upper Level:

AIS 417/POLS 417 American Indian Government and Politics (3 hours)
Or

AIS 422/SOC 422 Issues in American Indian Life (BHSU course to be shared through RTDN) (3 hours)
Required Capstone Course: (3 hours)

AIS 480 Senior Seminar (3 hours)
Elective Courses: (15 hours)
15 hours must be selected in at least two disciplines from the following American Indian Studies courses. A minimum of 9 hours of elective credits must be taken at the upper division level (300-400).

AIS 460/PHIL 460 American Indian Thought (3 hours)

AIS 490 Independent Study (1-3 hours)

ANTH 300 North American Prehistory (3 hours)

ANTH 320 South Dakota Prehistory (3 hours)

ANTH 330 Native Peoples and Cultures of North America (3 hours)

ANTH 410 Plains Indian Cultural Ecology (3 hours)

ANTH 491 Independent Readings (American Indian-related) (1-3 hours)

ARTH 490 Special Problems (American Indian-related) (1-9 hours)

CJUS 240 Indian Law and Justice (3 hours)

ENGL 445 American Indian Literature I (3 hours)

ENGL 446 American Indian Literature II (3 hours)

ENGL 495 Topics in English (American Indian-related) (1-3 hours)

ENGL 497 Independent Study (American Indian-related) (1-3 hours)

HIST 462 American Indian History (3 hours)

HIST 464 20th Century Frontier (3 hours)

HIST 465 American Indians in Film (3 hours)

HIST 476 South Dakota (3 hours)

HIST 490 Independent Study (American Indian-related) (1-3 hours)

INED 411 Bicultural Teaching Methods (3 hours)

LAKL 102 Introductory Lakota II (4 hours)

LAKL 201 Intermediate Lakota III (3 hours)

LAKL 202 Intermediate Lakota IV (3 hours)

LAKL 311 Advanced Lakota I (3 hours)

LAKL 202 Advanced Lakota II (3 hours)

PHIL 390 Independent Readings in Philosophy (American Indian-related) (1-3 hours)

PHIL 450 Selected Problems in Philosophy (American Indian-related) (1-3 hours)

POLS 380 Government Internships (Emphasis: American Indian government) (3 hours)
The advising center for the Indian Studies major is the Institute of American Indian Studies located in Dakota Hall 12. The Institute is an administrative department which coordinates American Indian-related on and off-campus projects, activities, and programs.
Please check the current University of South Dakota undergraduate and graduate catalogs for full course listings, descriptions, schedules, and enrollment requirements. The 1998-2000 catalogs should be available at your local high school, college or university, and public library. If not, please contact the University of South Dakota Office of Admissions or write the University of South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069-2390.
[This program requirement outline is meant to provide guidelines for prospective students. The current 1998-2000 Undergraduate Catalog is the official catalog to consult when enrolling. lrb.]
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12 September 2001, lrb, sm

American Indian Studies Major Program

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