Native American and Indigenous Studies

The Native American and Indigenous Studies minor is an 18-credit program — open to students of any major — focused on in-depth understanding of Indigenous culture, history, and contemporary realities. Through interdisciplinary coursework grounded in Indigenous scholarship and community engagement, you will:

• Understand the histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples as defined and expressed by Indigenous communities today
• Examine legacies of racial injustice, settler colonialism, decolonization and eco-justice

Community-Engaged, Hands-On Learning

• Rigorous curriculum — draws from anthropology, history, religion, English and art history
• Partnerships with New Jersey’s state-recognized tribes: Ramapough Lenape, Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape and Powhatan Renape
• Contribute to collaborative projects on food sovereignty, language revitalization, environmental justice, and Indigenous cultural heritage in New Jersey — including fieldwork at the Munsee Three Sisters Medicinal Farm and at archaeological projects in the state
• Organize and index tribal records, scientific data and health impact evidence on toxic dumping — creating a digital repository for research and ongoing environmental justice

Impact and Opportunity

• Work side by side with the New Jersey Center for Indigenous Justice to:
• Contribute to environmental justice, language revitalization, and heritage documentation — essential for cultural resilience
• Participate in ongoing research gathering news articles, oral histories and scientific evidence — supporting digital archiving and tribal advocacy
• Benefit from mentorship by faculty engaged in Indigenous rights and community work
• Build skills in analysis, advocacy and research — preparing for impact in community organizations, environmental work, education, cultural resource management and beyond

See the Curriculum.