Undergraduate Certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies (WEST)

The Native American & Indigenous Studies Certificate offered by WEST is a program that is dedicated to exploring and understanding the complexities of Indigenous knowledge worldwide, with a focus on American Indian issues, First Nations in Canada, and Pacific Islanders.

The program places a strong emphasis on diversity and social justice issues, covering topics such as race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, disability, and environmental justice.

Completing the program can enhance future career options and interests, as it is marketable to a wide variety of employers and institutions, including American Indian tribes and tribal organizations, government organizations, libraries, archives, and museums, as well as graduate programs and professional schools.

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The program's strong focus on diversity and social justice issues, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, disability, and environmental justice, allows students to gain a comprehensive perspective on the complex issues facing Indigenous communities today.

Students will have the opportunity to explore various aspects of Indigenous knowledge, such as history, language, art, literature, spirituality, politics, and contemporary issues, while also having networking and mentoring opportunities. 

• Independent studies may not be used to earn this certificate
• All courses be WEST courses or cross-listed with WEST courses
• A minimum grade of 2.0 (C) is required for each course applied to the certificate
• One course counted toward this certificate may count toward another WEST certificate

General Admissions Details

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships

Intent and Completion Applications for Program Admission

Once admitted to UCCS, students choosing to pursue a certificate must submit a Certificate Declaration Form.

After completing the program requirements, the student must submit the Certificate Completion Form with all supporting documents uploaded where indicated on the form. Students planning to pursue multiple certificates will need to submit separate declaration and completion forms for each certificate.

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