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Purpose

The plan of study will provide a rigorous institutional framework for interdisciplinary graduate education in Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) with a focus on engaging in academic collaborations and research issues vital to indigenous communities.  This program is unique in its fusion of academia and indigenous knowledge.  An integrated approach to graduate research and education is vital to the certificate’s overall goal of providing national leadership in areas of research, development and policy analysis.

Description

Students will acquire skills in critical analysis, community engagement and a multidisciplinary training that will make them more flexible and better able to dialogue across the disciplines.  The program will position graduate students to find internships, jobs, and consulting opportunities in the local, national and international realm of indigenous issues.

Admission Requirements

Students must already be accepted into a graduate program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  Applications must include a personal statement of interest in and previous experience in Native American / Indigenous Studies; a transcript of all undergraduate and post-secondary programs and courses completed (unofficial transcripts are acceptable); an outline of the proposed graduate program to complete the Certificate including when you will take Anth 670, how you will engage with contemporary Native communities, and how Independent Study and/or Thesis credits will advance the field of Native Studies.  Also, a sealed letter from your faculty advisor is required.  The full application can be found on the CPNAIS website.

Completion Requirements

Students must complete 15 credits of approved graduate NAIS courses including Anth 670-Contemporary Issues in the Northeast. Upon completion of coursework, students will submit a statement to the Advisory Committee demonstrating the ways in which their coursework constitutes an integrated, interdisciplinary Native American and Indigenous Studies concentration.

Certificate is available only to degree students.
Contact: cpnais@anthro.umass.edu