Graduate Program

Degree Offered

  • Master of Arts in Native American Studies (M.A.)

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Native American Studies program is targeted to students holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Native American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Education, History, Sociology, or any interdisciplinary-related program. 

The M.A. in Native American Studies program prepares students for positions in tribal leadership, leadership in tribal and/or community-based organizations, and positions related to educational outreach and training, social and cultural program development, policy development, and sustainable community building. 


Admission Requirements

•  Completed Bachelor's degree. Generally, applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or the equivalent in their last two undergraduate years and in their major field. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement can be conditionally accepted, provided they meet other requirements and have a successful first semester in the M.A. program. The Native American Studies department will make this determination;
•  Graduate application, fee, and official transcript(s);
•  Personal statement (3-5 pages) that addresses the applicant's educational goals, professional plans, interest in the M.A. program, and personal background in Native American Studies and/or Indigenous communities;
•  One writing sample (10-15 pages, double-spaced) of original work that is academic, technical, professional, or artistic in nature;
•  Three (3) recommendation letters;
•  Resume or CV.


Advisement and Plan of Study

Students in the M.A. in Native American Studies program will meet with the department Faculty Advisor at least once a semester. Department faculty will be available to mentor and provide support to students in the M.A. program.


Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours, comprised of 18 credit hours of M.A. core courses and 12 credit hours of elective focus courses, chosen with advisement, that follows the intended career path. 

Credit
Hours
Core Courses
NATV 550 Indigenous Nations and Sustainable Communities Seminar 3
NATV 555 Native American Policy and Community Building 3
NATV 560 Research Method and Practice in Indigenous Scholarship 3
NATV 570 Indigenous Thought and Ethics 3
NATV 590 Project of Excellence 6
Subtotal 18
Elective Focus 
Choose from:
NATV *423 Self Determination and Indigenous Human Rights 3
NATV *445  Politics of Identity 3
NATV 502 Education, Power and Indigenous Communities 3
NATV 522 Indigenous Community Approaches in Restorative Justice 3
NATV 524 Principles of Leadership in Indigenous Contexts 3
NATV 530 Gender and Indigenous Leadership 3
NATV 535 Issues in Contemporary Native Leadership 3
NATV 540 Indigenous Economies, Sustainability, and Environmental Protection 3
  Additional electives of appropriate 500-level and above UNM courses (up to 6 credit hours) may be petitioned for approval from related disciplines such as American Studies; Anthropology; Community and Regional Planning; History; Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies; Public Administration; Sociology; or an interdisciplinary-related program.
Subtotal 12
Total 30

Courses

NATV 109. Introduction to Comparative Global and Ethnic Societies. (3)



NATV 150. Introduction to Native American Studies. (3)



NATV 201. Introduction to Chicana and Chicano Studies. (3)



NATV 247. Politics of Native American Art. (3)



NATV 250. Sociopolitical Concepts in Native America. (3)



NATV 251. Research Issues in Native America. (3)



NATV 252. The Native American Experience. (3)



NATV 255. Topics in Native American Studies. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



NATV 300. Research Methods in Native American Contexts. (3)



NATV 305. Indigenous Self-Determination in Education. (3)



NATV 315. Language Recovery, Revitalization and Community Renewal. (3)



NATV 322. Principles of Federal Indian Law. (3)



NATV 325. Tribal Government. (3)



NATV 326. Tribal Gaming. (3)



NATV 348. Native American Activism. (3)



NATV 351. Individual Study. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



NATV 352. Internship. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



NATV 385. Indigenous Worldviews. (3)



NATV 402 / 502 [*402]. Education, Power and Indigenous Communities. (3)



NATV *423. Self-Determination and Indigenous Human Rights. (3)



NATV 424 / 524. Principles of Leadership in Indigenous Contexts. (3)



NATV *436. Environmental Ethics and Justice in Native America. (3)



NATV *445. Politics of Identity. (3)



NATV *450. Topics in Native American Studies. (1-3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



NATV *461. Community-Based Learning in Indigenous Contexts. (3)



NATV *462. Native American Narrative. (3)



NATV *474. Seminar: Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy. (3)



NATV *480. Building Native Nations: Community Revitalization, Culture, Decolonization, and Indigenous Thought. (3)



NATV *486. Contemporary and Traditional Views on Indigenous Leadership. (3)



NATV 502 / 402. Education, Power and Indigenous Communities. (3)



NATV 522. Indigenous Community Approaches in Restorative Justice. (3)



NATV 524 / 424. Principles of Leadership in Indigenous Contexts. (3)



NATV 530. Gender and Indigenous Leadership. (3)



NATV 535. Issues in Contemporary Native Leadership. (3)



NATV 540. Indigenous Economies, Sustainability, and Environmental Protection. (3)



NATV 550. Indigenous Nations and Sustainable Communities Seminar. (3)



NATV 555. Native American Policy and Community Building. (3)



NATV 560. Research Method and Practice in Indigenous Scholarship. (3)



NATV 570. Indigenous Thought and Ethics. (3)



NATV 590. Project of Excellence. (6)



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Office of the Registrar

MSC11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809