Alaska Pacific University Launched Indigenous Studies Degree

Alaska Pacific University (APU) is launching a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies. Students in the undergraduate program will study Indigenous knowledges, cultures, histories, languages, governance, and contemporary issues through an interdisciplinary, Alaska Native-centered curriculum. Through coursework rooted in Alaska Native perspectives and global Indigenous experiences, students examine the complex relationships among history, culture, sovereignty, environmental stewardship, research, policy, and community well-being.

“As an Alaska Native-serving institution, APU has many students, both Native and non-Native, who are interested in Indigenous perspectives from Alaska and around the world,” said APU Research Professor Beth Leonard. said in a press release. “The multidisciplinary nature of Indigenous Studies makes it an ideal field for students who want to explore how Indigenous knowledges and sciences can inform approaches to complex social and environmental challenges.”

APU said the B.A. in Indigenous Studies is designed for students interested in a wide range of careers, including tribal government and administration, Indigenous policy and advocacy, community and nonprofit leadership, cultural resource management, education and outreach, environmental stewardship, communications, public affairs, grant writing, and program development.

Students in the new program explore Indigenous histories, cultures, languages, and contemporary issues while drawing on expertise across APU. Focused electives include areas such as Alaska Native languages, fine arts, land stewardship, sustainability studies, shamanism, and peacemaking.

The school says the program will give students the flexibility to shape their degree around their own interests, drawing from programs and minors across APU’s curriculum, including the sciences, psychology, outdoor studies, business, humanities, and fine arts. This interdisciplinary structure allows students to make Indigenous Studies the central focus of their undergraduate education while connecting their studies to complementary academic fields.

With the launch of its B.A. in Indigenous Studies, Alaska Pacific University becomes one of only a few institutions in Alaska offering a bachelor’s degree specifically dedicated to Indigenous Studies. APU’s Indigenous Studies degree offers a potentially broader, more flexible focus for students who want to craft their own degree focus within the major.

APU’s program also offers an emphasis on Indigenous communities both in Alaska and around the world. Lower-division courses ground students in Alaska Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary issues, while upper-division coursework builds on this foundation to explore global Indigenous perspectives and approaches to land management, science, ways of knowing, well-being, and research.

Alaska Pacific University Launched Indigenous Studies Degree

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