Master of Arts in Indigenous Studies
Indigenous Studies Master of Arts Program
Through a multidisciplinary program of study, the master’s program educates students to become innovative and capable scholars, leaders, and mentors who bring Indigenous perspectives to academic settings, government and other public service, and the private sector. ISP equips students with the knowledge and skills to conduct theoretical and applied research and to develop innovative solutions to issues facing Indigenous communities. Students can take advantage of courses offered across the university to create an individualized program of study. Our affiliate faculty members have appointments in departments such as Anthropology, Applied Behavioral Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, Journalism, Law, and Linguistics.
Admission to Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Indigenous Studies Admission Requirements
Please visit Indigenous Studies' website for more information about the admissions process, including upcoming application deadlines.
Required Application Materials:
- 2-page personal statement explaining how a master's degree in Indigenous Studies will benefit you and why you will successfully complete the degree. The personal statement should answer:
- Why is Indigenous Studies the right fit for your interests?
- Who among our affiliate faculty would you like to work with on your research?
- What would you like to do with your master’s degree?
- If you have low grades on your transcript, please address them in your statement
- Resume or curriculum vitae listing your educational and employment history, any scholarships/fellowships, internships, awards, etc.
- Writing sample of at least 10 pages
- Choose your best academic work. We're looking for your ability to communicate clearly, think critically, and perform research.
- Three letters of recommendation from instructors (current or former)
- The Letter of Recommendation system works on the contact information you provide when you apply.
- Be sure your recommenders can speak to your ability to handle the rigors of academia.
- We suggest at least two of your recommenders come from professors you've taken courses from.
- These letters should help us understand why Indigenous Studies fits your research and career goals.
- Official transcript(s) from all undergraduate or graduate institution(s) from which you have earned or will earn a degree.
- You may attach scanned versions of official transcripts OR send an official copy directly to KU at graduateadm@ku.edu.
If you are interested in pursuing a joint M.A./J.D. with the KU School of Law or the PSM + ISP graduate certificate, you will need to apply to both programs separately.
M.A. Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course | 3 | |
| Indigenous Issues in the United States | ||
| M.A. Plan of Study | 18 | |
| A unique plan of study comprised of 18 hours of course work with content relevant to the field of Indigenous Studies is approved by the student's faculty advisor and the Indigenous Studies Program Director. Courses are selected from the below list of options based on the student's research and professional interests. Students may take courses other than those on the approved list by demonstrating how the course will advance their understanding of Indigenous perspectives and/or methodologies. More information on the process of course approvals can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook. | ||
| Portfolio, Thesis, or Comprehensive Exam | 9 | |
| Portfolio Option: 9 hours of electives selected from the below list of courses. The portfolio consists of 3 deliverables, developed through course work, research, and/or other creative activities that make a meaningful contribution to the field of Indigenous Studies. | ||
| OR | ||
| Thesis Option: 6 hours of electives selected from the below list of courses plus 3 hours of ISP 899 Thesis during which the student drafts their thesis in consultation with their faculty advisor. | ||
| OR | ||
| Comprehensive Exam Option: 9 hours of ISP 806 Directed Readings (3 hours with each M.A. exam committee member) to create and cover reading lists representative of the student's areas of interest in each committee member's field. The student completes a two-week take-home written comprehensive exam comprised of 3 questions created by each committee member based on the reading lists covered during the directed readings courses. Responses to the questions are to be submitted as separate essays and each essay should not exceed 15 typed pages, with citations under separate cover. | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
M.A. Oral Examination
Students defend their portfolio, thesis, or written comprehensive exam before their committee in a public forum. This is a presentation followed by questions from the committee and other individuals in attendance. Students use the oral defense to relate their portfolio, thesis, or written comprehensive exam to the broader discourse in the field of Indigenous Studies, and to thematic issues treated in the program's core courses.
Committee members assign an outcome of Honors, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory to the oral defense. A majority vote of Satisfactory is required to pass the defense.
Course-Level Requirement
Students pursuing an M.A. in Indigenous Studies must take 50% or more of their course work at the 700 level or above.
Graduate Student Handbook and Graduate Policy
Additional information can be found in the Indigenous Studies Graduate Student Handbook. Students are also encouraged to review Graduate Studies' policies related to master's degree programs for information about other requirements that may apply.
Dual Degree with KU Law
The University of Kansas offers a dual degree program in Law and Indigenous Studies. As part of this unique program, students may graduate with both the J.D. and an M.A. in Indigenous Studies in three to four years, making it an ideal choice for students interested in tribal law. Students must apply separately to the Law School and the Indigenous Studies graduate program.
A student must complete the first 29 credit hours of required courses in the J.D. program before beginning any ISP course work.
The master's program in ISP requires all candidates to earn 30 graduate credit hours in accordance with Option A, B, or C outlined above. The master's program will accept for credit toward the M.A. degree 12 credit hours earned from approved courses in the law school.
M.A. Plan of Study and Elective Course Options
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ISP 504 | Topics in Indigenous Studies: _____ | 3 |
| ISP 511 | Field School in Indigenous Archaeology Collections Curation & Management | 6 |
| ISP 530 | Indigenous Food and Health | 3 |
| ISP 542 | Ethnobotany | 3 |
| ISP 552 | Foodways: Latin America | 3 |
| ISP 567 | Native Feminisms | 3 |
| ISP 578 | Global Indigenous History | 3 |
| ISP 601 | Indigenous Peoples of the World | 3 |
| ISP 673 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| ISP 711 | Field School in Indigenous Archaeology Collections Curation & Management | 6 |
| ISP 755 | Indigenous Film and Media | 3 |
| ISP 759 | Ecosystems Stewardship | 3 |
| ISP 804 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-3 |
| ISP 805 | Critical Indigenous Histories & Philosophies in Education | 3 |
| ISP 806 | Directed Readings | 1-3 |
| ISP 807 | Internship in Indigenous Studies | 1-6 |
| ISP 810 | Self-Determination, Sovereignty, and Systems of Indigenous Education | 3 |
| ISP 815 | Leadership, Advocacy, and Action in Indigenous Education | 3 |
| ISP 820 | Applied Project for Educational Leadership for Indigenous Populations | 3 |
| ISP 821 | Tribal Governance & Sovereignty in Action | 3 |
| ISP 824 | Federal Indian Law | 3 |
| ISP 830 | Indigenous Food and Health | 3 |
| ISP 850 | Indigenous Research Methodologies | 3 |
| ISP 860 | Safeguarding Native American Heritage: NAGPRA, Tribal Hist Preservtn, & Cultural Heritage Governance | 3 |
| ISP 862 | Indigenous Archives and Tribal Historic Preservation | 3 |
| ISP 871 | Community Health and Development | 3 |
| ANTH 506 | Pre-Hispanic Mexico and Central America | 3 |
| ANTH 507 | The Ancient Maya | 3 |
| ANTH 508 | Ancient American Civilizations: The Central Andes | 3 |
| ANTH 523 | Indigenous Histories & Archaeologies of the Great Plains | 3 |
| ANTH 561 | Indigenous Development in Latin America | 3 |
| ANTH 562 | Mexamerica | 3 |
| ANTH 699 | Anthropology in Museums | 3 |
| EVRN 542 | Ethnobotany | 3 |
| EVRN 673 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| EVRN 701 | Climate Change, Ecological Change and Social Change | 3 |
| GEOG 570 | Geography of American Indians | 3 |
| GEOG 601 | Indigenous Peoples of the World | 3 |
| HIST 883 | Ethnohistory of the Americas | 3 |
| MUSE 699 | Anthropology in Museums | 3 |
| MUSE 780 | Special Topics: _____ Dependent on the topic of the course | 1-3 |
| MUSE 801 | The Modern Museum: Institutions, Knowledge and Audiences | 3 |
| MUSE 802 | The Museum Profession: Ethics, Standards and Cultural Awareness | 3 |
| WGSS 567 | Native Feminisms | 3 |
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ISP 800 | 3 | 700+ M.A. Plan of Study Course | 3 |
| 500+ M.A. Plan of Study Course | 3 | 700+ M.A. Plan of Study Course | 3 |
| 500+ M.A. Plan of Study Course | 3 | 500+ M.A. Plan of Study Course | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 700+ M.A. Plan of Study Course | 3 | ISP 899 | 3 |
| 700+ M.A. Plan of Study Course | 3 | ||
| 500+ M.A. Plan of Study Course | 3 | ||
| 9 | 3 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Exhibit an advanced level of knowledge in Indigenous scholarship and issues relevant to the field.
- Demonstrate growth in engaging with a variety of culturally diverse perspectives, both in scholarship and practice.
- Demonstrate interdisciplinary growth by establishing scholarly connections between Indigenous Studies and other fields of interest.
- Communicate effectively through scholarly writing.
- Demonstrate an understanding of responsible and ethical practices for engaging with Indigenous communities when conducting research and scholarship.
- Produce a valuable contribution to the field of Indigenous Studies (capstone experience - thesis, portfolio, or comprehensive exam).