Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies - Language and Literature

Humboldt State University (California State University, CSU)

The Native American Studies major program has three goals. One is to help students realize the objectives of an undergraduate major as defined at Cal Poly Humboldt, ''to attain an understanding of and disposition toward a disciplined examination of human experience....'' Toward this end, the curriculum helps students develop a critical perspective as well as cultural breadth through the study of Native American perspectives and world views. Most courses are taught from a Native American perspective, while the transdisciplinary approaches enable students to (1) acquire the concepts and methods of social science disciplines (2) gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the disciplines themselves and (3) acquire an understanding of a cultural heritage different from that of the dominant culture of the United States and thus a critical perspective on that culture.The second goal is to provide Native American students with an opportunity to study their own cultural heritage as well as to acquire the capacity for a disciplined examination of that heritage and of their experience.The third goal is to provide a foundation of knowledge, analytical skills, understanding and sensitivity for individuals who may wish to seek careers that relate to Native American communities. There are careers in the areas of federal Indian law, tribal governments, Native American education, cultural and natural resource management, and human services.