Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies Roadmap

120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 42

This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterUnits
AIS 100 Introduction to American Indian Studies (Major Core, AERM, SJ) 3
AIS 150 American Indian History in the United States (Major Core, D2, USH, AERM, SJ) 3
ENG 114 Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 3
GE Area A 2 3
GE Area C 3
 Units15
Second Semester
AIS 160 Survey of Native California (Major Core, F, AERM, ES, SJ) 3
GE Area A 3
GE Area B: Life Science (B2) and Laboratory Science (B3) 3 3-4
GE Area B: Quantitative Reasoning (B4) 4 3
GE Area E 3
 Units15-16
Third Semester
AIS 205 American Indians and U.S. Laws (Major Core, F, USG, CSLG, AERM, SJ) 3
GE Area B: Physical Science (B1) and Laboratory Science (B3) 3 3-4
GE Area C 3
GE Area D: Social Sciences (D1) 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 3
 Units15-16
Fourth Semester
AIS 300 American Indian Studies Research Methodologies (Major Core, AERM, GP, SJ) 3
ETHS 300GW Writing in Ethnic Studies - GWAR 3
GE Area C 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 6
 Units15
Fifth Semester
Law, Politics, and Society (Major Elective) - Select One 6 3
Science, Health, and Environmental Studies (Major Elective) - Select One: 3
American Indian Science
Before the Wilderness: American Indian Ecology
Additional Two Courses from Any of the Four Areas of Emphasis (Major Elective) - Take One 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 6
 Units15
Sixth Semester
Select One (Major Elective): 3
Perspectives of Native California Indians (F, AERM, ES)
Community Service Learning (for up to 3 units in addition to the core requirement)
Additional Two Courses from Any of the Four Areas of Emphasis (Major Elective) - Take One 3
GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 6
 Units15
Seventh Semester
AIS 694 Community Service Learning (Major Core) 1-3
GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences 3
GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two 4 6
 Units15
Eighth Semester
AIS 680 American Indian Studies Senior Seminar (Major Core) 3
Creative Arts and Humanities - Select One 7 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Three 4 9
 Units15
 Total Units120-122
1

ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.

2

To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.

3

Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill B3 if not already satisfied. 

4

To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.

5

Complementary Studies

Students completing a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies must complete 12 units in Complementary Studies in courses bearing a prefix other than AIS or courses cross-listed with AIS. These units may be in:

  1. a language other than English;
  2. one course from AAS, AFRS, LTNS, and RRS;
  3. or four courses from one prefix: AAS or AFRS or LTNS or RRS;
  4. partial completion of a minor or certificate;
  5. units earned in a study abroad program;
  6. or a coherent group of courses complementary to the major.

With the approval of an advisor in the major, courses which fulfill the complementary studies requirement may be lower- or upper-division units, resident, or transfer units.

6

Law, Politics, and Society

AIS 230 Urban Indians (3 units) (D1, AERM, SJ)

AIS 330 American Indian Law (3 units) (UD-D, AERM, SJ)

AIS 350/AFRS 350/LTNS 355 Black Indians in the Americas (3 units) (UD-D, AERM)

AIS 400 American Indian Education (3 units) (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ)

AIS 420/WGS 420 Native Genders and Feminism (3 units) (UD-D, AERM, SJ)

AIS 460 Power and Politics in American Indian History (3 units) (UD-D, USH, AERM, SJ)

AIS 470 American Indian Ethnicity: Problems in Identity (3 units) (UD-D, AERM, SJ)

7

Creative Arts and Humanities

AIS 162 American Indian Oral Literature (3 units) (F)

AIS 235 American Indians: Image and Issues in the Mass Media (3 units) (C1, AERM, SJ)

AIS 310 American Indian Religion and Philosophy (3 units) (UD-C, AERM, GP, SJ)

AIS 320 American Indian Music (3 units) (UD-C, AERM, SJ)

AIS 325 American Indian Art (3 units) (UD-C, AERM, SJ)

AIS 360 Modern American Indian Authors (3 units) (F, AERM)

AIS 400 American Indian Education (3 units) (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ)

AIS 420/WGS 420 Native Genders and Feminism (3 units) (UD-D, AERM, SJ)

AIS 500/ANTH 500 Language and Cultural Systems of North American Indians (3 units)

AIS 560 Modern Creative and Performing Arts (3 units) (UD-C, AERM, SJ)