American Indian Studies
This award is not eligible for Financial Aid
The Academic Certificate (AC) in American Indian Studies program explores the unique experiences of the American Indian people living in the Southwest and provides students the opportunity to study the cultures, values, histories, and contemporary lives of the indigenous people of North America. The Certificate includes courses that investigate their language, literature, arts, philosophy, religions, and politics.
Details
Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Degree Type
Academic Certificate (AC)
Academic Plan
American Indian Studies (CER)
Academic Plan Code
6208N
Total credits required
15
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2020
Admission criteria
None
Notes
This program is not eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program
Federal Indian policy stipulates tribal preference in hiring, which should be considered in seeking employment with tribal nations and selected federal agencies. Seek advice of the tribal agency for available employment opportunities.
What You'll Learn
- Examine the lifeways of Indigenous Peoples from time immemorial to the point of initial contact with non-Indigenous Peoples. (AIS/SOC105, AIS/HIS140, AIS/SOC160, AIS213/REL203, AIS+++, ARH145, ENH259, GCU221, HIS+++, NAV+++, SPH245)
- Analyze the impact of Westernized social and political institutions upon Indigenous Nations during the eras of colonization. (AIS/SOC105, AIS/HIS140, AIS/SOC160, AIS213/REL203, AIS+++, ARH145, CCS101, ENH259, GCU221, HIS+++, NAV+++, SPH245)
- Examine the major U.S. federal governmental Indigenous policies that culturally and politically impacted Indigenous Nations. (AIS/SOC105, AIS/HIS140, AIS/SOC160, AIS213/REL203, AIS+++, ENH259, GCU221, HIS+++, NAV+++)
- Examine the scope of the past and present-day sovereign powers of Indigenous Nations. (AIS/SOC105, AIS/HIS140, AIS/SOC160, AIS213/REL203, AIS+++, GCU221, HIS+++)
- Analyze the past and present-day legal and political relationship between Indigenous Nations and U.S. governmental entities, including federal, state, county, and municipal. (AIS/SOC105, AIS/HIS140, AIS/SOC160, AIS213/REL203, AIS+++, CCS101, ENH259, GCU221, HIS+++, NAV+++, SPH245)
- Analyze the contemporary perspectives regarding diverse cultural, social, political, legal, and economic issues that continue to confront Indigenous Nations. (AIS/SOC105, AIS/HIS140, AIS/SOC160, AIS213/REL203, AIS+++, ARH145, CCS101, ENH259, GCU221, HIS+++, NAV+++, SPH245)
- Explain the role of Indigenous Nations within the sphere of international governmental relations. (AIS/SOC105, AIS/SOC160, AIS213/REL203, AIS+++, ARH145, CCS101, ENH259, GCU221, HIS+++, SPH245)
Career statistics
Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Anthropologists and Archeologists
$61,390 Show expanded career information for Anthropologists and Archeologists
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$78,800 Show expanded career information for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Curators
$54,520 Show expanded career information for Curators
Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
$67,680 Show expanded career information for Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
Historians
$68,400 Show expanded career information for Historians
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$50,580 Show expanded career information for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$71,910 Show expanded career information for Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$55,180 Show expanded career information for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
$78,220 Show expanded career information for Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
There are additional career opportunities associated with this certificate that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:
- Industrial Engineering Technologists
- Legal Support Workers, All Other
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS105 or SOC105 |
Introduction to American Indian Studies or Introduction to American Indian Studies | Critical course Gateway course AIS105 OR SOC105 may be selected based on course availability. | C or C | 3 | |
| AIS160 or SOC160 |
American Indian Law or American Indian Law | AIS160 OR SOC160 may be selected based on course availability. | C, H or C, H | 3 | |
| RE | Restricted Electives | 3 | |||
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS213 or REL203 or AIS140 or HIS140 |
American Indian Religions or American Indian Religions or American Indian History or American Indian History | AIS213 OR REL203 may be selected based on course availability. or AIS140 OR HIS140 may be selected based on course availability. | C, HU, L or C, HU, L or C, H, SB or C, H, SB | 3 |
Restricted Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS+++ | Any AIS American Indian Studies course | 3 | |||
| ARH145 | History of American Indian Art | C, HU | 3 | ||
| CCS101 | Chicana and Chicano Studies | C, HU | 3 | ||
| ENH259 | American Indian Literature | C, HU | 3 | ||
| GCU221 | Arizona Geography | C, H, SB | 3 | ||
| HIS+++ | Any HIS History course | 3 | |||
| NAV+++ | Any NAV Navajo course | 3 | |||
| SPH245 | Hispanic Heritage in the Southwest | C, HU | 3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS105 or SOC105 |
Introduction to American Indian Studies or Introduction to American Indian Studies | Critical course Gateway course AIS105 OR SOC105 may be selected based on course availability. | C or C | 3 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS160 or SOC160 |
American Indian Law or American Indian Law | AIS160 OR SOC160 may be selected based on course availability. | C, H or C, H | 3 | |
| AIS213 or REL203 or AIS140 or HIS140 |
American Indian Religions or American Indian Religions or American Indian History or American Indian History | AIS213 OR REL203 may be selected based on course availability. or AIS140 OR HIS140 may be selected based on course availability. | C, HU, L or C, HU, L or C, H, SB or C, H, SB | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RE | Restricted Electives | 3 |
Restricted Electives
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS+++ | Any AIS American Indian Studies course | 3 | |||
| ARH145 | History of American Indian Art | C, HU | 3 | ||
| CCS101 | Chicana and Chicano Studies | C, HU | 3 | ||
| ENH259 | American Indian Literature | C, HU | 3 | ||
| GCU221 | Arizona Geography | C, H, SB | 3 | ||
| HIS+++ | Any HIS History course | 3 | |||
| NAV+++ | Any NAV Navajo course | 3 | |||
| SPH245 | Hispanic Heritage in the Southwest | C, HU | 3 |
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- C = Cultural Diversity in the US
- FYC = First Year Composition
- H = Historical Awareness
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
This certificate is not eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=141923).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Academic Certificate (AC) in American Indian Studies