Education & Professional Development
Our Education & Professional Development department is the Indigenous Governance Program (IGP), providing professional development, leadership training, and graduate education for anyone interested in a deep, practical understanding of Indigenous governance, law & policy.
Our nation building and Indigenous governance curriculum combines the expertise of world-renowned faculty with data-informed research on what works for Native Nation (re)building efforts, featuring:
- RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM: How and why do Indigenous nations reclaim effective self-governing power? What is working and where? Our curriculum is based on decades of on-the-ground research, analysis, and case studies by the people who literally wrote the book on Indigenous nation building.
- FLEXIBILITY: Do what’s useful for you: take a few accelerated 3-day January in Tucson courses (1 credit each), take a semester-long online course, or enroll in a certificate or degree program.
- PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING: Meet other tribal professionals and leaders who are working to assert their nations’ sovereignty. Learn from the experiences of other Native nations that are strengthening Indigenous governance.
IGP offers both in-person and online courses for tribal leaders, aspiring tribal leaders, and other professionals to collaborate on how to strengthen Indigenous governance.
Start Learning Now
In partnership with our sister organization the Harvard Project, we offer a 9-module online course that explores what is working, what isn't, and why as Native nations work to reclaim control over their own affairs and create vibrant futures of their own design. Our professional development-focused curriculum is self-paced and offers group learning activities for classroom and community settings.
January in Tucson (JIT), a collaboration with the Indigenous People's Law & Policy Program at the James E. College of Law, is a cornerstone of IGP’s educational programming. For three weeks each year, the JIT intensive education session brings together distinguished faculty in the field of Indigenous governance and Indigenous rights, and gives them the opportunity to teach and hold discussions with Indigenous leaders, practitioners, and community members, as well as other individuals interested in Indigenous affairs.
Our 3-day accelerated courses can apply towards a Continuing Education Certificate, a Graduate Certificate, or a Master's Degree.
The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Indigenous Governance
A 30-credit hybrid in-person and online degree that can be completed within one year.
The Graduate Certificate (GC) in Indigenous Governance
An accelerated version of our MPS degree, requiring twelve (12) credits of course work to be completed within two years
Continuing Education Certificate
A 6-credit professional development certificate that allows individuals from all walks of life to take part in courses taught by renowned faculty, covering a wide variety of topics related to Indigenous governance, Indigenous rights, and economic, community, and leadership development.
