Breadcrumb
Careers & Alumni
Many of our students work in tribal governments or nonprofit organizations; others become certified teachers. Still others serve in counseling, health care and human services, cultural and natural resource management and educational administration.
Our program, particularly when combined with a minor in a related field, can be great preparation for graduate study in the social sciences, as well as professional training in law or business. With your understanding of tribal sovereignty and societal, cultural and environmental issues affecting Native Americans.
Related Job Titles
The following list is not meant to be all inclusive; many other job alternatives and titles may exist. Some require further education. As an NAS major, careers could reach across other concentration areas; refer to those career guides.
- Tribal Administrator
- Volunteer Services Coordinator
- Community Planning Specialist
- Environmental Planning
- Social Worker
- Youth Counselor
- Special Programming Coordinator
- Diversity Officer/Human Resources
- Public Information Coordinator
- Race/Gender issues advocate
- Teacher
- Community Organizer/Outreach
- Environmental Conservationist
- Social Science Researcher
- Research Associate
- Social Services Case Manager
- Public opinion analyst
- Editor
- Journalist
- Resource consultant
- Pre-Law
- Tribal Museum Curator
- Family Services Specialist
- Natural Resource Management
- Public Relations Advisor
- Intake Counselor/Eligibility Worker
- Policy Analyst
- Market Research Analyst
- Cultural Resource Manager
- Non-profit Administrator
Marketable Skills
- Knowledge of and the ability to communicate significant information regarding Native American cultures, histories, federal and tribal law and government, community development, language and tradition, stewardship, sovereignty, and other issues affecting life in Indian country, especially from a Native American perspective.
- Ability to research issues affecting life in Indian Country by using primary and secondary sources.
- Ability to explain the concept of tribal sovereignty, and understand the development and importance of modern tribal governments recognize the scope of tribal sovereignty as it relates to tribal, federal, and international law (legislative and judicial), including the structure of federal/tribal relationships, indigenous autonomy, and self-governing behaviors.
- Knowledge of Indigenous environmental relationships through an awareness of diverse Indigenous cultural and scientific perspectives, and the importance of protection of sacred and historical sites.
Meet our Alumni
Alumni Updates
Sean Berry
Native American Studies, 2014
Sean Berry, Native American Studies, 2014, is a Legal Administrative Specialist for the Northern California Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Gordon L. Bussell
Native American StudiesPolitical Science, 2006
Gordon L. Bussell, 2006 Native American Studies, is working to revitalize the Hupa language by teaching teachers in the Early Childhood Program. Bussell is also working to create a first-level immersion program targeting 0-6 year-old children on the Hoopa Reservation. As a Curriculum Specialist, Bussell is charged with implementing and designing all curriculum with the help of one assistant.
Gordon Lester Bussell Indian name is Kigiwh ch
Native American StudiesPolitical Science (Politics), 2006
I work for Owens Valley Career Development Center a tribal consordium. working with revitaization of native languages. I give training on methodogy on both teaching and learning Native Languages. I have been working with up to 8 languages at once under ANA until Sept 2011. presently OVCDC services Paiute (3 dialects), Mono (2 dialects), Wukchumni and Yolumni, Tabatalabal, Kitamuk and Yaqui. I speak a Dene language daily, mostly Hupa and work with Mattole, Wailaki, Bear River, Redwood Creek and Tsenungxwe. I am a Hupa and Mattole Indian and member of the Yurok Tribe. I had 50 or more native teachers of Hupa for a beginning to this knowledge, starting with my Grandfather Clem I. Bussell Sr. and guided by my father Oswald N. Bussell. I used to teach Hupa on the Hoopa Reservation but now work with tribes here (Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties) and even present on language methods, at conferences at times (CA Indian Ed. Confer. at H.S.U. most recent presentation). I have worked with a number of linguists over the years as a student and speaker, most notable is Victor Golla at H.S.U.