Indian American Studies

Degree: Master of Arts in Indian American Studies
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 1 year
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English
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As the only programme of its kind in the Netherlands, Leiden’s MA in Indian American Studies is a focal point for the study and research of the languages, linguistic structures and cultures of the indigenous populations of Middle America and the Caribbean, the Andes and Amazonia. The programme offers you the opportunity to study some of the Americas’ most fascinating human periods, while carrying out exciting hands-on field research in the area.

The information about this programme is available in the following languages:

The programme is run by the Department of Languages and Cultures of Native America, a department internationally renowned for the expertise of its teaching and research staff in the field of Amerindian linguistics. The department collaborates closely with the staff of the Faculty of Archaeology who are specialised in the archaeology and anthropology of native America. The programme combines these different disciplines and offers courses on various aspects of the cultural and linguistic heritage of Native American people.

Leiden University offers courses in no fewer than five Amerindian languages, Mixtec, Nahuatl, Maya (Middle America), Trio (Northern Amazonia – Tropical Lowland), and Quechua (Andes). Language courses may be chosen as options in the master’s programme (provided they were not part of the student’s bachelor’s programme).

Prof. Adelaar

“It is important that we study those Indian languages still existing so that we do not allow knowledge of the past to be lost.”

“Indian American Studies is an exceptional study: Leiden University is the only institution to offer this programme, and there is no other university in Europe with such a broad curriculum, apart from the University of Bonn with whom we co-operate. Our master’s is multiregional and multi-disciplinary. Students can study the languages, literatures and cultures of Mexico, the Andes and the tropical lowlands of South America. The study of Indian languages and cultures is neglected worldwide. In my opinion, it is an expression of colonial-style thinking if one accepts that one language may continue to exist and the other may not. Some Indian groups comprise more people than a member state of the EU. Moreover, the Indian population is increasing, unlike their prosperity. On the other hand, we see that in Brazil the Indians have been ‘rediscovered’ as an element of the country’s identity, and that more attention is now being paid to preserving their culture.

In both North and South America there are some 900 living Indian languages which differ enormously from one another. Most languages are found in South and Central America, the languages of North America have now largely died out. It is important that we study those languages still existing so that we do not allow knowledge of the past to be lost. New archeological sites are regularly being discovered. From an academic viewpoint there is still a lot to do.”