Graduate Programs in Cherokee Studies

Whether aiming for a new career or considering a return or enrichment of your current professional life, the intercultural skills you can gain with a Graduate Certificate in Cherokee Studies are in demand locally and globally in nearly all professional fields and businesses.    

Students can enroll in any graduate program at WCU and earn a Cherokee Studies Certificate by taking 15 hours of approved coursework.  

Requirements: 
Completion of the certificate requires a total of 15 semester hours of approved graduate level courses. Students are advised to take ASI 634 in their first semester of enrollment.  Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all CSIGC coursework.  

Current Permanent courses 

• ASI 594 Topics in Cherokee Studies 

• *ASI 634  Methods, Theories, and Critiques in Cherokee Studies 

• *ASI 697  Cherokee Studies Research Seminar 

• ANTH 531  North American Prehistory 

• ANTH 540 Archaeological Field Techniques

• ANTH 541 Archaeological Problems and Analyses 

• ANTH 561 Indians of North America 

• ANTH 573 Contemporary Cherokee Culture and Society 

• ENGL  564 Native American Literature 

• HIST  545 Cherokee History 

• NAS 574 Issues in Indian Health 

• NAS 570 Cherokee Culture and History

Other topics and relevant courses are offered on a regular basis and can apply to the certificate with the approval of the Director of Cherokee Studies.

The Culturally-Based Native Health Program is a collaborative initiative among Western Carolina University, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Wake Forest University. Our mission is to provide a culturally oriented approach to training for health professionals serving Native peoples, grounded in a tribal community, and integrated into the core of the University. This is a new national model, involving native communities from the ground up to improve health care delivery for indigenous people and for all who want a more effective health system.

Learn More

The CBNHP is an interdisciplinary certificate program requiring 12 credit hours. It is not intended to be transitional to a master’s degree. All courses are offered online. Two required courses are:

NAS 474/574 Issues in Indian Health (3): a Historical and cultural context of disease in the Americas from 1500 AD to present, with focus on the health of Indigenous Peoples of the Southeast. PREQ: Junior or senior standing for 474; graduate standing for 574.

NAS 470/570 Cherokee Culture and History (3): Course will provide a general introduction to Cherokee culture and history with an emphasis on relationship to health and policy. PREQ: Junior or senior standing for 470; graduate standing for 570.

For more information, contact Dr. Lisa Lefler at Health and Human Services Building, Room 116, email llefler@wcu.edu; or phone 828-227-2164.