Dartmouth College created their Native American Studies program in 1970. The program offers students an opportunity to explore the impact Native American culture has had on the U.S. and Canada. Coursework includes critical examinations of colonialization as well as popular representations of Native Americans in U.S. culture. The bachelors degree in Native American Studies is available as a major or minor.
Located in Black Hills, South Dakota, American Indian Studies at Black Hills University devotes particular attention to the history and contemporary culture of the Sioux Nation. Students pursuing a bachelor of arts in American Indian Studies must take a class in basic Lakota, the native language of the Sioux. The university's Center for Indian Studies was created by the South Dakota Legislature to further awareness of Native American history and culture.
Montana State University offers an undergraduate minor as well as an online or on-campus Master of Arts degree in Native American Studies. A Native American Studies degree from MSU provides students with an opportunity to concentrate on the culture and history of Native American tribes from the surrounding region. Coursework closely examines history as well as the relationship between the federal government and Native Americans today.
The minor in Native American Studies offered at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus was designed to prepare students for a wide range of positions, including business administration, education and politics. The degree has particular relevance to students preparing for careers in American Indian and Native American constituencies or government agencies. The minor examines Native American history and contemporary issues as well as culture.