美国原住民研究（NAS）提供了一种深入的方法来了解美国原住民的历史和当代经验。不仅要注意部落与联邦政府之间的特殊关系，还要注意跨越国界的问题，包括加拿大，北美洲，中美洲和南美洲的部落国家。在使用“美洲原住民”一词时，NAS教职员工认识到该种群的异质性。美洲原住民包括阿拉斯加原住民，其中包括阿留斯人，爱斯基摩人和居住在阿拉斯加的其他美洲原住民，以及夏威夷原住民社区。
Native American Studies (NAS) provides an intensive approach to understanding the historical and contemporary experiences of Native American people. Attention is paid not only to the special relationship between tribes and the federal government, but to issues across national boundaries, including tribal nations within Canada, and North, Central, and South America. In using the term Native American, the NAS faculty recognize the heterogeneous nature of this population. Native Americans include the Alaska Native population, which comprises Aleuts, Eskimo, and other Native American people residing in Alaska, as well as Native Hawaiian communities. The purpose of the Native American Studies major and minor is to introduce students to approaches in the academic study of Native American people, history, and culture. Students who major in Native American Studies have the opportunity of doing advanced work in related fields, including literature, sociology, education, and law. In addition to specialized course work on Native American issues, students also are expected to concentrate in a traditional discipline such as anthropology, history, or psychology to ensure a well rounded educational experience.