Sustaining and Advancing Indigenous Nations

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Sustaining and Advancing Indigenous Nations is designed for students seeking entry-level positions with an Indigenous Nation. Students are provided with instruction and academic support in courses unique to the political, legal, economic, and social status of Indigenous peoples and their respective communities. MCCCD offers this unique program in recognition of the special political "trust relationship" between Indigenous Nations and the federal government of the United States. The curriculum emphasizes inherent Indigenous sovereignty, self-governance, self-determination, federal Indian law, and policy that currently addresses development on Indigenous lands. An Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Sustaining and Advancing Indigenous Nations (3078) is also available.

Details

Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Sustaining and Advancing Indigenous Nations (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5078
Total credits required
20
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2020
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Federal Indian policy stipulates tribal preference in hiring, which should be considered in seeking employment with tribal nations and selected federal agencies.

At the start of the program, students should seek advice from prospective tribal employers for career opportunities.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Analyze the various ways in which Indigenous Peoples identify and organize themselves in relation to pre- and post-colonial contact.
  2. 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.
  3. Assess the diverse political, economic, legal, cultural, and social systems of Indigenous Nations and the impact of the laws and policies of the United States on Indigenous Nations and their sovereignty.
  4. Evaluate contemporary issues that challenge Indigenous Nations.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

$43,046

Public Relations and Fundraising Managers

$102,434

There are additional career opportunities associated with this certificate that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:
  • Education Administrators, All Other
* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

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

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
CPD103BE Native American Cultural Pride And Awareness Critical course 2
AIS/SOC141 Sovereign Indian Nations C, H, SB 3
AIS201 Indigenous Nation Building 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MGT253 Owning and Operating a Small Business 3
AIS/SOC160 American Indian Law C, H 3
AIS/SOC112 or
AIS203 or
AIS+++
American Indian Policy or Fundamentals of Economic Development for Indigenous Nations or Any American Indian Studies course not taken in Required Courses. Restricted Electives 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

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
CPD103BE Native American Cultural Pride And Awareness Critical course 2

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AIS/SOC141 Sovereign Indian Nations C, H, SB 3
AIS201 Indigenous Nation Building 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MGT253 Owning and Operating a Small Business 3
AIS/SOC160 American Indian Law C, H 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AIS/SOC112 or
AIS203 or
AIS+++
American Indian Policy or Fundamentals of Economic Development for Indigenous Nations or Any American Indian Studies course not taken in Required Courses. Restricted Electives 3
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=143585).

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.