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Native American Studies (NASX)

NASX 105H - Introduction to Native American Studies. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn and Spring. Survey course to acquaint the student with Native American Studies by a general overview of Indian history, culture, philosophy, religious beliefs and contemporary issues.

Gen Ed Attributes: Historical Studies, Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 141 - Elementary Blackfoot I. 5 Credits.

Offered autumn. An introduction to the Blackfoot language and culture. Students will learn how to write and read Blackfoot as well as how to conduct simple conversations.

NASX 142 - Elementary Blackfoot II. 4 Credits.

Offered intermittently spring. Continuation of 141.

Gen Ed Attributes: Foreign Language Requirement

NASX 180 - Event Planning. 3 Credits.

Offered spring semester. This course is intended for students to learn the skills necessary to put on a large event. The course is intended as a hands-on experiential learning course. The culmination of the course will be putting on the annual Kyi-Yo contest pow-wow, the first large regional pow-wow of the year on the circuit.

NASX 191 - Special Topics. 1-9 Credits.

(R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

NASX 192 - Independent Study. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Prereq., consent of instr. Selected topics on American Indians under the direct supervision of a faculty member.

NASX 198 - Internship. 1-6 Credits.

(R-9)Offered by special arrangement. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.

NASX 201X - Indian Culture Expressed Through Language. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn. This course has been designed to introduce students to a non-Western perspective of the relationship that exists between Indian cultures and their languages. Students will be exposed to various languages of American Indian peoples, and how through Native languages insight can be gained into history, traditions, and cultural life-ways of Indian peoples.

Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 210X - Native American Sports & Games. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn or Spring. Explores Native American sports and games, both traditional and modern. Through classroom learning and actual play, students gain an understanding of how play and competition have been vital to Native communities.

Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 231X - Indigenous World View Perspectives. 3 Credits.

Offered Spring. Same as ANTY 231X. Examination of Indigenous belief systems, with regard to world views, religious ceremonies, cultural ways and the impact that Anglo-European culture has had upon these systems. Focus on Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States

Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 235X - Oral and Written Traditions of Native Americans. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn and Spring. Prereq., WRIT 101 (or higher) or equivalent. Analysis of the oral traditions of Native Americans including an introduction to the literary works of early leading American Indian writers.

Gen Ed Attributes: Lit & Artistic Studies (L), Writing Course-Intermediate, Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 239L - Native North American History & Art. 3 Credits.

Focus on Native North American history through art and material culture and its relationship to American Indian tribally specific aesthetics, cosmologies, worldviews and life-ways, historic uses and the contemporary Indian artistic experience.

Gen Ed Attributes: Lit & Artistic Studies (L)

NASX 260X - Indigenous Community Development. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. This course introduces the student to concepts in indigenous/rural sustainable community development in the countries of North America in broad historical and cultural frameworks.

Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 280 - NA Studies Research Theories and Methods. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn. Prereq., WRIT 101 (or higher) or equivalent, NAS major or minor. Introduction to the Research materials pertaining to the study of American Indian peoples and cultures. Emphasis on current research trends and writing.

Gen Ed Attributes: Writing Course-Intermediate

NASX 291 - Special Topics. 1-6 Credits.

(R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

NASX 292 - Independent Study. 1-6 Credits.

(R 6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses or one time offerings of current topics.

NASX 303E - Ecological Perspectives in Native American Traditions. 3 Credits.

An examination of Native American environmental ethics and tribal and historical and contemporary use of physical environmental resources.

Gen Ed Attributes: Ethical & Human Values Course

NASX 304E - Native American Beliefs and Philosophy. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn and Spring. A study of selected ethical systems; origins, world views; religious beliefs and the way they have been affected by western civilization.

Gen Ed Attributes: Ethical & Human Values Course, Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 306X - Contemporary Global Issues of Indigenous People. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn. An examination of the major issues that affect the contemporary experiences of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, and other global communities. Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 340X - Native American Literature. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn. Selected readings from Native American Literature and criticism with emphasis on the literatures after the Native American literary Renaissance. A minimum of three genres covered and three culture areas.

Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 351 - Traditional Ecological Knowledge. 3 Credits.

Offered summer. This course is one unit of the four unit (12 credit) summer semester program: Wild Rockies Summer Semester. Description: This course will explore the traditional ecological perspectives of the Salish, Kootenai, Blackfeet and Tlingit people, as well as how these perspectives relate to Western concepts of ecology. Through field-based activities, lectures by tribal elders, and personal exploration, students will come to a heightened understanding of the still vital cultural perspectives and practices of modern American Indians, particularly in the Rockies of Montana and Canada.

NASX 352 - Montana's Indians and Land. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. This course is one unit of the four unit (12 credit) fall semester program: Montana Afoot & Afloat: Human/Land Relations. This course gives students a greater understanding of Indian people?s traditional relationships with the land in Montana, and an understanding of how and why those relationships may have changed. Extensive time will be spent on the Fort Belknap, Northern Cheyenne and Crow Reservations where the class will meet with tribal elders and learning will have an emphasis on environmental and tribal/land relationships.

NASX 354X - Indians of Montana since the Reservation Era. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn. Same as HSTA 354. Examination of the history of Montana Indians since the establishment of the reservations, contemporary conditions, and issues among both reservation and non-reservation Indian communities in the state. Special attention given to social and economic conditions, treaty rights, tribal sovereignty, and legal issues.

Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

NASX 360 - Native Americans and Cinema. 3 Credits.

Same as ENFM 344. Surveys the image of Native Americans in American film with an emphasis on "revisionist," or "breakthrough" films. Ultimate focus will be on films featuring Native American writers, directors and actors.

NASX 391 - Special Topics. 1-6 Credits.

(R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

NASX 392 - Independent Study. 1-12 Credits.

NASX 394 - Workshop/Seminar. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered intermittently. Variable topics addressing Indian law, policy and culture by visiting scholars.

NASX 398 - Internship. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered by special arrangement. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.

NASX 403 - Contemporary Tribal Resource Issues. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Acquaints students with contemporary tribal resource management and environmental policies.

NASX 405 - Gender Issues in Native American Studies. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Same as WS 342H. Focus on American Indian gender relations and their cultural continuity and historical evolution. National in scope with concentration on certain tribes. Group analysis of contemporary gender issues relevant to Native American peoples.

NASX 430 - American Indian Education. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. An overview of American Indian education including a look at the unique needs of Indian children.

NASX 464 - History of American Indian Affairs to 1776. 3 Credits.

Offered Autumn. Same as HIST 464. A study of American Indian relations with Europeans and the United States from first contact to 1776.

NASX 465 - History of American Indian Affairs in the 19th Century. 3 Credits.

Offered Spring. Same as HIST 465. A study of tribal encounters and adjustments to the American nations in the nineteenth century.

NASX 466 - History of Indian Affairs from 1890. 3 Credits.

A study of tribal encounters and adjustments to the American nation from 1890.

NASX 475 - Tribal Sovereignty. 3 Credits.

Offered Spring. An examination of the evolution of tribal governments from a historical and political perspective. Particular attention is devoted to the issues of tribal sovereignty and tribal-state conflicts.

NASX 479 - Tribal Government & Policymaking. 3 Credits.

(R-6) Offered spring. Prereq., NASX 475. This course examines the evolution of tribal governing structures with a focus on contemporary formal tribal policy making processes, practices, and outcomes. The class concludes with an exploration of the limitations and challenges, as well as the benefits and opportunities, presented to tribal leaders and community members by these modern-day forms of tribal government. Course co-convenes with NASX 579. Level: Undergraduate

NASX 488 - Studies in Native American Autobiography. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Same as LIT 429. Prereq., LIT 300 or LIT 305/NASX 340, or consent of instr. Study of texts that present a first-person story of Native American individual's life within historical and cultural contexts, with discussion of theories of autobiography.

NASX 491 - Special Topics. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Prereq., upper-division standing and consent of instr. Selected topics on American Indians under the direct supervision of a faculty member.

NASX 492 - Independent Study. 1-6 Credits.

(R-9) Offered by special arrangement. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses or one-time offerings of current topics.

NASX 494 - Seminar/Workshop. 3 Credits.

(R-6) Offered Spring. Prereq., WRIT 101 or equivalent, one intermediate writing course, NAS major or minor, 18 credits in NAS, and junior standing or higher. Senior reading capstone course for the review of past and current literature on and by American Indians.

Gen Ed Attributes: Writing Course-Advanced

NASX 499 - Senior Capstone/Thesis. 3-9 Credits.

(R-9) Offered by special arrangement. Prereq., NAS major or minor, 18 credits in NAS, junior standing, and consent of instr. Independent research project in Native American Studies, supervised by a faculty member, and leading to completion of baccalaureate degree.

NASX 521 - Indigenous Education. 3-6 Credits.

The seminar will provide an opportunity for students from multiple sites to engage in the comparative study of issues associated with the education of Indigenous peoples and communities on an international scale with an emphasis on the role of language and culture through a review of educational practices and theories that have emerged from a variety of sources. Students may take the course once or a second year in sequence; some site instructors may change. The course is teleconferenced among University of Montana and the Universities of Hawaii Hilo, Alaska Fairbanks and Anchorage, Arizona, British Columbia, Dene (Navajo) College, and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi-Whakatane (New Zealand). No prerequisites apply; letter grades given, based on collaborative local and international projects, short response papers, and a term paper. Students be confident in using the internet. Level: Graduate

NASX 579 - Tribal Governance and Policymaking. 3 Credits.

(R-6) Offered Spring. This course examines the evolution of tribal governing structures with a focus on contemporary formal tribal policy making processes, practices, and outcomes. The class concludes with an exploration of the limitations and challenges, as well as the benefits and opportunities, presented to tribal leaders and community members by these modern-day forms of tribal government. Course co-convenes with NASX 479. Level: Graduate

NASX 580 - NAS Research Methods. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. An exploration of research materials pertaining to the study of American Indian peoples and cultures, with an emphasis on current research trends and writing. Level: Graduate

NASX 594 - Seminar Native American Studies. 1-3 Credits.

(R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. A review and discussion of current research. Topics vary. Level: Graduate

NASX 595 - Special Topics. 1-9 Credits.

(R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics. Level: Graduate

NASX 596 - Independent Study. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., graduate standing and consent of instr. Study of selected topics or problems on American Indians under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Level: Graduate

NASX 598 - Internship. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. Level: Graduate