Native American and Indigenous Studies | College of Liberal Arts
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Undergraduate Certificate

The Indigenous Studies Undergraduate Certificate includes your choice of 18 total credit hours from a list of courses taught by faculty affiliates of the Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) Program at UT Austin. These classes explore the languages, cultures, knowledges, histories, and current political struggles of Indigenous Peoples in the Americas and across the globe. Through the Certificate Program, students develop a broad and in-depth understanding of indigenous thought and issues. Course offerings for the Certificate span many departments, schools, and colleges across the university.
Students can earn the transcriptable certificate while completing any major in any undergraduate college at UT Austin.

Certificate Requirements

The student must complete 18 hours of Native American and Indigenous Studies coursework, including at least nine hours in residence, and fulfill the following requirements:

  • Completion of major through any undergraduate college of the University.
  • Completion of a lower-level introductory course (3 hours) that surveys Native American and Indigenous issues. This may include the Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies, Native American History, Native American Literature, or a lower-division introductory course on Indigenous issues in the Americas or in a transnational and global perspective. Examples of current approved courses:
    • ENG 314V – Native American Literature and Culture
    • HIS 317L – Introduction to Native American Histories
  • Completion of five courses (15 hours) that meet the following requirements: 
    • Three semester hours (one course) from a list of approved upper-division capstone courses with 100% content relatied to Native American and Indigenous Studies.
    • Twelve semester hours (four courses) of classes with at least 30% content related to Native American and Indigenous Studies.
    • At least four courses (12 hours) must be designated as upper-division.
    • At least two courses (6 hours) must be from outside of the department of the student’s major area of study.
    • Students may elect to complete an internship related to Native American and/or Indigenous issues as one of their courses.

Updated May 2023

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