Aerial view of Institute of American Indian Arts building. Photo by Jason S. Ordaz, Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)

IAIA News: 

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) announces four upcoming courses that offer unique learning opportunities for participants of all backgrounds. From building a business framework to exploring the impacts of colonization, these courses provide valuable insights and skills in entrepreneurship, Indigenous history, and art. Starting this month, in January 2025, these courses are designed for those seeking personal and professional growth through academic engagement and are eligible for Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

• Journey Into Business with Co.Starters Business Canvas
• A Crash Course in Indigenous Plant Medicine: Treating Common Minor Ailments
• Colonization and Decolonization in the 21st Century (Part 1)
• Colonization and Decolonization in the 21st Century (Part 2)
• A Crash Course on Native American Art History

Register today

Journey Into Business with Co.Starters Business Canvas

Lynn Wilson and Camille Koster, Course No. BC10-01, In-Person Only
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (MST), Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025

Journey Into Business will focus on the free Co.Starters business canvas, a visual resource designed to help entrepreneurs outline and develop their business ideas, especially in the early phases. This canvas clearly identifies crucial elements such as customer segments, value propositions, revenue streams, and key activities. As entrepreneurs enhance their business canvas, they concurrently establish and refine a structured business model and framework to effectively launch and expand their ventures. This class is for participants who are in the brainstorming or business building phase of entrepreneurship. 

Cost is free.

This 2.5-hour course is eligible for .25 Continuing Education Units (CEU’s).

A Crash Course in Indigenous Plant Medicine: Treating Common Minor Ailments

Joshua Dunn, Course No. AG13-01, Online
5:30–7:30 p.m. (MST), Thursdays, Jan. 23–Feb. 20

A Crash Course in Indigenous Plant Medicine: Treating Common Minor Ailments will cover how to treat common minor ailments (such as cold symptoms, wound care, and coughs) at home with Indigenous North American plant medicines. In this time, when many of us do not have access to reliable medical care, this basic information can help us to keep ourselves and our communities healthy.

Cost

• $84
• $67 (current IAIA employees, alums, and seniors 65+)
• $34 (current IAIA and other Tribal College* undergraduate and graduate students)

This 10-hour course is eligible for 1 Continuing Education Units (CEU’s).

Colonization and Decolonization in the 21st Century (Part 1)

Stephen Wall, Course No. HI03-01, Online Only
6–8:30 p.m. (MST), Tuesdays, Jan. 28–March 11

Contemporary models of colonialism will be explored, as well as the impacts of those models on communities and individuals. Decolonization efforts that are being applied in many contemporary situations will be examined. At the end of this course, students will have become familiar with the historical roots of colonialism, be able to reference from personal experience and academic study how colonialism still impacts communities directly and indirectly, and will have explored community efforts to decolonize from contemporary models of colonization. Parts 1 and 2 of this course are for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Cost

• $146
• $117 (current IAIA employees, alums, and seniors 65+)
• $59 (current IAIA and other Tribal College* undergraduate and graduate students)

This 14-hour course is eligible for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEU’s).

A Crash Course on Native American Art History

Kateri Smith, Course No. HI05-01, Online Only
6–8 p.m. (MST), Thursdays, Feb. 27–April 17

This course will give an overview of the prominent regions and artistic movements among the Native American peoples of North America. We will start with pre-history and follow it through the contemporary by geographic location to acquaint or reacquaint students with Native American Art History.

Cost

• $116
• $93 (current IAIA employees, alums, and seniors 65+) 
• $46 (current IAIA and other Tribal College* undergraduate and graduate students)

This 14-hour course is eligible for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEU’s).

Colonization and Decolonization in the 21st Century (Part 2)

Stephen Wall, Course No. HI04-01, Online Only
6–8:30 p.m. (MST), Tuesdays, March 25–May 6

This course is a continuation of Colonization and Decolonization in the 21st Century. The course will explore values, strategies, and actions that lead to decolonization. Course No. HI03-01 is a pre-requisite of the course. 

Cost

• $146
• $117 (current IAIA employees, alums, and seniors 65+)
• $59 (current IAIA and other Tribal College* undergraduate and graduate students)

This 14-hour course is eligible for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEU’s).

Register Today

Register at www.iaia.edu/cecourses.

Note: If your expected discount does not appear at checkout, please contact Continuing Education Manager Patty Armstrong at parmstrong@iaia.edu or 505.424.2308.

*Students from other Tribal Colleges must furnish documentation of current enrollment to get their discount.

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Continuing Education (CE) is committed to providing comprehensive training and adult education for the advancement and growth in workforce skills, lifelong learning, and empowerment through community-based learning opportunities. IAIA CE works with Native organizations, tribal communities, and individuals around the country through our CE educational and training offerings. This can include many formats including courses, workshops, training sessions and through conference and symposia. We offer flexible scheduling, affordable cost and experienced instructors available. These opportunities are available at the IAIA campus, online and with tribal and urban communities around the country.

IAIA CE formally recognizes learning by electronically issuing Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and IAIA Badges to participants as a record of non-credit educational and professional development activities that have been completed. CEUs are utilized nationally and internationally to formally recognize professional competencies and training and are measured by contact learning hours. CEUs are also offered for educational programming presented by external organizations across the country. For example, organizations such as the National Indian Education Association partner with IAIA CE to provide CEUs to participants at their national convention and training events.

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)—the University for Indigenous Creative Excellence—is the only university in the world dedicated to the study of contemporary Native American and Alaska Native arts. IAIA offers undergraduate degrees in Cinematic Arts and Technology, Creative Writing, Indigenous Liberal Studies, Museum Studies, Performing Arts, and Studio Arts; graduate degrees in Creative Writing, Studio Arts, and Cultural Administration; and certificates in Broadcast Journalism, Business and Entrepreneurship, Museum Studies, and Native American Art History. Recent partnerships such as those with The Walt Disney Company, Nike, The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), and NBCUniversal Media help students set down footprints in the creative community. IAIA serves approximately 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) Native and non-Native students, representing nearly 100 federally recognized Tribes. IAIA is among the leading art universities in the nation and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).