Native American and Indigenous Studies Major

This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2026-27.

Note: The Program subject code is changing from NAST to NAIS, effective Spring 2027.

Major Requirements

The major in Native American and Indigenous Studies consists of nine courses and includes the following stipulations:

  • Two 300-level courses
  • One 400-level course or an approved 400-level Independent Study
  • At least two courses must focus on North America
  • At least two courses must focus on Latin America

North American (N) and Latin American (L) Courses

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of NANE or NALE in the course offerings.

North American (N) and Latin American (L)    

Additional Electives (with permission)

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of NAPR in the course offerings.

With permission of the director of Native American and Indigenous Studies, the following courses may also be counted among the North and Latin American electives when they have appropriate course content or a research paper is undertaken in one of these areas:

Recommended Engagement in Archaeological or Anthropological Fieldwork

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in archaeological or anthropological fieldwork and/or first-hand curricular contact with Native American communities (e.g., ).

With the advice and consent of the director, students are encouraged to enroll for a summer or term in field schools in archaeology or social anthropology, or Native American community colleges. Such approved programs may earn Native American Studies course credit.

Students are further encouraged to participate in non-curricular opportunities such as summer archaeological fieldwork with a Colgate faculty member, hands-on research, service, and/or experience with Native American communities.

Honors and High Honors

Majors may achieve honors by having, at graduation, a minimum GPA of 3.30 in major courses and a minimum overall grade of 3.00. The candidate for honors also completes a research paper, written either in a 400-level independent study course or revised from a paper written in a 400-level course, or the equivalent, that is arranged in advance as an honors paper in Native American and Indigenous Studies. The honors paper must be judged to be of honors quality by a committee of two professors in Native American and Indigenous Studies, designated by the candidate in consultation with the program director. The candidate works with both professors (adviser and second reader) who are consulted during thesis development and provide comments on at least one substantive draft of the research paper prior to their final evaluation. The candidate for high honors must have, at graduation, a minimum GPA of 3.70 in major courses and a minimum overall grade of 3.00. The candidate for high honors produces a research paper, as described above, which is arranged in advance as a high honors paper. The paper must be judged to be of high honors by a committee consisting of two professors in Native American Studies, designated by the candidate in consultation with the program director. The candidate receives high honors by defending the paper with distinction in an oral examination conducted by at least three professors identified by the Native American and Indigenous Studies Program director.

Native American and Indigenous Studies Program

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the  catalog page.