Program Information
Learn more about the Sustaining and Advancing Indigenous Nations program.
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Course Sequence
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The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in American Indian Studies provides a multi-disciplinary academic approach to studying Indigenous Peoples, their cultures, struggles, and maintaining sovereignty and self-determination. This degree empowers students to effectively work in urban and rural environments, and government agencies, and help Native Nations. Coursework focuses on historic relations with non-Indian societies, the development of federal Indian law, tribal governments, treaty rights, environmental issues, public policy, economic development, cultural preservation, and contemporary social issues. This degree provides students with the foundational coursework needed to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in the field.
Details
Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:
- Field of Interest
- Culture and Society
- Type
- Associate in Arts (AA)
- Academic Plan
- Associate in Arts, Emphasis in American Indian Studies (DEG)
- Academic Plan Code
- 8126
- Total Credits Required
- 60-64
- Catalog Year
- 2024-2025
- Effective Term
- Fall 2024
- Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Federal Indian policy stipulates tribal preference in hiring, which should be considered in seeking employment with tribal nations and selected federal agencies. Seek advice of the tribal agency for available employment opportunities.
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges to earn a degree with this emphasis.
What You’ll Learn
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Analyze tribal, federal, state, and municipal governmental policy and legal interactions related to inherent sovereignty.
- Collaborate effectively to identify and examine issues at the tribal, state, and national levels that affect the holistic well-being of Indigenous Peoples.
- Examine the Indigenous concept of interconnectedness with respect to the Sacred, which is holistically and organically inclusive of culture, homeland, worldview, identity, nature, and sustainability.
- Analyze the various ways in which Indigenous Peoples identify and organize themselves in relation to pre- and post-colonial contact.
- Analyze the impacts of sovereign powers at the tribal, state, and federal levels in relation to the international governmental forum.
- Examine the laws, codes, and statutes at the tribal, federal, and state levels.
- Examine the impact of political diversity and historic, socio-economic, contemporary, and cultural contexts on Indigenous Peoples and their respective cultures.
- Perform academic research and writing in accordance with ethical standards and scholarly practices.
- Effectively communicate orally, visually, digitally, and in writing in a manner that demonstrates cross-cultural empathy, self-awareness, open mindedness, and responsiveness.
- Illustrate the ways in which the influences of past and current social and political institutions promote inequalities, privileges, stereotypes, mistrust, and biases that continue to extrinsically shape the identity of Indigenous Peoples.
- Value Indigenous knowledge as it relates to multi-generational cultural education, including elderhood, oral traditions, and aesthetics.
- Examine the endangerment of Indigenous language extinction and the acceleration of Indigenous culture loss as well as the efforts to revitalize and restore them.
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Career Opportunities
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Anthropologists and Archeologists
$54,360 Show expanded career information for Anthropologists and Archeologists
Curators
$69,810 Show expanded career information for Curators
Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
$65,499 Show expanded career information for Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
Forest and Conservation Workers
$36,930 Show expanded career information for Forest and Conservation Workers
Historians
$59,855 Show expanded career information for Historians
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
$34,708 Show expanded career information for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
Industrial Engineering Technicians
$61,916 Show expanded career information for Industrial Engineering Technicians
Interpreters and Translators
$50,475 Show expanded career information for Interpreters and Translators
Middle School Teachers
$58,978 Show expanded career information for Middle School Teachers
Nursing Assistants
$40,319 Show expanded career information for Nursing Assistants
Postsecondary Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers
$72,944 Show expanded career information for Postsecondary Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers
Postsecondary Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers
$72,944 Show expanded career information for Postsecondary Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers
Postsecondary Sociology Teachers
$72,944 Show expanded career information for Postsecondary Sociology Teachers
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$65,870 Show expanded career information for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Recreation Workers
$36,415 Show expanded career information for Recreation Workers
Secondary School Teachers
$63,199 Show expanded career information for Secondary School Teachers
Social and Human Service Assistants
$39,409 Show expanded career information for Social and Human Service Assistants
Supervisors of Gaming Workers
$63,939 Show expanded career information for Supervisors of Gaming Workers
Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
$62,759 Show expanded career information for Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Legal Support Workers, All Other
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other
- Teaching Assistants, All Other
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Awareness Areas |
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Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AIS/SOC105 | Introduction to American Indian Studies | Critical course Gateway course | C | 3 | |
ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
MAT14+ | College Mathematics | MA | 3–6 | ||
BPC110 | Computer Usage and Applications | CS | 3 | ||
FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies COM and SB or COM and L requirements | SB or SB or L or SB | 0–3 | |
L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS213/REL203 | L | 3 | |
AIS/SOC160 | American Indian Law | AIS/SOC160 satisfies a required course for AC in American Indian Studies | C, H | 3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS213/REL203 OR ENH259 American Indian Literature | HU | 3 | |
SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences |
Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS101 OR AIS/HIS140 OR AIS/SOC141 |
SB | 3 | |
SQ | Natural Sciences Quantitative | SQ | 4 | ||
Elective | Elective | Recommended: CPD103BE OR NAV101 OR NAV102 OR PIM115 OR PIM116 OR YAQ100 OR YAQ110 | 0–3 | ||
Elective | Elective |
Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS+++ OR ARH145 OR CCS101 OR ENH259 OR GCU221 OR HIS+++ OR NAV+++ OR SPH245 |
0–3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SG or SQ |
Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | SG or SQ | 4 | ||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS213/REL203 OR ENH259 American Indian Literature | HU | 3 | |
SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences |
Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS101 OR AIS/HIS140 OR AIS/SOC141 |
SB | 3 | |
Elective | Elective | 0–3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Awareness Areas |
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|
Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AIS/SOC105 | Introduction to American Indian Studies | Critical course Gateway course | C | 3 | |
ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
AIS/SOC160 | American Indian Law | AIS/SOC160 satisfies a required course for AC in American Indian Studies | C, H | 3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAT14+ | Mathematics | 3–6 | |||
L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS213/REL203 | L | 3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BPC110 or CIS105 |
Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems | CS or CS | 3 | ||
SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences |
Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS101 OR AIS/HIS140 OR AIS/SOC141 |
SB | 3 |
Term 5
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies COM and SB or COM and L requirements | SB or SB or L or SB | 0–3 | |
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS213/REL203 OR ENH259 American Indian Literature | HU | 3 |
Term 6
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences |
Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS101 OR AIS/HIS140 OR AIS/SOC141 |
SB | 3 | |
Elective | Elective | Recommended: CPD103BE OR NAV101 OR NAV102 OR PIM115 OR PIM116 OR YAQ100 OR YAQ110 | 0–3 | ||
Elective | Elective |
Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS+++ OR ARH145 OR CCS101 OR ENH259 OR GCU221 OR HIS+++ OR NAV+++ OR SPH245 |
0–3 |
Term 7
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SQ | Natural Sciences Quantitative | SQ | 4 | ||
Elective | Elective | 0–3 |
Term 8
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SG or SQ |
Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | SG or SQ | 4 | ||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Recommended for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies: AIS213/REL203 OR ENH259 American Indian Literature | HU | 3 |
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Program Information
Learn more about and find contact information for the Sustaining and Advancing Indigenous Nations program.
General Help
Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- C = Cultural Diversity in the US
- CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
- FYC = First Year Composition
- G = Global Awareness
- H = Historical Awareness
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=188756).
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.