Associate in Arts, Emphasis in American Indian Studies

The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in American Indian Studies provides a multi-disciplinary academic approach to studying Indigenous Peoples, their cultures, struggles, and maintaining sovereignty and self-determination. This degree empowers students to effectively work in urban and rural environments, and government agencies, and help Native Nations. Coursework focuses on historic relations with non-Indian societies, the development of federal Indian law, tribal governments, treaty rights, environmental issues, public policy, economic development, cultural preservation, and contemporary social issues. This degree provides students with the foundational coursework needed to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in the field.

Details

Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in American Indian Studies (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8126
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.

Federal Indian policy stipulates tribal preference in hiring, which should be considered in seeking employment with tribal nations and selected federal agencies. Seek advice of the tribal agency for available employment opportunities.

This emphasis is intended to align with the degree requirements for the following transfer partners:
ASU (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), American Indian Studies, BS

Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information: ASU .

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

What You'll Learn
  • Analyze tribal, federal, state, and municipal governmental policy and legal interactions related to inherent sovereignty.
  • Collaborate effectively to identify and examine issues at the tribal, state, and national levels that affect the holistic well-being of Indigenous Peoples.
  • Examine the Indigenous concept of interconnectedness with respect to the Sacred, which is holistically and organically inclusive of culture, homeland, worldview, identity, nature, and sustainability.
  • Analyze the various ways in which Indigenous Peoples identify and organize themselves in relation to pre- and post-colonial contact.
  • Analyze the impacts of sovereign powers at the tribal, state, and federal levels in relation to the international governmental forum.
  • Examine the laws, codes, and statutes at the tribal, federal, and state levels.
  • Examine the impact of political diversity and historic, socio-economic, contemporary, and cultural contexts on Indigenous Peoples and their respective cultures.
  • Perform academic research and writing in accordance with ethical standards and scholarly practices.
  • Effectively communicate orally, visually, digitally, and in writing in a manner that demonstrates cross-cultural empathy, self-awareness, open mindedness, and responsiveness.
  • Illustrate the ways in which the influences of past and current social and political institutions promote inequalities, privileges, stereotypes, mistrust, and biases that continue to extrinsically shape the identity of Indigenous Peoples.
  • Value Indigenous knowledge as it relates to multi-generational cultural education, including elderhood, oral traditions, and aesthetics.
  • Examine the endangerment of Indigenous language extinction and the acceleration of Indigenous culture loss as well as the efforts to revitalize and restore them.
  • Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)

Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:

  • Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits)
  • Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits)

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:

  • Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits)
  • Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits)
  • Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits)
  • Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits)

For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AIS/SOC105 Introduction to American Indian Studies Critical course Gateway course C 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 3
MAT14+ College Mathematics OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206. QNR 3–6
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AIS/SOC160 American Indian Law AIS/SOC160 satisfies a required course for AC in American Indian Studies C, H 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 3
AHM Arts and Humanities Recommend AIS213/REL203 or ENH259 for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies. AHM 3
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
Elective General Elective 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AIS101 or
AIS110 or
AIS112 or
AIS140 or
AIS170 or
AIS201 or
AIS213		 Survey of American Indian Issues or Navajo Government or American Indian Policy or American Indian History or American Indian History of the Southwest or Indigenous Nation Building or American Indian Religions C, SB or C, H or None or C, H, SB, SCB or C, H or None or AHM, C, HU, L 3
NSI Natural Sciences Recommend BIO100, CHM107 and CHM107LL, GPH211, OR GPH213 and GPH215. NSI 4
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences Recommend AIS/HIS140 or AIS/SOC141 for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies. SCB 3
Elective General Elective 0–3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AHM Arts and Humanities Recommend AIS213/REL203 or ENH259 for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies. AHM 3
NSI Natural Sciences NSI 4
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences Recommend AIS/HIS140 or AIS/SOC141 for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies. SCB 3
Elective General Elective 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)

Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:

  • Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits)
  • Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits)

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:

  • Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits)
  • Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits)
  • Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits)
  • Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits)

For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AIS/SOC105 Introduction to American Indian Studies Critical course Gateway course C 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 3
MAT14+ College Mathematics OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206. QNR 3–6

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AIS/SOC160 American Indian Law AIS/SOC160 satisfies a required course for AC in American Indian Studies C, H 3
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AIS101 or
AIS110 or
AIS112 or
AIS140 or
AIS170 or
AIS201 or
AIS213		 Survey of American Indian Issues or Navajo Government or American Indian Policy or American Indian History or American Indian History of the Southwest or Indigenous Nation Building or American Indian Religions C, SB or C, H or None or C, H, SB, SCB or C, H or None or AHM, C, HU, L 3
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences Recommend AIS/HIS140 or AIS/SOC141 for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies. SCB 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AHM Arts and Humanities Recommend AIS213/REL203 or ENH259 for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies. AHM 3
NSI Natural Sciences Recommend BIO100, CHM107 and CHM107LL, GPH211, OR GPH213 and GPH215. NSI 4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AHM Arts and Humanities Recommend AIS213/REL203 or ENH259 for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies. AHM 3
NSI Natural Sciences Recommend BIO100, CHM107 and CHM107LL, GPH211, OR GPH213 and GPH215. NSI 4

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences Recommend AIS/HIS140 or AIS/SOC141 for students intending to earn the Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies. SCB 3
Elective General Elective 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Elective General Elective 3
Elective General Elective 0–3

Courses Not Currently Offered

Scottsdale Community College does not currently offer these courses. These courses may be offered by other Maricopa Community Colleges as indicated below. Alternative courses, as outlined in the term-by-term course listing above, may also meet the same requirements for your degree or certificate.

Courses listed in this pathway map that are not currently offered at Scottsdale Community College
Course Number Course Name Offering Colleges
AIS/SOC160 American Indian Law Glendale
AIS101 Survey of American Indian Issues Not currently offered
AIS110 Navajo Government Estrella Mountain, Glendale, Mesa, South Mountain
AIS112 American Indian Policy Not currently offered
AIS170 American Indian History of the Southwest Not currently offered
AIS201 Indigenous Nation Building Not currently offered
AIS213 American Indian Religions Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix
ENG107 First-Year Composition for ESL Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, Mesa, Phoenix, Rio Salado, South Mountain
ENG108 First-Year Composition for ESL Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, Mesa, Phoenix, Rio Salado, South Mountain

General Electives

Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits. Consult with a faculty advisor, program director, and/or academic advisor to identify coursework that best aligns with academic and professional goals.

Recommended:
CPD103BE Native American Cultural Pride and Awareness
NAV101 Elementary Navajo I
+ NAV102 Elementary Navajo II
PIM115 Beginning Pima Conversation I
+ PIM116 Beginning Pima Conversation II
YAQ100 Yaqui Indian History and Culture
YAQ110 Yaqui Language and Culture

For students intending to earn an Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies, selecting a total of three (3) credits from the following list (except those used to satisfy other areas) is recommended:
AIS+++ Any AIS American Indian Studies course
ARH145 History of American Indian Art
+ CCS101 Chicana and Chicano Studies
ENH259 American Indian Literature
GCU221 Arizona Geography 
HIS+++ Any HIS History course 
NAV+++ Any NAV Navajo course 
SPH245 Hispanic Heritage in the Southwest 

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.