Department of Native American Studies
P.O. Box 172340
239 American Indian Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717-2340
406- 994-3881 Email: nas@montana.edu
Montana State University has an American Indian enrollment of approximately 820 students. There is an active American Indian Student Council (AIC) as well as chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL) and the Society of American Indian Graduate Students (SAIGS). NAS houses the American Indian Student Center and the American Indian and Alaska Native Student Support Services office, with staff providing Native students with academic advising, counseling, and mentoring. The Student Center offers tutorial assistance, telephone and fax access, and a computer lab.
Admission
The closing date for receipt of completed applications for admission is May 15 for Summer, August 15 for Fall, and December 15 for Spring, although we encourage an earlier submission.
A bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution is required for admission to the master's program in Native American Studies. The Graduate School recommends that prospective applicants reach out to the Native American Studies Department by email or phone call in order to ascertain the suitability of the program for the applicant.
Each applicant must submit the following during the online application process:
- Application to MSU-Bozeman (link above): application process includes a non-refundable $70 application fee.
- Official transcripts of all university/college degree(s) conferred: applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 for the last two years of undergraduate study. If the applicant received their degree from MSU; transcripts are not necessary.
- A 2-5 page statement of purpose and goals: this paper includes the applicant's experience and knowledge of historical and contemporary American Indian issues, work background, how the M.A. in NAS will help the applicant reach long range goals, and benefit American Indian peoples/communities.
- Two academic writing samples (demonstrating the applicant's research and writing capabilities).
- Three letters of recommendation: each recommender will address the applicant's potential as a graduate student. The letters, preferably from previous faculty, must be signed and sealed in envelopes or emailed by the faculty member (once prompted during the online process).
- A current curriculum vita or resumé.
- International Students Only: English proficiency scores are required for applicants who are not U.S. citizens and not from countries where English is the official language. This requirement is waived if the applicant has earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution in the U.S. Minimum scores are as follows: TOEFL [80], IELTS [level 6.5] or PTE [54].
Limited slots are available, and admissions are competitive.
Deadlines
For applicants also applying for graduate teaching assistantships, the deadline is April 15 for the following academic year.
Applicants must be formally accepted by The Graduate School with departmental endorsement from Native American Studies.
Financial Assistance
Graduate Teaching Assistantships, awarded on a competitive basis, are available in NAS to formally admitted graduate students. The GTA includes a 6 credit tuition waiver and stipend. Selected graduate students will teach two recitation sections of Introduction to Native American Studies and/or other NAS courses. See the Graduate Assistantships sections on the Graduate School website for detailed information on appointment criteria.
Graduate classes in Native American Studies
The Following upper division and graduate level courses are offered in Native American Studies:
| NASX 405 | Gender Issues in Native American Studies | 3 |
| NASX 415 | Native Food Systems | 3 |
| NASX 430 | American Indian Education | 3 |
| NASX 440 | Montana Indian Literature | 3 |
| NASX 450 | History of American Indians | 3 |
| NASX 470 | Indigenous Planning: Strategic Economic and Human Development Approaches | 3 |
| NASX 471 | Native Grantsmanship | 3 |
| NASX 476 | American Indian Policy and Law | 3 |
| NASX 490R | Undergraduate Research | 1-6 |
| NASX 490Z | Undergraduate Research | 1-6 |
| NASX 491 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| NASX 492 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| NASX 494 | Seminar | 1 |
| NASX 498 | Internship/Cooperative Educ | 2-12 |
| NASX 505 | Proseminar Native Amer Studies | 3 |
| NASX 515 | Native Food Systems | 3 |
| NASX 520 | Fem/Gender Theories IN NAS | 3 |
| NASX 521 | Tribal Government: Yesterday & Today | 3 |
| NASX 523 | Am Indians/Minority in High Ed | 3 |
| NASX 524 | Contemporary Issues in American Indian Studies | 3 |
| NASX 525 | Indigenous Philosophies/Sacred Ecologies | 3 |
| NASX 530 | Federal Law and Indian Policy | 3 |
| NASX 542 | Research Praxis in Native American Studies | 6 |
| NASX 550 | Native Americans: Dispelling the Myths | 3 |
| NASX 551 | Native North America: Art, Agency, Activism | 3 |
| NASX 552 | Indigenous Nations of Montana | 3 |
| NASX 553 | Indigenous Literature and the West | 3 |
| NASX 560 | Native American Lit Tradition | 3 |
| NASX 570 | Indigenous Planning: Strategic Economic and Human Development Approaches | 3 |
| NASX 571 | Native Grantsmanship | 3 |
| NASX 575 | Professional Paper | 1-6 |
| NASX 589 | Graduate Consultation | 1-3 |
| NASX 590 | Master's Thesis | 1-10 |
| NASX 591 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| NASX 592 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| NASX 594 | Seminar | 1-4 |
| NASX 598 | Internship | 1-6 |
Further Information
For further information regarding the program, contact Native American Studies at (406) 994-3881 or e-mail nas@montana.edu. In addition, applicants may refer questions to The Graduate School or find the graduate catalog and policies on-line. All applicants are expected to be familiar with the degree requirements of both the department and The Graduate School. Also see the MSU University home page or the home page for Native American Studies.