Majors  >  American Indian Studies

USAO is built on land donated by a Chickasaw tribal member. Located between the Five Civilized Tribes to the east and the Plains Indian Tribes of the west, the region around USAO is home to more than 40 federally recognized Indian tribes. USAO has long attracted a large number of American Indian college students (13% of enrollment). USAO’s decades long commitment to an American Indian Studies degree program and its development of an American Indian Arts degree program provide a rich academic context for the development of new approaches to the study of American Indian humanities.

The American Indian studies program provides knowledge of the traditions and history of the first Americans and an understanding of the unique relationship of the government of the United States to the tribes and individual American Indians. Its curriculum has shifted to accommodate changing contemporary requirements of students. Greater emphasis has been placed on acquiring quantitative skills and on study in financial management and intergovernmental relations.

The goal of the American Indian studies program is to develop a diverse student body to include American Indians from the many tribes in Oklahoma and the nation. In addition to traditional on-campus offerings, the program also offers extension inservice and mid-career training.

As an academic program, American Indian studies is designed to advance USAO’s interdisciplinary, liberal arts mission and further enrich the IDS experience. Students may also pursue a course of study which combines liberal arts with professional education. Thus, students are advised to select a second major especially suited for acquiring marketable skills for entry into a chosen career upon graduation. Several degree combinations are possible.

Note: Items on this page and page links are intended for informational purposes only. Please consult the current USAO catalog for actual class requirements for this or any other major field of study. Current USAO students should consult their advisor.