American Indian Studies

Created in 1996, the American Indian Studies major wasdesigned to provide students with a greater understanding ofthe history, culture and values of the indigenous tribal nationsof the United States. The program encompasses severaldisciplines including anthropology, art, biology, botany,education, geography, healing arts, history, language, law,literature, music and politics. Students gain valuableexperience through field research and hands-on collaborationwith faculty.

Contact Info:Debra Barker, American IndianStudiesHibbard Humanities Hall 384124 Garfield Avenue715-836-2028 |barkerdk@uwec.edu

“The AmericanIndian Studiesprogram helped melearn how to discusscurrent issuesregarding not onlymy tribe, but othersas well. Itencouraged me toconsider differentpoints of view onimportant issues.”— Gabrielle White |American Indian Studiesminor

Major• American Indian Studies

Minor• American Indian Studies

Certificate• American Indian Studies

Where you'll findour grads• History Teacher, Lac Du Flambeau,

WI• Assistant Professor, UW-Green Bay• Executive Director of Education, Ho

Chunk Nation• Doctor, Menomonie Nation• Post-doctoral student, Vanderbilt

University, TN• Dean for Student Success, St. Paul

College, St. Paul, MN• Recruiter, University of Illinois

College of Medicine

Prepared forSuccessThis major prepares you to work intribal government, education, humanservices, health care and other areasthrough interactions with Indianprofessionals, tribal leaders and peers.The major and minor in AmericanIndian Studies are designed to supportdegree programs in nursing,education, business and social work.UW-Eau Claire was the first universityin the UW System to offer the AISmajor and offers one of only threeprograms available in the UW Systemtoday. Our program is the only one to

American Indian Studies (continued)offer such a breadth ofinterdisciplinary courses, making it agreat complement to many othermajors or career choices. The Ojibwelanguage component of this major isextremely unique; no other school inthe world offers Ojibwe classes online.These online courses are also beingoffered in smaller communities to helpcontinue and preserve their nativelanguage. Typical positions held by AmericanIndian Studies graduates includefamily services specialist, race relationsspecialist, community outreachworker, teacher or school counselor,literacy program coordinator, healtheducator caseworker, schoolcounselor, work in environmentalscience or work in tribal law andgovernment. 

Why UW-Eau ClaireHands-On ExperienceActivities during American IndianHeritage Month enhance classroomstudies. Students also participate inthe annual Spring Celebration PowWow and the Inter-Tribal StudentCouncil provides you with additionalopportunities for social interactionand cultural enrichment.

InternshipsThere are plenty of internshipopportunities through this major.Some recent internships include workwith tribal organizations, the GreatLakes Indian Fish and WildlifeCommission, the American IndianCenter in Minneapolis, the Ho-Chunk Nation, the Lac De Flambeautribe, and tutoring for Indian studentsin the Eau Claire area.Another exciting internship existsright on campus in a collaborationbetween McIntyre Library's SpecialCollections and the AIS program.McIntyre's Special Collections holdsand cares for a vast number ofAmerican Indian artifacts, and

students are able to work as curatorsof this collection.

Cultural ImmersionThe “Water Protectors of Wisconsin” isa spring break experience that helpsstudents understand the history,culture and science of humans andwater in the Lake Superior Watershed,which is home to several tribal nations.After several weeks of in class content,students spend a week visiting threetribal nations and two companies tolearn about protection of theWatershed.

Research OpportunitiesAs part of their capstone courses,students participate in student-facultyresearch projects, which includeoriginal research, applied IndigenousStudies, and field experience in whichstudents consult with tribalcommunity leaders. For example, arecent capstone student partneredwith the Eau Claire School District tocreate a food sovereignty program forNative American students in the city.One of the goals of this program is toprovide healthy after-school foodprograms that utilize foods fromtraditional Native diets while instillinghealthy food choice habits for Nativeyouth.

First-YearSuggestedCurriculumStudents majoring in AIS will begintheir course of study by taking sixcredits of required courses inAmerican Indian Studies. A studentcan easily sign up for AIS 101(Introduction to American History andCultures) in the fall semester, and

continue with AIS 102 (Introduction toAmerican Indian Expressive Cultures)in the spring semester.

Course Work / Pre-ProfessionalCourses The American Indian studies majorconsists of 36 semester creditsincluding:• AIS 101, Introduction to American

History and Cultures• AIS 102, Introduction to American

Indian Expressive Cultures• AIS 480, Capstone Course 

Special AdmissionGuidelinesBecause there are AIS coursesin almost every Liberal EducationCategory, it is possible to earn a minorin AIS simply by choosing AIS coursesfor several LE categories, and even asecond major in AIS can be earnedwithout many additional courses.Many students find themselves addingAmerican Indian Studies as a secondmajor in order to enhance theircultural competency.The AIS major program requirementscan be successfully completed in fouryears and is an excellent preparationfor graduate study.