I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 2/8/13)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change or
renew existing gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
II. Mathematics
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III. Language
VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * IX: American & European
if requesting
IV: Expressive Arts
X
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Native American Studies
Course #
NASX105
Course Title
Prerequisite
Introduction to Native American Studies
None
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
3
Date
02/11
Instructor
Wade Davies
Phone / Email 243-5835
Program Chair Dave Beck
Dean
Chris Comer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew X
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Rolling Review
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of the general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
This course is a general overview of traditional and modern American Indian cultures with a
cross-disciplinary approach. Topics covered include American Indian oral traditions, relations
with nature, social structures and practices, spiritual beliefs and practices, history, art, dance,
literature, sports and current issues. The course deals with Native communities from throughout
the modern United States and into Canada and Mexico, but a select number of tribes will be
considered in greater depth.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1) Indigenous and/or global courses will
familiarize students with the values, histories,
and institutions of two or more societies
through the uses of comparative approaches.
and
Indigenous perspective courses address the
longstanding tenure of a particular people in a
particular geographical region, their histories,
cultures, and ways of living as well as their
interaction with other groups, indigenous and
non-indigenous.
1) The course provides an introductory
overview of the values, histories, spiritual
ways, and political/social/economic
institutions of multiple Native communities
and gives more in-depth attention to a
smaller number (2-3) of tribes. A
comparative approach explores ways Native
communities have much in common in terms
of their spiritual/philosophical values,
social/economic practices, history, and
contemporary concerns.
2) The course also highlights Native peoples
historical, spiritual, and cultural connections
to “place.” We consider things Native
communities have in common and ways each
Native community is unique. Key themes of
the class include the importance of “place”
to Native American communities; of
“distributed power” and “reciprocity” as
spiritual and ethical values; the importance
of sovereignty and ongoing efforts to retain
it; and the coexistence and ongoing
formulation of multiple layered identities
(e.g. individual, clan, tribe, “American
Indian,” and “American”).
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. place human behavior and cultural ideas
into a wider (global/indigenous) framework,
and enhance their understanding of the
complex interdependence of nations and
societies and their physical environments;
This course addresses these criteria with the
following learning outcomes:
Students should leave the course with the
ability to:
1. discuss commonalities and differences
among Native American peoples (and in
comparison and contrast to the colonizing
nations with which they interacted), both in
the past and present; as well as to discuss
key government policies and historic events
affecting American Indians,
2. demonstrate an awareness of the diverse
ways humans structure their social, political,
and cultural lives; and
2. discuss the diverse ways Native American
communities have structured their
community lives in the past and present and
how they have responded to modern
ecological, economic, social, and legal
issues that are of great concern to them
3. analyze and compare the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship in the 21st
century including those of their own societies
and cultures.
3. discuss the rights and responsibilities of
their contemporary U.S. citizenship and, in
some cases as members of sovereign tribal
communities.
In addition, students should be able to:
4. offer concrete examples of ways Native
communities have responded to adversity in
the past and present, and how they have
suffered losses while still retaining their
identities, cultural ways, and sovereignty
5. identify specific Montana tribes and
reservations
6. demonstrate an awareness of the multidisciplinary nature of Native American
Studies and the ability to discuss some key
concepts from each of these disciplines
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
NAS 105-02: Introduction to Native American Studies
Dr. Davies
MWF 9:10-10:00 NAC 105
Office: NAC 203A
Email: Wade.Davies@mso.umt.edu
Office phone: 243-5835
Office hours: MWF 11:10-12:00 and 1:10-1:30 or by appointment
Course Description: This course is a general overview of traditional and modern American
Indian cultures with a cross-disciplinary approach. Topics covered include American Indian
oral traditions, relations with nature, social structures and practices, spiritual beliefs and
practices, history, art, dance, literature, sports and current issues. The course deals with Native
communities from throughout the modern United States and into Canada and Mexico, but a
select number of tribes will be considered in greater depth.
Course Objectives: Students should leave the course with the ability to:
1. discuss commonalities and differences among Native American peoples (and in comparison
and contrast to the colonizing nations with which they interacted), both in the past and present;
as well as to discuss key government policies and historic events affecting American Indians,
2. discuss the diverse ways Native American communities have structured their community
lives in the past and present and how they have responded to modern ecological, economic,
social, and legal issues that are of great concern to them
3. discuss the rights and responsibilities of their contemporary U.S. citizenship and, in some
cases as members of sovereign tribal communities.
In addition, students should be able to:
4. offer concrete examples of ways Native communities have responded to adversity in the past
and present, and how they have suffered losses while still retaining their identities, cultural
ways, and sovereignty
5. identify specific Montana tribes and reservations
6. demonstrate an awareness of the multi-disciplinary nature of Native American Studies and
the ability to discuss some key concepts from each of these disciplines
Required Readings:
D’Arcy McNickle. The Surrounded
Course Reading Packet (available in the bookstore and also on ERES), in-class hand-outs, and
one other reading found only on ERES (the password for the course in ERES is “nas100”).
Course Grade: The course grade is based on the following requirements (please note that
Native American Studies does not allow classes to be taken Pass/No Pass)
Three Exams (30 points each)
Participation and Group Work (10 points)
=100 points total
Based on your total points, your course grade will be determined as follows: 92 and up=A; 9091=A-; 88-89=B+; 82-87=B; 80-81-B-; 78-79=C+; 72-77=C; 70-71=C-; 68-69=D+; 62-67=D;
60-61=D-; 59 and below=F
Examinations: Each exam will be worth 30 points and will cover material from the preceding
third of the course, including both readings and lecture. Exams will include short answer and
essay questions.
Participation and Group Work: This portion of the grade is worth 10 points and includes both
individual and group efforts. Consistent attendance, participation in class discussions, signs of
extra effort (e.g. improvement over time, discussing class issues with the professor, helping
others in the class etc.), and shared scores on in-class group assignments make up this portion
of the grade.
Make-ups: Exams must be taken on the specified dates. If it is necessary (for medical or other
unavoidable reasons) to take an exam late, arrangements must be made with the professor
ahead of time (except in documented cases of medical emergencies that prevent you from
getting in touch with me until after the exam).
Calendar: Have the assigned readings completed for the dates indicated.
Week 1:
8/29 Introduction
8/31 Calloway chap. 1, pgs. 12-16
9/2 Calloway chap. 1, pgs. 16-21
Week 2:
9/5 Labor Day, No Class
9/7 Calloway chap. 1, pgs. 21-30
9/9 Schrempp chap. 2
Week 3:
9/12 Schremp chap. 4
9/14 Calloway chap. 2, pgs. 63-66
9/16 Calloway chap. 2, pgs. 66-69
Week 4:
9/19 Calloway chap. 2, pgs. 69-78
9/21 Calloway chap. 2, pgs. 78-84
9/23 Calloway chap. 2, pgs. 84-92
Week 5:
9/26-9/28 no additional readings
9/30 First Exam
Week 6:
10/3-10/7 read any hand-outs passed out in class
Week 7:
10/10 read any hand-outs
10/12 Oswalt chap. 11, pgs. 324-328
10/14 Oswalt chap. 11, pgs. 328-338
Week 8:
10/17 Oswalt chap. 11, pgs. 338-346
10/19 Oswalt chap. 11, pgs. 346-356
10/21 Frey chap. 2, begin reading—this reading is only available on ERES
Week 9:
10/24 Frey chap. 2, finish reading—this reading is only available on ERES
10/26 Frey chap. 4
10/28 no reading assignments
Week 10:
10/31-11/2 read any hand-outs
11/4 Second Exam
Week 11:
11/7-11/19 read any hand-outs
11/11 Veterans Day, No Class
Week 12:
11/14 -11/18 read any hand-outs passed out in class
Week 13:
11/21 begin reading The Surrounded
11/23-25 Thanksgiving break
Week 14:
11/28-12/2 continue reading The Surrounded
Week 15:
12/5-12/9 finish reading The Surrounded
Final 8-10:00 Wednesday, December 14th in our regular room
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.