American Indian Studies Minor — Chico State Skip to Main Content
California State University, Chico

American Indian Studies Minor

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  • Program Type

    Undergraduate Minor

  • Delivery Type

    On Campus

The American Indian Studies minor focuses on the history, literature, worldviews, social practices, and legal issues of American Indian tribes.

You will develop an understanding of the cultural practices, contributions, identities, gender roles, worldviews, and legal issues of US Native American tribes that will prepare you for a diverse workplace and society. Our program is rooted in research and hands-on experience, so you can connect your coursework to advocacy action during and after college.

Visiting professor of American Indian studies Vanessa Esquivido teaches a class.

A Practical and Comprehensive Curriculum

Gain an understanding of American Indian/Native American studies through literature, film, art, law, and more, and learn to analyze past and present critical issues and initiatives. You'll complete a capstone project through fieldwork and conduct research in multicultural and gender studies.

Develop a Broad Base of Knowledge and Skills

Graduate with the skills you need to pursue careers in law and policy, geography, education, social work, public health, history, environmental science, and resource management, or to continue to graduate school.

Some of the skills you will develop include:

  • Critical thinking
  • Cultural awareness
  • Public speaking and presentation
  • Writing and research

A Strong Complement to Many Majors

Enhance your research, critical thinking, presentation, writing, and problem-solving skills while gaining insight into and increasing your knowledge of the history, literature, worldviews, legal issues, and social practices of Native American communities.

Majors that work well with this minor:

Office of Tribal Relations staff speaking with campus community members as they tour the new Office of Tribal Relations.

A Network of Support and Advocates

Join the Native American Club, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting Native American culture on campus and emphasizing the importance of higher education. You can also visit the Office of Tribal Relations for resources and support. Learn more about the Native American Club and meet Chico State's first-ever director of tribal relations.

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