Online Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law

Develop knowledge of federal Native American law.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

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At a Glance

Earn your online MLS in Indigenous Peoples Law in as little as 15 months as a full-time student and build a powerful foundation in Native American legal issues, including natural resources, criminal jurisdiction, gaming law, and the Indian Child Welfare Act.

OU Law’s online programs feature small class sizes that foster a close-knit, collaborative learning environment. You’ll learn from a distinguished faculty with deep expertise in tribal law and policy, both nationally and internationally.

100% Online

Time to Complete:

15+ Months

Credit Hours:

Time Commitment:

10 to 20 Hours Weekly

start dates

Fall, Spring, & Summer

cost

Oklahoma residents: $612.65 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30 per credit hour and $117.50 per semester.

Non-residents: $1,111.90 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30 per credit hour and $117.50 per semester.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

By submitting this form, l consent to the University of Oklahoma (OU) and its agents contacting me about educational opportunities via automated calls, text messages, and/or email at the number and email provided. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not required to attend the OU or to receive information by other means. For details on how OU collects and protects your information, review the Privacy Policy.

About the Online MLS in Indigenous Peoples Law

The online MLS in Indigenous Peoples Law is a 33-credit-hour program designed for professionals who work with Native American policy, regulation, or business practices. It provides a strong legal foundation for non-lawyers involved in contracts, negotiations, and other areas where knowledge of tribal law is essential.

This degree is tailored for individuals whose careers require a deep understanding of the complex framework of Federal Indian law. The curriculum begins with an advanced introduction to the American legal system, covering both state and federal law, along with a comprehensive overview of Federal Indian law and policy. From there, you’ll explore specialized topics such as the Indian Child Welfare Act, natural resources law, water law, and criminal jurisdiction.

Courses are delivered in seven- or eight-week modules, with two modules per semester. Most students take two courses at a time, allowing for steady progress while balancing professional commitments.

What Can I Do with the Degree?

Earning an online MLS in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma College of Law equips you to pursue high-impact careers that support Native American communities and interests across a wide range of sectors, including:

Religion, culture, and Indian law
Tribal government and administration
Outreach and community engagement
Industries that regularly collaborate with tribal governments

Legal research
Tribal court systems
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Private sector roles focused on Indigenous affairs

Program Outcomes: What You’ll Learn

OU College of Law’s MLS in Indigenous Peoples Law program delivers a deep, practice-ready understanding of the legal frameworks that shape Native American governance, policy, and sovereignty. You will:

Analyze foundational federal and state laws, treaties, and court decisions that define the relationship between tribal nations and the U.S. government
Examine the legal and political structures of tribal governments and their interaction with federal and state systems
Explore the Indian Child Welfare Act, natural resources law, water rights, and criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country
Conduct legal research on tribal, federal, and state policies that impact Native communities and intergovernmental relations
Evaluate the role of Indigenous law in shaping economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship

Course Details

The Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law provides a comprehensive exploration of federal Indian law and policy, covering both criminal and civil jurisdiction in Indian Country. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge of gaming law, natural resources law, international Indigenous rights, and the Indian Child Welfare Act, along with other critical legal frameworks that shape tribal governance and sovereignty.

Introduction to the American Legal System

Credit Hours: 1
Examines U.S. courts, the role of the Constitution in the U.S., and the foundations of United States law. The goal is to introduce students to distinctive aspects and/or fundamental principles in U.S. law. This course explains how law functions with various aspects of our society and how it plays an increasingly signiﬁcant role in conﬂict resolution, civil liberties and equality, contracts, and property agreements.

History of Federal Indian Law and Policy II

Credit Hours: 2
Traces the development of British colonial and United States policy towards indigenous peoples in North America from the major policy initiatives of the Nineteenth Century to the present day.

Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country

Credit Hours: 3
Traces the development the rules governing the exercise of criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country by three sovereigns: federal government, state government, and tribal government. Materials examined include historical treaties, major federal statutes, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Students should ﬁnish the course with the ability to understand, analyze and contribute meaningfully to discussions regarding criminal jurisdiction problems in Indian Country.

Religion, Culture and Indian Law

Credit Hours: 3
Examines the roles of law and policy on Native American religious and cultural practice. Explores issues relating to tribal interests and jurisdiction over Native religion and culture, including information concerning preservation, restoration, and destruction of sacred sites and indigenous remains, laws and practices pertaining to species protection and sacred species, institutionalized persons, entheogens, and protection of cultural and intellectual resources.

Tribal Courts in Indian Country

Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the relationship between Tribal Nations and the three main sovereigns: the Federal government, state governments, and tribal governments. Students will understand, analyze, and discuss the importance of tribal courts to tribal sovereignty, the tribal people, and to speciﬁc tribal cultures.

Federal Indian Water Law

Credit Hours: 3
Explores the context, decisional and statutory law, and overarching polices that shape water law. Examines foundations in both federal Indian law and basic principles of water law, including relevant substantive and procedural law, and mechanics and social issues relating to water resource management. Also, explores state and federal powers and roles in relation to American Indian tribes and water resources.

Civil Jurisdiction in Indian Country

Credit Hours: 3
Addresses regulatory and adjudicatory authority, including the history of Federal-Tribal relations, tribal recognition, the scope of Indian Country, and tribal sovereignty as it relates to civil jurisdiction. State-Tribal struggles over jurisdiction, recent Supreme Court diminishment of tribal authority, environmental regulations, and the tribal role within the system of cooperative federalism are also examined.

History of Federal Indian Law and Policy I

Credit Hours: 2
Traces the development of British colonial and United States policy towards indigenous peoples in North America from the Seventeenth Century through the major policy initiatives of the Nineteenth Century.

Native American Natural Resources

Credit Hours: 3
Covers basic doctrines of Indian law and a variety of issues relating to tribal interests in and jurisdiction over environmental resources. Topics include tribal rights to land; land use and environmental protection in Indian country; economic and natural resource development issues; hunting and ﬁshing rights; and international perspectives on indigenous resources. Consider the roles of tribal, federal, and state governments.

Introduction to Legal Research

Credit Hours: 1
Provides students with an understanding of the most efficient and cost-effective tools and methods for researching U.S. and tribal law. It includes lecture sessions, hands-on research training, and practical exercises across a range of subject areas for both print and electronic sources.

The Indian Child Welfare Act & Family Law in Indian Country

Credit Hours: 3
Indian Child Welfare Act, passed by Congress (1978), grants tribes and parents of Indian children special rights within state court systems. ICWA raises signiﬁcant issues for courts, and often serves as the ﬂashpoint of tribal/state disputes. Students will understand the clash of sovereigns and the state laws involving children. Covers the requirements of ICWA and the varying ways states have interpreted them.

International Indigenous Peoples Law

Credit Hours: 3
Explores the development of international law rules relating to the rights of indigenous peoples from the early 20th Century through the present, focusing on modern international institutions and instruments, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Indian Gaming Laws and Regulations

Credit Hours: 3
Examines litigation, history of tribal gaming, critical rulings on tribal/state compacting, and scope of gaming conﬂicts. Explores tribal compacting experiences around the country, focusing on Oklahoma tribes and the Oklahoma Model Gaming Compact of 2004. Distinguishes regulatory roles of tribes, states, and the feds. Explores differences in Class II and III gaming, regulations, and disputes. Explains the ﬁnancing and development of tribal gaming facilities.

Why Choose OU for Indigenous Peoples Law

The OU College of Law offers a Juris Doctor program that is consistently ranked among the best value law degrees. Coupled with OU’s dedication to innovation, the OU College of Law distinguishes itself as an excellent choice for pursuing a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law.

Faculty Expertise

Faculty members are carefully selected for their expertise in Native American and Indigenous people’s law. They draw from their in-depth experience and research to address the latest legal and political changes in Indigenous Peoples Law.

Robust Student Support

OU Online and the OU College of Law offer robust student support services, including academic support, online tutoring, mental health counseling, and an online career development center. The program accommodates the needs of working professionals, allowing you to expand your Indigenous people’s legal expertise while maintaining full-time employment.

Global Alumni Network

With over 250,000 alumni worldwide, joining the OU Online community means gaining access to a global network of legal and business professionals. As a Sooner, you’ll be part of a powerful community of leaders working in multinational corporations, law firms, government agencies, and NGOs, helping you expand your legal career working with Indigenous peoples.

Flexible Format

The Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law is delivered in a fully online, flexible format designed to meet the needs of working professionals worldwide. Earn your degree in as little as 15 months while balancing full-time employment and other commitments. Study from anywhere while gaining specialized legal knowledge relevant to Indigenous people’s law.

Tailored Experience

Progress through the program as part of a small, focused cohort of professionals who share similar goals and interests in Indigenous people’s law. Courses are asynchronous for maximum flexibility, yet highly engaging. Through interactive discussions, optional live lectures, one-on-one support, and collaborative online activities, you stay connected while learning at your own pace.

As a Native American (I am an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma), I’ve always had a drive for a deeper understanding of how we as a people and tribal governments got to the place we are today. I serve in several capacities that interact with tribal governments, local, state, and federal agencies, and other private organizations that have a vested interest in Indian Country. Having this academic foundation has provided me additional confidence and credibility, and I truly see this academia having real-world applications daily.

Wes Parrell

Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law, 2024

Cost & Financial Aid

Earning your degree in Indigenous Peoples Law is a strategic investment in your future—and OU Online is committed to making that investment clear, accessible, and affordable.

Oklahoma residents: $612.65 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30 per credit hour and $117.50 per semester.

Non-residents: $1,111.90 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30 per credit hour and $117.50 per semester.

Financial aid, scholarships, and employer tuition assistance may be available to help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. OU’s dedicated financial services team will support you through every step of the funding process—so you can stay focused on your education and career goals.

For questions about financial aid for your online program, contact the Online Aid office at onlineaid@ou.edu or call 405-325-2929.

Take the Next Step

Each application to the online MLS in Indigenous Peoples Law is reviewed with care to build a cohort where every student can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the learning experience. OU Law takes a holistic approach to admissions, considering more than just GPAs, test scores, and academic metrics. We value diverse backgrounds, professional experience, and a demonstrated commitment to Indigenous legal and policy issues. Minimum qualifications for admission to the MLS program include the following:

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university.
For graduates of a college or university outside the United States, the College of Law will follow OU Norman campus determinations of equivalency.
An undergraduate GPA of 2.0 or higher (adjusted as required for courses in which grades were provided under a different standard).

Application Timeline

The admissions committee follows a rolling admissions process*, reviewing applications as they are received. While admissions may remain open until two weeks before classes begin, some programs may set earlier deadlines. The committee aims to provide decisions within two weeks of receiving a completed application, helping you plan your next steps with confidence and clarity. *This program typically has an earlier application deadline than the standard 14 days prior to the intended start. Please check directly with the program to ensure your application is received in time.

Step 1

Contact an Enrollment Coach to discuss your qualifications and interest in the program.

Step 2

Fill out your application.

Step 3

Provide supplemental materials, including a resume, personal statement, and undergraduate transcripts.