Master of Professional Studies in Indigenous Governance

About the Degree

The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Indigenous Governance degree has been designed with working professionals in mind, combining brief but intensive on-campus classes with a diverse menu of online courses and externship credits that can be earned in a student’s home community. The 30-credit hybrid in-person and online MPS degree can be completed within one year. By combining the immersive in-person January in Tucson experience with a robust online class curriculum, the MPS gives students flexibility to create their own specialized courses of study.

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Cost of Attendance

Tuition & Fees

• On campus: $26,000, prorated at $867 per unit (excluding Mandatory University fees).*
• Mandatory university fees are assessed each semester.

Additional Information

• Tuition and fees, including prorated part-time tuition, see the UA Bursar’s Office webpage
• Estimated costs of attendance

*All amounts shown here or in other University of Arizona College of Law communications represent tuition and fees as currently approved. The amounts are subject to change, upon approval by the Arizona Board of Regents, which typically releases tuition decisions in April.

January in Tucson Core Curriculum

The MPS degree’s core curriculum consists of a series of 1-credit January in Tucson courses, covering topics from Native nation building, comparative Indigenous governance, intergovernmental relations, Indigenous peoples’ human rights, and community development. Students also have the option of completing concentrations of online courses in tribal justice, Native economic development, and natural resources, or customizing their plan of study with in-person and online courses to meet their needs.

The core curriculum of the MPS consists of January in Tucson classes; an intensive education session which brings together distinguished faculty in the field of Indigenous governance and gives them the opportunity to teach and hold discussions with Indigenous leaders, practitioners, and community members from around the world. The JIT curriculum not only conveys important information backed by research, but allow space for a crucial dialogue to occur between Indigenous peoples from all over the world. This conversation provides new perspectives to familiar challenges, and helps to make JIT a truly unique educational experience.

*January in Tucson required MPS courses are in-person classes that take place in Tucson, Arizona.

Required Courses

Optional Degree Tracks

Students pursuing the MPS in Indigenous Governance may choose one of three subject areas, or tracks, to complete the requirements for the MPS degree. The tracks (Tribal Justice, Native Economic Development, and Natural Resources) provide students with a focused curriculum in their chosen subject area.

Tribal Justice

The tribal justice track provides students with an in-depth introduction to Indigenous tribal justice systems, practice, and policy. The curriculum is designed to offer students practical case studies on the best practices of Indigenous justice systems, and to explore alternative dispute resolution processes that have been implemented in Indigenous communities in the U.S. and around the world. 12 Credits Total

Native Economic Development

Students in the Native Economic Development track will explore the challenges surrounding economic development that Indigenous peoples and their respective communities face in the 21st Century. The track covers a broad range of issues including Indigenous sovereignty, strategic thinking, social welfare, ethics, and the challenge of balancing revenue and employment needs with cultural and environmental concerns. 12 Credits Total

Natural Resources

The Natural Resources track will highlight the conflicts that can result when governmental entities compete for control over resources, and the strategic issues that result when Native nations plan for sustainability across generations. The course selections provide opportunities for students to gain a thorough understanding of the role that Indigenous peoples play in natural resource allocation and management, and addresses questions related to the ownership of natural resources given the reality of changing governmental policies on natural resource development. 12 Credits Total

Customization Opportunities

The University of Arizona is a globally-recognized leader in research that advances the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships. This reputation combined with the University’s commitment to inclusive excellence has led to the development of a number of nationally and internationally-recognized academic programs that focus on Indigenous issues. The MPS degree program provides students with broad access to these academic opportunities from all across the University of Arizona campus. Upon approval from a student’s program advisor, courses from other academic units may count toward electives within MPS degree tracks (described above), or toward electives required to earn the degree generally (described below).

Non-exhaustive examples of campus partners hosting courses related to Indigenous governance include:

• Graduate College
• Graduate Inter-Disciplinary Program In American Indian Studies
• The School of Environment and Natural Resources
• The Mel and Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health
• Eller College of Management

ELECTIVES

In addition to the core requirements and tracks, students have the option to explore special topics related to Indigenous governance from a wide array of electives that draw from the course offerings of the Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy Program, other tracks within the MPS, or courses offered by University of Arizona partners. The credits can be earned on campus or online. 4-10 Credits Total

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