Program Overview
The University of New Mexico is pleased to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies (NAS) with a concentration in Leadership and Building Native Nations. The BA of Native American Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to introduce students to the basic factors which underlie the distinct differences between Native societies and the larger American society. In addition, the degree provides students with the opportunity to examine the differences which continue to exist between Native and non-Native societies through multi-contextual learning activities which include experiential or service-learning opportunities.
Beginning with the Spring 2023 semester, UNM will also offer Native American Studies as a 2nd major. Click the Program Details tab for more information.
NAS Graduates' Professional Pursuits and Career Paths
- Graduate School: Native American/American Indian studies, public administration, law school, water resources, community & regional planning, American studies, sociology, museum studies, journalism, language, literacy, and sociocultural studies
- Native American community-based nonprofits
- Tribal, state, and federal agencies
- Native American education
Learning Goals
Excellence in educating all students and the public about the Native American experience with significant attention given to our complex history and intercultural heritage of New Mexico and the United States.
Student Learning Outcomes
The following objectives are presented as a way to satisfy the broader goals of the program:
- Ground students in the concepts and applications of methodologies from relevant disciplines focused on Native issues related to education, economics, law, philosophy, psychology, arts and media
- Provide students with relevant learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom
- Assist students in integrating theory and practice through field and/or research experience
- Encourage dialogue and collaboration among students, faculty, and the Native community in the on-going development of the Native Studies curriculum
Native American Studies Degree Skill Base
- Research skills
- Communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Community building/leadership
- Baseline knowledge of indigenous issues valuable to Native communities, leadership, and governmental agencies
Admissions
Tuition and Fees
Total cost per credit hour is $442.18 and is comprised of: $394.80 base tuition + $10.52 college differential + $36.86 upper division course premium. There is a student technology fee charged each semester. It is $150 in the Fall, $150 in the Spring, and $20 in the Summer. There may be additional costs, depending on the class. Additional costs are often for textbooks, supplemental course materials, and proctoring fees.
To complete an undergraduate degree, students are required to fulfill general education and college-specific requirements.
About the Program
The Native American Studies (NAS) Bachelor of Arts (BA) Accelerated Online Program offers all of the courses associated with the major requirements needed to complete the BA (with a concentration in Leadership and Building Native Nations) in an online, eight-week format. Students who have already completed a majority of UNM's General Education requirements, as well as college and minor requirements; have an associate degree; or at least 60-70 transferable college-level credit hours are ideally positioned for transition into this online BA program.
The major requirements for completing the BA degree in Native American Studies total 36 credit hours. Additional requirements for completing the degree are outlined in the Degree Requirements tab. For additional inquiries regarding degree requirements, contact Dr. Catherine Montoya (Diné), NAS Senior Student Success Specialist, (505) 277-3715 or cnm@unm.edu. Additional advisement information can also be found on the NAS undergraduate advisement webpage.
Special course sections are scheduled for Accelerated Online Program students and offered on a cyclical basis. Look for the courses in the current schedule of classes with a course comment that reads "Limited to Accelerated Online Program students only."
Below is a listing of all of the required courses for the program:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| NATV 1150* | Introduction to Native American Studies | 3 |
| NATV 2110* | Sociopolitical Concepts in Native America | 3 |
| NATV 2140* | Research Issues in Native America | 3 |
| NATV 300* | Research Methods in Native American Contexts | 3 |
NATV 305*
| Indigenous Self-Determination in Education | 3 |
| NATV 325* | Tribal Government | 3 |
| NATV 326* | Tribal Gaming | 3 |
| NATV 351 or NATV 352 | Individual Study or Internship | 3 |
| NATV 436* | Environmental Ethics and Justice in Native America | 3 |
| NATV 474* | Seminar: Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy | 3 |
| NATV 480* | Building Native Nations: Community Revitalization, Culture, Decolonization, and Indigenous Thought | 3 |
NAS as a Second Major program
Native American Studies also offers a 2nd major in Native American Studies, requiring a total of 30 credit hours. For details about whether NAS as a 2nd major would work best, contact Dr. Catherine Montoya, Sr. Student Success Specialist, cnm@unm.edu.
Below is a listing of courses required for NAS as a 2nd major:
NATV Core Courses (18 credit hours):
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| NATV 1150* | Introduction to Native American Studies | 3 |
| NATV 2110* | Sociopolitical Concepts in Native America | 3 |
| NATV 2140* | Research Issues in Native America, pre-req is either NATV 1150 or NATV 2110 | 3 |
| NATV 300 | Research Methods in Native American Contexts, pre-req is NATV 2140 | 3 |
| NATV 351 or NATV 352 | Individual Study, pre-req is NATV 300 or Internship | 3 |
| NATV 474* | Seminar: Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy | 3 |
Take 12 credit hours from the Leadership & Building Native Nations concentration:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| NATV 325 | Tribal Government | 3 |
| NATV 326 | Tribal Gaming | 3 |
| NATV 436 | Environmental Ethics and Justice in Native America | 3 |
| NATV 480 | Building Native Nations: Community Revitalization, Culture, Decolonization, and Indigenous Thought | 3 |
*Course meets UNM's U.S. Global and Diversity undergraduate requirement.
Courses with this insignia have received the National Quality Matters Certification.
UNM’s Accelerated Online Programs feature six 8-week semesters per academic year with two semesters each Fall, Spring, and Summer. Course schedules are available during each semester’s registration period. Registration opens in late April for the Summer and Fall term and late November for the Spring term.
View information for the current schedule of registration dates.
Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Native American Studies (NAS) Managed Online Program is designed to give students a relatively broad background while allowing concentrated study in the area of Leadership and Building Native Nations (LBNN).
To graduate with a BA degree in Native American Studies, a student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. UNM requires 31 credit hours distributed between seven areas to complete the UNM General Education Curriculum. The university also requires completion of a 3 credit hour U.S. and Global Diversity and Inclusion requirement. Students may transfer course work from other accredited institutions to fulfill these requirements. The NAS Managed Online Program is ideal for students who have completed an associate's degree or have at least 60-70 transferable college-level credit hours. See program details for more information.
The College of Arts and Sciences requires a minimum of 90 credit hours taught within its departments and 48 credit hours at the upper division level. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences must declare a major and a minor, or two majors, or a special curricula approved by the College. Half of the major must be completed at the University of New Mexico. A quarter of the minor must be completed at the University of New Mexico.
For individuals seeking a second bachelor’s degree in NAS, the coursework will focus on fulfilling the NAS major requirements and the accompanying requirements required for a minor. UNM requires a minimum of 30 new hours for a second award.
To earn an undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico, the following requirements must be met:
- A minimum 30 hours of coursework completed at UNM (UNM Residency Requirement)
- 50% of the Major completed at UNM
- 25% of the Minor completed at UNM
Admission into NAS Major
Once admitted into the University of New Mexico, all students seeking to declare a major within the College of Arts and Sciences will first be admitted as a Pre-major. Pre-major status applies to students who must satisfy prerequisites or meet department conditions before transitioning to Major status. The following are the general requirements to transition into a major:
- A minimum of 26 credit hours; 23 credit hours must be in courses acceptable toward graduation
- A UNM GPA of 2.0 or better
- Demonstrated academic achievement by satisfying the following University General Education areas with a grade of "C" or better:
- Completion of Writing and Speaking: ENGL 1120 and one additional Writing and Speaking course
- Completion of Mathematics
- Completion of Second Language
- Completion of the following NATV courses:
- NATV 1150 - Introduction to Native American Studies
- NATV 2110 - Sociopolitical Concepts in Native America
Students in the BA NAS Managed Online Program must maintain a Major GPA of 2.5 or higher to graduate.
For additional inquiries regarding degree requirements, contact Catherine Montoya (Diné), NAS Senior Student Success Specialist, (505) 277-3715 or cnm@unm.edu. Additional advisement information can also be found on the NAS undergraduate advisement webpage.
To begin the application process for any managed online program, use the Albuquerque Campus Application. In the Academics section, you will be prompted to select your Intended Field of Study. For this program, select: Native American Studies - Online.
