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Building off of the addition of an Indigenous Studies minor in 2022 and the official founding of the Department of Indigenous Studies in 2023, SUNY's University at Buffalo has further expanded its support of Indigenous Studies this fall with the addition of a Bachelor of Arts major in Indigenous Studies, the first major of its kind in the SUNY system of colleges and universities.

The Indigenous Studies major is a thirty-six-credit major which consists of two parts. Six three-credit courses are required core courses for the major, but students must also complete at least six electives chosen from a pool of twenty-nine unique courses in subject areas including Indigenous Politics and Movements, Land-Based (concerned with land and environmental issues), and Language (which includes courses in the Mohawk, Seneca and Tuscarora languages). Although students are encouraged to choose from one of those three subject areas to create depth, the major also allows for exploration from a catalog of twelve broader electives, some of which are Indigenous Film Studies, Indigenous Perspective on US History, and Indigenous Workers: Native Proletarians Under Capitalism. The major also allows students to opt for an internship that may count for up to six credits, as well as a three-credit undergraduate research activity conducted in collaboration with Department of Indigenous Studies research faculty.

Students pursuing the major must also meet standard University at Buffalo curriculum requirements and complete sufficient elective courses to reach the required 120 credits for graduation.Ìý

According to , career opportunities for students who complete a degree with the Department of Indigenous Studies "include opportunities in tribal governments, counseling, health, natural resource management, and education administration, state and federal government positions that address Native American law, education, archiving, museums and information management, and advocacy as well as American Indian commissions and all entities involving in Indigenous matters."

The chair of the Department of Indigenous Studies, Mishuana Goeman, a descendant of the Tonawanda Band of Seneca, explained that the new major aims to recruit Indigenous students from throughout the Great Lakes region, with the University at Buffalo's location - situated near both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario - allowing it to serve as a "home hub." However, Goeman says that the major is open to anyone.

“Cultural sensitivity is really, really important," explained Goeman. "And if you think about how nearly 80 percent of biodiversity is located on Indigenous lands in the world, this degree also provides an opportunity in a global perspective for those who want to do environmental studies or who want to look at climate change and do any of that kind of work, as well.�

The University at Buffalo is a participating campus in the ApplySUNY Application, a common application that allows students to simultaneously apply for admission at up to 53 of the 64 SUNY campuses. Students interested in applying to the University at Buffalo can do so via the webpage.

Additionally, students who apply between October 21, 2024 and November 3, 2024 can have their application fees waived for up to five schools, including the University at Buffalo, as part of SUNY's "Free App Weeks" promotion.