Native American and Indigenous Studies Minor

Welcome to Montclair State’s new Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) Minor!

If you’re looking for a program that weds community-engaged social activism with scholarship that’s committed to tackling the US legacy of racial injustice and settler colonialism, you’ve come to the right place!

Prominent Native scholar K. Tsianina Lomawaima describes NAIS as having these core themes:

a commitment to the fundamental concept of sovereignty; a privileging or centering of Native names, experiences, voices, and narratives; an inclusive orientation that favors multiple, complicating, diverse perspectives over a monolithic “one size or story fits all” approach; a commitment to the health, well-being and vigor of life in Indian country; responsiveness to the central issues and concerns of Native nations; a dedication to transform the institutional structures of the dominant society, such as schools, colleges, and universities – however frustratingly slow and incremental that process can be.

NAIS at Montclair State will teach about these integrated ways of knowing and strive to reach the broader goals of the field through an academic minor consisting of 18 credit hours. The program will include two new courses. NAIS 101 is an introduction to Native American and Indigenous studies, and NAIS 401 is a capstone seminar course designed to provide students with opportunities for engaged research with local Indigenous communities. All other courses in the minor currently exist within a wide range of disciplines across the University, including Anthropology, History, Religion, English, Educational Foundations, Art History, and more.

Apply to Montclair State UniversityNAIS Minor RequirementsView the NAIS Flyer

Program Highlights

Exciting opportunities for community engagement with local Indigenous tribal communities
Strong grounding in the field of Indigenous Studies, with new courses in NAIS 101 & NAIS 401
Deep commitment to Indigenous rights, racial justice, decolonization, and eco-justice
Interdisciplinary studies across Anthropology, History, Religion, English, Education, and more

Curriculum

Only 18 total credits required to complete the NAIS Minor
Relevant courses that you’ve already taken at Montclair State will count toward the new NAIS Minor

Career Opportunities

The NAIS Minor from Montclair State can help prepare you for graduate work or a career in a wide range of fields, including:

Native American Law
Environmental Justice
Native Art & Museums
Cultural Resource Management
Archaeology
Education
Social Services
Native Language Revitalization

NAIS News

Mellon Foundation Awards Montclair $1M to Expand Native American and Indigenous Studies ProgramGrant will fund creation of the New Jersey Center for Indigenous Justice and support growth of Native American and Indigenous StudiesFriday December 6, 2024
2024 Native American and Indigenous Studies Field Summer SchoolWednesday February 14, 2024
Montclair NAIS Co-Director, Mark Clatterbuck, Weighs In On Permit Hurdles Faced by Native American SanctuaryWednesday January 31, 2024
Montclairion Interviews Founders of Native American and Indigenous Studies ClubFriday December 15, 2023

NAIS on YouTube

Questions? Contact our NAIS Program Directors