Coordinator, Dr. Janice M. Gould; ACAD 408; Email: jgould@uccs.edu; Ph: (719) 255-5147
The Women’s and Ethnic Studies program (WEST) has a strong emphasis in diversity and social justice issues, highlighting race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class. An area that we are developing within the program is Native American and Indigenous Studies, which investigates not only American Indian issues, but also the concept of indigenous knowledge worldwide, with special emphasis on Indian Nations within the United States, First Nations in Canada, and Pacific Islanders. WEST offers a concentration in Native American & Indigenous Studies and an award of certification of study.
Completion of the certificate can be beneficial for enhancing future career options and interests. It is marketable to a wide variety of employers and institutions, including specific American Indian tribes and tribal organizations, Native American communities, environmental organizations, libraries, archives, and museums, Government organizations (state and national parks, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Museum of the American Indian), and graduate programs and professional schools (for example, Anthropology, Art History, Museum Studies, Environmental Studies, Education, and Law). Participation in the certificate program also provides students with opportunities for networking and mentoring.
To enroll in the certificate program, please meet with the coordinator to turn in the completed application form. Students may get the application as a PDF from the WEST website, from the coordinator, or at the WEST office: ACAD 406. Ph: (719) 255-4553.
In order to complete the certificate program, students are required to submit to the coordinator a transcript and a five-page, typewritten self-reflective statement evaluating her or his enhanced perspective on and understanding of American Indian worldviews, people, cultures, issues, and traditional knowledge as a result of participating in this program of study, and how the NAS Certificate fits with or complements future scholarly and/or professional work. The certificate will be mailed to recipients upon completion of a certificate audit by the coordinator and graduation.
