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Indigenous Nations and Native American Studies - Bachelor of Arts 2022-23 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps show one way how you can earn a degree in four years. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

To graduate in four years, you need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper division (300/400 level courses) credits. You may need to take electives (courses that are not used to meet specific requirements) to reach those totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each. If you transfer credit to PSU, the number of credits you need per year will vary accordingly. 

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This guide outlines the requirements in the 2022-23 catalog. Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements you need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit you to follow a different catalog. Typically, your catalog year is the year you began at PSU, but if you are a transfer student you may be able to use an earlier catalog. Talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you.

PSU Bulletins (2015-present) about this content

First Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5
BA Second Language 101 3-5 BA Second Language 102 3-5 BA Second Language 103 3-5
NAS 201 4 General Elective 4 BA Fine & Performing Arts 3-4
        General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 12-14 Total Winter Credits 12-14 Total Spring Credits 15-18

First Year Milestone: Complete NAS 201.

Second Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses  Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4
BA Second Language 201 3-5 BA Second Language 202 3-5 BA Second Language 203 3-5
BA Science/Math 3-4 INNAS Elective 4 INNAS Elective 4
NAS 344 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 14-17 Total Winter Credits 15-17 Total Spring Credits 15-17

Second Year Milestone: Complete all BA courses. 

Second Year Note: Required NAS courses are offered once a year, usually in the term listed in this Degree Map. Please check with the department for course rotation each year.

Third Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4
NAS 392 4 NAS 346 4 Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (International) 3-4
INNAS Elective 4 General Elective 4 INNAS Elective 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 15-16

Third Year Note: Required NAS courses are offered once a year, usually in the term listed in this Degree Map. Please check with the department for course rotation each year.

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6 NAS 442 4 NAS 404 4
NAS 407 Traditional Ecological Healing Practices 4 NAS 426 4 INNAS Elective 4
INNAS Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
    General Elective 4    
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 12

Fourth Year Note: Required NAS courses are offered once a year, usually in the term listed in this Degree Map. Please check with the department for course rotation each year.

Additional Map Notes:

  • NAS 201: NAS 201 satisfies the Domestic/US group of the Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (RESR). 
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • INNAS Elective: NAS 342 recommended.
  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (International): Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: NAS 201 focuses on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. One must be within the School of Gender, Race and Nations or be cross-listed with one of the SGRN units: Black Studies (BSt), Chicano/Latino Studies (ChLa), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
  • Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis: Focus on Indigenous Nations or Native American studies encouraged.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Indigenous Nations and Native American Studies

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