Native American Studies, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Hours: 36

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Program Code: B740

Major Requirements

  • Some courses required for the major may also fulfill University General Education and/or Dodge College of Arts & Sciences Requirements.
  • Programs of study must be approved by the program Director and coordinating committee.
NAS Core Requirements
NAS 2013Foundations in Native American Sovereignty3
NAS 3013Native American Studies Internship3
NAS 4033Indigenous Research Methods3
NAS 4053Senior Capstone (should be taken in the senior year)3
NAS 4063Critical Indigenous Theory3
Thematic Areas of Emphasis
Choose seven courses in one or more of the following areas: 121
Total Credit Hours36
1

Students may declare one or more areas of emphasis. A list of appropriate courses may be obtained from the NAS program. Appropriate courses should be selected with the guidance of the NAS advisor.

Major Support Requirements

Native Language Requirement
Choose two introductory courses (1000-level) or the equivalent in a Native language 16-10
Total Credit Hours6-10
1

May be used to fulfill General Education and College requirements. May not be used to satisfy NAS Core or Area of Emphasis coursework.

Recommended Free Electives1

NAS 1013Introduction to Native American Studies3
CHER 2733Intermediate Cherokee3
CREK 2733Intermediate Creek/Seminole3
CHOC 2733Intermediate Choctaw3
KIOW 2733Intermediate Kiowa3
1

These courses are not major or major support work, nor are they required.

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and Dodge College of Arts & Sciences requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at http://www.ou.edu/gened/coursesCourses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-13 hours in the same language)
The college requirement cannot be met by high school coursework.
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,20-3
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, including one laboratory component)
Biological Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: BIOL, HES, MBIO, or PBIO 13-4
Physical Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: AGSC, ASTR, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, GPHY, METR, or PHYS 13-4
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities (18 hours)
Artistic Forms
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483/1493)3
World Culture
Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list3
Additional Core IV Upper-Division Arts & Humanities courses
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours56
1

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements: college requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree.

2

One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level

3

6 upper-division hours, 2 courses, at the 3000- 4000-level. Must be outside the major.

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements

Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
P.E. Courses: No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

  • At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
  • At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
  • OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.

Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum over all 2.00 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU. Some schools and departments of the College have higher minimum grade point averages required for their students.
 

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with Dodge College of Arts and Sciences and/or Department of Native American Studies academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy University, College of Arts and Sciences, and Native American Studies major requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
Math (Core I) 3
NAS 1013 Introduction to Native American Studies (Core IV-World Culture) 3
Beginning Native American Language course 5
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 3
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
Beginning Native American Language course, continued 5
Free Elective, lower-division 2
 Credit Hours16
Sophomore
First Semester
NAS 2013 Foundations in Native American Sovereignty 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
Social Science (Core III) 3
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
Intermediate Native American Language course 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
Western Culture (Core IV) 3
NAS Area of Emphasis Major Elective, lower-division 3
NAS Area of Emphasis Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
 Credit Hours15
Junior
First Semester
NAS Area of Emphasis Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
NAS Area of Emphasis Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
NAS 3013 Native American Studies Internship 3
NAS Area of Emphasis Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
NAS Area of Emphasis Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
NAS 4033 Indigenous Research Methods 3
NAS 4063 Critical Indigenous Theory 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
NAS 4053 Senior Capstone 3
NAS Area of Emphasis Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120