Collection Guidelines: American Indian Studies: Departmental Focus

As of Winter 2019 the AIS had:

• 17 Undergraduate majors
• 25 Undergraduate minors
• 994 Students taught (2018)

Collaborative centers include the Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest , Center for Performance Studies, and the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Study. Additional information on the department can be found on the departmental fact sheet produced by the College of Arts & Sciences.

Photo: Detail from Smith Hall

American Indian Studies (AIS) at the University of Washington is an interdisciplinary program, fostering a better understanding of the histories, cultures, arts, and contemporary lives of North America'’s diverse indigenous peoples. The department works with national and regional Native American communities through the UW Tribal Leaders Summit, Native American Advisory Board, UW powwows, the wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Intellectual House project, and campus symposia and conferences. It is a campus leader in facilitating the recruitment and retention of Native American and indigenous students.

The American Indian Studies Department offers a major in American Indian Studies, a minor in American Indian Studies, and a master’s degree in Native American
Documentary Film, Video, and New Digital Media in partnership with the Department of Communication.

The department is also home to the Native Voices graduate program in indigenous film, video, and digital media.

The Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies supports interdisciplinary research in American Indian and Indigenous Studies across the three University of Washington campuses, as well as with surrounding Native communities and offers a graduate certificate.