Oconee National Forest and Chattahoochee River
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Oconee National Forest and Chattahoochee River

UGA, an R1 Institution, is located near the Oconee National Forest, the Chattahoochee River, and the Qualla Boundary. Our Institute of Native American Studies is well situated for students to get to know the old homelands of Southeastern Native peoples.

About Us

Welcome to Native American Studies at the University of Georgia

The Institute of Native American Studies at the University of Georgia was founded in 2004. UGA INAS is one of the few Native Studies programs in the Southeast and serves as a hub for other similar programs in Georgia. Today, we are a vibrant community of two dozen scholars, including six Native faculty, in addition to our graduate and undergraduate students. Institutes at UGA, just like departments, have three functions: teaching, programming and research. UGA INAS is dedicated to expanding course offerings, programming open to the community, research that benefits native communities, and presenting Native American voices on campus. Check out our News tab for current articles related to Native American communities and issues. See our Events tab for upcoming talks, exhibits, film screenings, and presentations sponsored by INAS.

Certificates in INAS

Learn More about a Certificate in Native American Studies

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Discover the Institute

Certificate Programs

Field Courses

Alumni

GIFT

Donor Chris Goeckel has generously given INAS $100,000 for Native American Student scholarships.

For information about the Institute of Native American Studies scholarships and the undergraduate and graduate certificate programs, please contact native-studies@uga.edu or the Interim Director, LeAnne Howe at lhowe1@uga.edu.

 

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Latest News

Cherokee Nation Steps to Aid Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

After Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of the southeastern U.S., the Cherokee Nation has stepped up to assist recovery efforts for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in North Carolina.

Navajo Language and Culture Course for Spring 2025

Image on conference

UNC Pembroke Department of American Indian Studies in Search of Presentation Proposals

The Department of American Indian Studies (AIS) at UNC Pembroke is inviting proposals for presentations and applications for student travel grants for the 20th annual Southeast Native Studies Conference (SNSC), to be held March 20-21, 2025.  
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Support us

We appreciate your financial support. Your gift is important to us and helps support critical opportunities for students and faculty alike, including lectures, travel support, and any number of educational events that augment the classroom experience. Click here to learn more about giving.

Every dollar given has a direct impact upon our students and faculty.

Archaeology Field School students

Archaeology Field School

The field school in archaeology provides undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to participate in an archaeological research project. Students are introduced to the methods of archaeological survey, excavation, data and materials recovery, recording and processing of data, and the interpretation and preservation of results. Our field schools involve students in all phases of investigation, including survey, test unit excavations, and large-scale data recovery. Students will be trained in basic laboratory processing and analysis and may work collaboratively to present the results of their research in a professional poster. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to critically examine how archaeological knowledge is constructed and expressed.

Visit Study Abroad   Visit Archaeology Lab

Our Graduate Program

The Institute of Native American Studies offers a graduate certificate in Native American Studies.  This certificate can be earned by graduate students at either the masters or doctorate levels.  The Director of INAS serves as advisor to all graduate students earning the certificate.  We developed the certificate rather than graduate degrees to give our students maximum flexibility.  Students earn a degree in a “traditional” discipline, while demonstrating their expertise in Native American Studies through a separate credential.  Those earning the certificate at the masters level can go on to post-graduate work in either their core discipline or in Native American Studies.  Those at the doctoral level can pursue jobs either in their core discipline or NAS.

 

Learn More About Our Graduate Program

At the Moravian Mission Archives, London.