American Indian and Native American Studies Degree Guide

By Tome Fierre · Staff Writer Assessment.com · Published October 7, 2026 · Last updated October 11, 2026

An American Indian and Native American Studies degree examines Indigenous peoples’ histories, cultures, political relationships, knowledge systems, and contemporary lives. Rather than approaching these subjects through only one discipline, programs may bring together history, anthropology, literature, political science, law, and other areas of study. The exact emphasis depends on the college and credential.

American Indian and Native American Studies is an interdisciplinary field focused on Indigenous histories, cultures, political relationships, ways of knowing, and contemporary experiences. A program may combine subjects such as history, anthropology, literature, political science, and law. Degree options, costs, formats, and career preparation vary by college, so compare each program’s curriculum and requirements before applying.

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What Is an American Indian and Native American Studies Degree?

American Indian and Native American Studies is an interdisciplinary area of study focused on Indigenous peoples’ histories, cultures, political relationships, knowledge systems, and contemporary experiences. Related programs may use names such as Native American Studies, Indigenous Studies, or Native American and Indigenous Studies. Names and course offerings are not identical across institutions, so check what a particular program actually teaches.

The field can use historical, anthropological, literary, political science, and legal perspectives to study relationships with colonizing societies, political sovereignty, Indigenous knowledge, and matters affecting Native peoples. Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing have a prominent place in the scholarship; participation in the discipline is not restricted to Native students. A colonization and decolonization lens is also common in Native Studies. The University of Minnesota’s research guide and San Juan College’s guide describe these approaches.

Programs can exist at different credential levels, from undergraduate study to graduate education, but not every school offers every option. As one example, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College describes an associate of arts program as a doorway for students to explore future study in a welcoming learning community. Treat any degree title as a starting point for research, not a substitute for reviewing the college’s degree plan.

What Do Students Study?

Because the field is interdisciplinary, there is no single national course sequence. A student might examine historical events alongside current political questions, consider how literature represents Indigenous experiences, or study how law and public policy shape relationships between Native communities and governments. The combination depends on the school’s faculty, location, and program design.

When comparing curricula, look for courses that help you build context, analyze evidence, and understand the perspectives represented in the material. Ask whether students can study Indigenous languages, regional or community histories, research methods, contemporary issues, or particular subject areas. Do not assume a course is offered regularly just because it appears in a catalog; ask about recent schedules and future availability.

Research requires care as well as curiosity. The University of New Mexico’s Institutional Review Board provides guidance specifically on research with American Indian communities. If a program includes community-based research, ask how students are prepared to approach it responsibly, what faculty guidance is available, and how community relationships are considered. Library resources can also support focused inquiry: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill identifies a database on plants and traditional knowledge among its Indigenous Studies research resources.

Potential assignments may include reading and discussing scholarly work, writing, analyzing historical or contemporary sources, and completing research projects. Confirm the actual workload and any capstone, internship, fieldwork, or language expectations directly with the department; these details cannot be assumed across all programs.

Skills and Ways of Thinking You Can Develop

Coursework can help students practice reading across disciplines, evaluating sources, writing about complex subjects, and connecting historical context to current questions. Studying political, legal, literary, and anthropological perspectives can also help learners notice how a question changes when it is examined through different frameworks.

These skills may be useful in research, education, public service, museums, cultural organizations, nonprofits, and community-focused work. Their value to an employer depends on how well a student can demonstrate them through coursework, projects, work experience, or further training. For example, a research paper can show written analysis, while a project involving careful source evaluation can demonstrate research habits. The degree title by itself does not establish proficiency in a particular software tool, language, or professional practice.

Programs and individual students differ. Ask colleges which research, communication, presentation, or language-learning opportunities are part of the curriculum, and look for ways to build a portfolio of work that respects the context and perspectives of the communities being studied.

Who Is This Program For?

This field may appeal to students who want to explore Indigenous histories, political sovereignty, cultures, knowledge systems, and contemporary concerns from more than one academic perspective. You do not need to arrive with a fixed career plan, but you should be ready to investigate complex topics, examine sources carefully, and consider how Indigenous viewpoints are represented.

There is no single personality type required. Students may be drawn by history, writing, policy, law, community work, education, or research. Some prefer close reading and discussion; others are motivated by research or contemporary public questions. The right way to test your fit is to read sample course descriptions, talk with a department, and consider whether the central questions hold your attention.

Does American Indian Studies Match You?

Salary, reputation, and job-growth claims should not be the only reasons to choose a major. They cannot tell you whether you will enjoy its coursework or the work involved in related occupations. The Free MAPP Career Assessment can help you reflect on motivations and preferences; use Degree Matching and Career Matching to explore possible connections, then verify program and job requirements independently.

Admissions, Credential Levels, and Time to Completion

Admission requirements are set by individual colleges, not by the field as a whole. Ask each school what it requires for first-year applicants, transfer students, and applicants to any graduate program. Check whether the college asks for prior coursework, essays, recommendations, interviews, or other materials rather than assuming that one institution’s process applies elsewhere.

Credential options can include certificates and degrees at multiple levels, but availability differs by institution. A college may offer a focused program, while another may offer a concentration or coursework within a broader degree. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, for example, describes an associate of arts program as an entry point for future exploration. Confirm whether the program is designed for transfer and which receiving institutions will accept its credits.

There is no dependable single completion timeline across certificates, associate, bachelor’s, and graduate programs. Time depends on credential requirements, full- or part-time enrollment, transfer credit, course availability, and whether the program is delivered online, on campus, or in a hybrid format. Request a degree plan and a personalized estimate before enrolling.

Tuition, Total Cost, and Financial Aid

There is no single price for an American Indian and Native American Studies degree. Total cost depends on the institution, credential, residency classification, enrollment pace, delivery format, fees, books, and living expenses. Program-specific costs may also depend on course materials or research requirements.

Ask the financial aid office for a full estimate covering tuition, mandatory fees, books, and other expected expenses. Compare the net cost after grants and scholarships, not just the published tuition rate. Find out whether aid is available for your enrollment level and whether transferring credits could reduce the number of courses you need. Students may also ask about institutional scholarships, federal or state aid eligibility, employer education benefits, and payment plans; availability and terms vary.

Before making a decision, compare the cost of completing the whole credential at each school. A lower per-credit price does not necessarily mean a lower total cost if credits do not transfer or required courses are not offered when you need them.

Online, Hybrid, and On-Campus Study

Delivery options depend on the institution and individual courses. Do not assume that a program can be completed fully online simply because the college offers online classes. Ask whether required courses are available remotely, whether classes meet at set times, and whether any research, community engagement, or other learning activities require an in-person presence.

Compare the practical experience of each format. Online study may require reliable technology and careful schedule planning; campus study may involve commuting or relocation. A hybrid option can combine formats, but the exact balance varies. Request a term-by-term schedule and ask how students access faculty, library resources, research guidance, and advising in the format you choose.

Careers, Jobs, and Employment Outlook

Graduates may explore work connected with education, research, public service, museums, cultural organizations, nonprofits, and community-focused organizations. The field’s interdisciplinary content can be relevant to these settings, but no particular occupation or employment outcome is guaranteed. A specific job may require a different degree, relevant experience, a professional credential, or additional training.

Possible directions to investigate include research or program support, education-related roles, museum or cultural work, public-sector positions, and nonprofit or community organization work. These are areas to research, not a list of jobs every graduate qualifies for. For each role, review current employer postings for required education, responsibilities, experience, and any license or credential. Ask a college for outcomes information and, where possible, speak with graduates about the work they actually do.

The sources available for this guide do not provide reliable current salary or job-growth figures tied to this degree or a sufficiently specific list of occupations. Avoid treating a single salary figure as the earning potential of the major. Instead, identify several target jobs and consult current U.S. labor-market information for each occupation, while accounting for geography and experience.

Ask programs how students gain practical research and communication experience and how they keep course offerings relevant.

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Accreditation, Licensure, and Professional Credentials

Do not assume that a degree in this field automatically qualifies you for a regulated profession. Licensing and certification depend on the occupation and, where applicable, jurisdiction. If you are considering teaching or another profession with formal entry rules, check the relevant state or professional authority and ask whether the program meets its requirements.

Verify the college’s institutional accreditation and any program-specific recognition that matters to your plans. Confirm the institution’s status with the accreditor and the U.S. Department of Education’s resources, rather than relying on a school’s marketing language alone. Ask whether the curriculum prepares students for any credential you are considering and whether additional coursework or supervised experience is needed.

How to Choose a Program

Program titles can conceal meaningful differences in curriculum. Use these questions to compare colleges:

• Curriculum: Which subjects are required, and which can you choose? Does the program cover the topics and perspectives you want to study?
• Faculty and support: What advising, research guidance, library access, and academic support can students use?
• Research approach: If students work with or conduct research about Indigenous communities, what preparation and ethical guidance are provided?
• Format and schedule: Are the courses you need available in the format and at the times you can attend?
• Cost and aid: What is the estimated total cost after aid, and what expenses are not included in tuition?
• Transfer and progression: Will credits transfer to your intended next program? Can the college explain the pathway in writing?
• Outcomes and connections: What work, internships, research, or community learning opportunities are available, and what information can the department share about graduate pathways?
• Accreditation and credentials: Does the school hold recognized institutional accreditation, and does your intended career require a separate license or credential?

Ask current students or alumni about course availability, advising, and practical learning opportunities. Compare the answers in writing so that cost, format, and transfer assumptions do not get lost during the application process. Assessment.com’s education-matching tools can help you explore options, but verify every program detail with the college.

Related Degrees and Alternatives

Consider these related paths if you want a different balance of subject matter or a broader academic frame. Actual course content varies by college, so compare catalogs rather than deciding from the degree name alone.

• Indigenous Studies: Consider this if you want a broader or explicitly global focus on Indigenous peoples; some programs cover communities beyond the United States.
• Ethnic Studies: Consider this if you want to study multiple communities and broader questions of identity, power, and society.
• History: Consider this if your main interest is historical evidence, periods, and interpretation, while checking for Indigenous history courses.
• Anthropology: Consider this if you are drawn to cultural and social analysis or research methods; investigate the program’s approach to community research.
• Political Science: Consider this if you want more emphasis on political institutions, sovereignty, policy, and government.
• Literature or English: Consider this if you prefer literary works, language, and interpretation, including Indigenous writing where available.
• Law or pre-law studies: Consider this if your goal is legal education; confirm the actual route to law school and do not assume a particular undergraduate major is required.
• Education: Consider this if you want teacher preparation or education-focused work; check licensure and program requirements in the state where you hope to work.

Native American and Indigenous Studies can be international in scope, while individual resources may concentrate on particular regions. Florida State University’s guide, for example, uses the Native South to illustrate research resources while also addressing Native U.S. and global Indigenous research. This is a reminder to ask which communities and regions a program emphasizes.

Experience, Research, and Preparing for Work

Look for ways to connect academic learning with skills employers can recognize. Depending on what a college offers, that might include research, presentations, writing projects, language study, community engagement, internships, or volunteer work. Confirm that any opportunity is real, available to students in your program, and appropriate to your interests before treating it as part of the degree.

How to stand out to employers: Save examples of research and writing that you are permitted to share, explain your role in group projects, and describe the methods you used to assess sources. Build experience relevant to a particular target job, and check whether it requires additional training. If research involves Indigenous communities, ask faculty about appropriate preparation and guidance; the University of New Mexico’s IRB resource is one example of material focused on research with American Indian communities.

Professional organizations and scholarly publications can also help students learn about the field. The Native American and Indigenous Studies Association journal provides a forum for scholarship, as noted in Ohio State’s research guide. Use such resources to explore questions and scholarship, while checking with faculty about the most relevant publications and organizations for your program.

Graduate Study and Career Pathways

Further education may make sense if a target occupation requires advanced study or if you want to develop deeper expertise in a specific area. Possible academic directions include graduate work in Indigenous or American Indian Studies, history, anthropology, political science, literature, education, or law. These are examples of fields to investigate, not a required sequence or guarantee of admission.

Before enrolling in graduate school, identify the actual job you want and examine its qualifications. Ask whether relevant experience, a particular undergraduate course background, or a professional credential matters more than a graduate degree. A realistic pathway might be: undergraduate study, then an entry-level role or relevant research experience, followed by a focused specialization or graduate education if the target work calls for it. Progression varies by employer and individual; it is not automatic.

Is an American Indian Studies Degree Worth It?

The value of the degree depends on what you want to learn, the cost of completing the program, and how the credential fits your plans. It may be a strong academic fit for someone motivated to study Indigenous histories, political relationships, cultures, and current issues across disciplines. It may be a less direct path for someone seeking a narrowly defined technical qualification or a job with specific licensing requirements.

Consider the strengths and tradeoffs together. The field offers an interdisciplinary way to study complex subjects and can develop research and communication skills. At the same time, the research available here does not establish a standard salary, guaranteed job, or common employment outcome for graduates. Students should plan to investigate target occupations, build relevant experience, and understand any additional qualifications needed.

Before deciding, compare total costs, transfer options, available courses, the program’s learning format, and evidence of career support. Talk with an advisor and, if possible, current students or alumni. Then consider whether the course questions and likely next steps match your interests and circumstances.

Questions to Ask Before Enrolling

• What credential will I earn, and what courses are required?
• What is the full estimated cost, including fees, books, and living expenses?
• What financial aid, scholarships, or transfer-credit options can I confirm?
• Is the institution accredited, and how can I verify that status?
• Are required courses available in my preferred format and schedule?
• What research, internship, community, or other experiential opportunities are actually available?
• How does the program prepare students to conduct research responsibly?
• Will credits transfer to the college or graduate program I may pursue next?
• What further qualifications do employers in my target occupation ask for?
• What advising and career services can students access?

Use the answers to compare colleges on evidence, not just program names. A department should be able to explain its requirements and direct you to official information about costs, accreditation, transfer, and any career-related credentials.

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References and Further Reading

• University of Minnesota: American Indian Studies research guide
• San Juan College: Native American Studies guide
• University of New Mexico: Guidance on Research with American Indian Communities
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Indigenous Studies research resources
• Florida State University: Native American and Indigenous Studies research guide
• University of North Texas: Resources for the study of American Indians
• Ohio State University: American Indian Studies research guide
• Indiana University: Native American and Indigenous Studies research guide
• Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College: American Indian Studies program

Frequently asked questions

What is American Indian and Native American Studies?

American Indian and Native American Studies examines Indigenous peoples’ histories, cultures, political relationships, knowledge systems, and contemporary experiences. Programs may draw on fields such as history, anthropology, literature, political science, and law. The subject is interdisciplinary, and the emphasis varies by college.

Is American Indian Studies a difficult major?

Difficulty depends on your strengths and the program. Students may need to read critically, compare sources, write clearly, and engage thoughtfully with perspectives different from their own. Course expectations and available academic support differ by school, so review sample requirements and ask departments about advising and writing help.

What jobs can I get with a Native American Studies degree?

Possible directions include education, research, public service, museums, cultural organizations, tribal or community-focused organizations, and nonprofit work. The degree does not guarantee a specific job. Employers may require additional training, experience, or credentials, so review job postings for roles that interest you and compare their qualifications with the program.

How much can you make with an American Indian Studies degree?

There is no single salary for this degree because graduates pursue different occupations, and pay depends on factors such as role, location, experience, and qualifications. The research available for this guide does not establish a reliable salary range for graduates. Compare current wage data for specific occupations and examine job postings in the places where you may want to work.

Can I earn an American Indian Studies degree online?

Online availability varies by institution and credential. Ask whether courses are fully online, hybrid, or campus-based, and whether required discussions, projects, research, or community engagement must happen in person. Confirm the schedule and technology requirements with the program before enrolling.

Does American Indian Studies require math?

The sources available for this guide do not establish a single math requirement across programs. Check the degree plan and course descriptions at each college. Also look for general education requirements, research methods courses, language study, and electives, since those can differ by institution and degree level.

Do you need graduate school after a Native American Studies degree?

Not necessarily. Whether graduate study is needed depends on the career you choose. Review entry-level postings and professional requirements for your target roles before deciding. Graduate education may be relevant for some advanced research or academic pathways, but the appropriate qualification cannot be determined from the major name alone.

What certifications or licenses do Native American Studies graduates need?

There is no universal certification listed for this field in the research available for this guide. Requirements depend on the job. If a role involves teaching, research, public service, or another regulated profession, check the employer’s requirements and the relevant licensing or credentialing authority before choosing a program.

How is Native American Studies different from Ethnic Studies?

American Indian and Native American Studies focuses on Indigenous peoples and related histories, knowledge, political issues, and contemporary experiences. Ethnic Studies is a broader area that may examine multiple communities and systems. Actual program content varies, so compare required courses and faculty areas rather than relying only on program titles.

People Also Ask

What do you learn in Native American Studies?

American Indian and Native American Studies programs examine Indigenous histories, cultures, political relationships, knowledge systems, and current issues. Coursework may draw on multiple disciplines, and program emphasis varies by institution.

What degree levels are available in American Indian Studies?

Programs may be offered at different credential levels, but availability depends on the institution. One documented example is an associate of arts program designed as an entry point for further exploration. Check individual colleges for current degree options and transfer pathways.

How long does it take to earn a Native American Studies degree?

There is no universal completion time: it depends on the credential, enrollment pace, transfer credits, and college requirements. Ask programs for their published degree plans and a personalized estimate based on your previous coursework.

What can I do with an American Indian Studies major?

Potential work areas include education, research, public service, museums, cultural organizations, nonprofits, and community-focused organizations. Specific job qualifications vary, so use current employer postings to identify required education, experience, and credentials.

How do I choose a Native American Studies program?

Compare required courses, the subjects and communities covered, faculty expertise, research support, learning format, total cost, and transfer options. Ask how the program approaches research with Indigenous communities and what guidance students receive on ethical research practices.

Is a Native American Studies degree worth it?

A degree’s value depends on the student’s goals, costs, and plans after graduation. Look at the actual curriculum, likely next steps, relevant job qualifications, and financial aid. Avoid assuming the major alone guarantees a particular job, salary, or career progression.

American Indian and Native American Studies can suit students who want to understand Indigenous histories, cultures, political relationships, and contemporary issues through more than one academic lens. The subject can inform work in education, research, community-focused organizations, public service, and related fields, but a degree alone does not guarantee a particular job or salary. Compare actual program requirements, costs, learning opportunities, and career pathways, and consider whether the questions the field asks genuinely interest you. Assessment.com’s MAPP Career Assessment, Degree Matching, Career Matching, and Matching Jobs tools can help you reflect on how your interests and preferences connect with educational and career options.

Sources & Official Resources

• Home - American Indian Studies - Expanded - Research Guides at University of Minnesota Minneapolis
• Native American Studies Guide - Native American Studies - Research Guides at San Juan College
• Guidance on Research with American Indian Communities v08.29.2017
• Research in Indigenous Studies - American Indian Studies - LibGuides at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Home - Native American & Indigenous Studies - Research Guides at The Florida State University