BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES
The Major requirements are distributed according to certain categories to create a breadth of knowledge. Students are required to take a research methods course to become familiar with scholarly techniques of knowledge production and to critically regard academic research, as well as a course in either ethnic/race/gender relations or comparative indigenous studies. Three additional electives are selected in the social sciences and humanities according to a distributional formula that encourages further specialization within either of these two broad areas while simultaneously adding additional breadth. Finally, American Indian Studies C122SL prioritizes the experiential dimension of involvement in Native American communities (either urban, reservation, or rancheria) through work that provides service experience and/or supervised internship opportunities.
For more information, please contact Dwight Youpee, dyoupee@ucla.edu.
Transfer Students
Transfer applicants to the American Indian Studies major with 90 or more units must complete as many of the following introductory courses as possible prior to admission to UCLA: one introduction to American Indian studies course and two courses from culture and society, introduction to American politics, introduction to statistical methods, and introduction to women's studies.
Refer to the UCLA Transfer Admission Guide at: http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr.htm for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.
Preparation for the Major
Required to earn a B.A. in American Indian Studies: American Indian Studies M10 and two courses from Anthropology 9, Political Science 40, Sociology M18, Women's Studies 10. All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Students must complete 15 upper division courses (60 units) as follows, with no more than 32 units from American Indian studies courses:
1. Ten core courses (40 units), including:
(a) Comparative American Indian Societies: American Indian Studies M161
(b) Two language courses from Anthropology M140, C144, Linguistics 114
(c) Two history or law courses from American Indian Studies 140, 158, C170, History 149A, 149B, 157B
(d) One social sciences course from American Indian Studies C120, C121, C130, C175, C178, Anthropology CM168P, 172A, 172B, 172R, M172V, or 174P
(e) Two expressive culture courses from American Indian Studies 180, Art History C117A through C117D, 118D, English 106, Ethnomusicology 106A, 106B, Theater 103F, 107
(f) One methodology course from Anthropology 115P, 117, 139, 143, 180, M186, Art History 100, Community Health Sciences 181, Comparative Literature 100, Ethnomusicology 180, Linguistics 160, Political Science 104A, 170A, Social Welfare 103, 106, Sociology 106A, 113, or World Arts and Cultures 195
(g) Either one ethnic/race/gender relations course (Afro-American Studies M120, M164, Anthropology M134, 152, M154P, M154Q, Asian American Studies 130A, M130B, M130C, 131, 132A, 133, 134, Chicana and Chicano Studies M182, Communication Studies M124, Film and Television 128, Sociology 154, 156, M162, M167, Women's Studies M104C, 130, or 168) or one comparative indigenous studies course (Anthropology 153P, Comparative Literature 158, Geography 131, History 135A, or Sociology 157)
2. Three elective courses (12 units) in one of the following options:
(a) history, law, and social sciences: two courses in those categories as listed above and one expressive culture course or (b) expressive culture: one social sciences course and two expressive culture courses
3. American Indian Studies C121 and C122SL (experiential service learning or supervised internship)
The 15 courses must fit one of the following regional emphasis patterns:
(1) Native North America -- eight courses, including those mentioned above and additional electives on Native North American topics or (2) indigenous peoples of the Americas -- eight courses, including at least four dealing with indigenous people in Central and/or South America
Research
Undergraduate students are encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities for research and internships at UCLA. Research opportunities can be found through the UCLA Student Research Program (SRP), which assists undergraduates in obtaining research skills, in defining academic interests and objectives, and in becoming part of the larger university research community.
Students may also choose to writes a senior thesis or participate in the College Honors Program. Students participating in College Honors may also apply for summer research stipend to conduct individual research projects.
In addition, students with a specific interest may create their own independent study course (199) with a faculty mentor. Please note that no more than two independent studies courses may be applied toward the degree in American Indian Studies.
Internships
As part of the major requirements, students must enroll in the Tribal Learning Community and Educational Exchange (TLCEE) course "Working in Tribal Communities" (American Indian Studies 122).
Internships and community learning opportunities can also be found through the UCLA Career Center and the Center for Community Learning.
In addition, students may apply for jobs and/or volunteer opportunities with two student-initiated projects. American Indian Recruitment (AIR) works with Native youth at American Indian centers in Los Angeles County. Retention of American Indians Now! (RAIN) is a retention project serving the undergraduate population at UCLA.
|
