Date of Award
2001
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Linda M. Howard
Committee Member
H. Ralph Todd
Committee Member
Martin B. Parks
Keywords
accreditation, American Indian Studies, applied dissertation, Arizona, associate of arts degree, colleges, conceptual design, course evaluation, courses, curriculum design, curriculum development, development methodology, dissemination, education, evaluation models, heritage, implementation, Indian education, instructional design, liberal arts courses, literature review, nations, onsite classroom, Papago Reservation, Papagos, preservation, procedural steps, product development, program design, program evaluation, program objectives, program implementation, quality improvement, research questions, reservation, state accreditation, syllabi, Tohono O'odham Community College, Tohono O'odham Reservation, tribal college, universities
Abstract
The Tohono O'odham Community College opened a tribal Indian college in the fall 2000 semester. The Tohono O'odham Reservation was previously referred to as the Papago Reservation; the name was changed in 1986. The problem was that there was no curriculum in American Indian Studies at the college. In the past the Papagos always had to leave the reservation if they wanted to pursue higher education in American Indian studies.
The purpose of the applied dissertation was to develop a product. The purpose of the applied dissertation project was to design an American Indian Studies Program for the tribal college consisting of purpose and program objectives as well as syllabi for the courses that will be taught in an American Indian Studies program for a traditional onsite classroom. An American Indian Studies program was designed and a plan created for the implementation and evaluation of the program after the tribal college receives accreditation from the state of Arizona. This applied dissertation project should help the Papagos to preserve their rich culture and heritage as one of the original nations of America.
There were five research questions that guided the development of the American Indian Studies program. First, what are the appropriate program objectives for an American Indian Studies program? Second, what curriculum design elements should be considered in developing an American Indian Studies program? Third, what are appropriate courses to include in an American Indian Studies program? Fourth, how should the American Indian Studies program be implemented? Fifth, how should the American Indian Studies program be evaluated?
The tribal college opened in the fall of 2000. Since it will take three to four years for the tribal college to be accredited only a few American Indian Studies courses will be offered as liberal arts courses that can be transferred to four year universities prior to accreditation. After the tribal college receives accreditation by the state of Arizona a major or minor in American Indian Studies might be developed for the Associate of Arts degree.
The development methodology was used in the formulation of the American Indian Studies Program courses for the American Indian tribal college on the Tohono O'odham Reservation. The procedural steps included a review of the literature which laid the foundation for the conceptual design on Indian education, program and curriculum development, instructional design, and evaluation models.
It was recommended that the American Indian Studies program be implemented and evaluated while the program progresses during the three to four years required to receive full accreditation, and each course evaluated again at the end of each semester. In addition, it was recommended that the program itself be evaluated after all the courses have been taught. It was further recommended that further research be conducted that will improve the quality of the American Indian Studies program. Finally, it was recommended that the American Indian Studies program be disseminated to other colleges and universities.