Admission

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Science degree in American Indian studies provides students with unique opportunities to evaluate native peoples’ issues within a domestic and international context. Students gain a broad knowledge of American Indian nations and peoples, with particular emphasis on Southwestern American Indian nations. The AIS courses provide intellectual and practical knowledge pertaining to American Indian culture, history, law, literature, language, art and government. A Bachelor of Science in American Indian studies requires students to complete the University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and American Indian Studies requirements. Students should refer to the course plan to view all program requirements. 

Mandatory advising is required for all newly admitted students, freshmen students (up to 24 earned credits), readmitted students and students on academic probation in American Indian studies. To make an advising appointment please email jennica.fulwilder@asu.edu.

University Requirements

A minimum of 120 semester hours, of which 45 must be upper-division semester hours (300 and 400 level courses), are required for graduation, as well as a minimum 30 resident credit hours at ASU's Tempe campus. University requirements include First-Year Composition, General Studies and other requirements.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements

In addition to the university requirements, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requires additional credit hours. A listing of these requirements can be found in the course plan for the program.

American Indian Studies Major Requirements

The major consists of 42 semester hours with 24 required core courses and the remaining 18 elective credit hours taken from AIS's two areas of emphasis:

  • Legal, policy and community and economic development
  • Arts, language and cultures

A grade of “C” (2.00) or better is required for all major core-course and emphasis-area requirements. American Indian studies majors must reach professional status in order to enroll in AIS 370, AIS 380, AIS 420 and AIS 498. Professional status includes the completion of AIS 180 and AIS 280 by earning grades of “C” (2.00) or better; the completion of at least 56 semester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50; the university First-Year Composition requirement and the university mathematical studies requirement; the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences writing competence, communication and computer requirements. As students work to complete professional status requirements, courses for university General Studies, university electives and American Indian studies emphasis areas may be completed.