Master of Science in Native American Leadership – Nation Building Online

Examine the most pressing contemporary issues facing Indigenous communities and learn strategies for helping build vibrant, sustainable futures that honor Native American heritage.

Next Apply Date: 8/4/25
Next Class Start Date: 8/18/25
Apply Now

Program Overview

Contribute to nation-building in Indigenous communities

Deepen your understanding of tribal sovereignty with the online Master of Science in Native American Leadership – Nation Building program. Learn from supportive faculty who promote a holistic approach to economic and community development while guiding you through governance and policy frameworks that support tribal independence.

The flexible online coursework for this nation-building program explores the philosophy of the seventh-generation mindset, self-determination and constructive indigenization. Designed for working adults, this dynamic program includes an embedded certificate in tribal sovereignty and prepares you to lead tribal advocacy, community and economic development efforts to support and strengthen Native communities.

This program is open to students of all backgrounds—Native affiliation not required—and offers valuable insight for anyone working with tribal communities or governments.

As a student in this nation building online program, you will learn to:

  • Lead strategic governance and nation-building initiatives that strengthen self-determination and tribal sovereignty
  • Apply cultural acumen and historical understanding to develop sustainable, community-driven solutions
  • Navigate governance and policy frameworks to advance tribal independence and long-term growth
  • Foster leadership rooted in Native values to drive meaningful change while honoring tradition
As a student in this nation building online program, you will learn to:+
  • Lead strategic governance and nation-building initiatives that strengthen self-determination and tribal sovereignty
  • Apply cultural acumen and historical understanding to develop sustainable, community-driven solutions
  • Navigate governance and policy frameworks to advance tribal independence and long-term growth
  • Foster leadership rooted in Native values to drive meaningful change while honoring tradition

As a graduate of this nation building online program, you will be prepared for leading roles, such as:

  • Tribal Administrator
  • Community Development Director
  • Policy Advisor for Tribal Governments
  • Director of Nation-Building Initiatives
  • Land and Infrastructure Development Planner
As a graduate of this nation building online program, you will be prepared for leading roles, such as:+
  • Tribal Administrator
  • Community Development Director
  • Policy Advisor for Tribal Governments
  • Director of Nation-Building Initiatives
  • Land and Infrastructure Development Planner
+

Also available:

Southeastern Oklahoma State University offers a broad range of Native American Leadership degrees. Explore our online NAL programs.

Total Tuition, Including Fees $11,640*
Duration As few as 12 months
Credit Hours 30
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 844-515-9100

Call 844-515-9100

Learn about leadership from a tribal perspective

Hear what Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Chief Gary Batton and others have to say about this unique program.

Tuition

Get a high-quality education at an affordable rate

SE is committed to providing an outstanding education that is also affordable. Tuition is structured to give our students the best value and flexibility.

View additional tuition information+

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program*
M.S. in NAL – Nation Building $388 $1,164 $11,640

*University reserves the right to change tuition and fees at any time.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. The first step in applying for financial aid is to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). SE's Federal School Code is 003179.

Contact Us

Student Financial Aid Office
425 W. University Blvd.
Durant, OK 74701-3347

Phone: 580-745-2186
Fax: 580-745-7469
Email: [email protected]

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $11,640*
Per Credit Hour $388

“This graduate program, being online, worked for me. A lot of times, I work more than 40 hours a week—plus, I travel... I can do this at my own pace.”

Robin Counce

Director of Career Development at Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and M.S. NAL student

“I felt like it was actually more one-on-one than if I was in a physical classroom setting.”

Jody Nelson

Senior Director of Human Resources at Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, MBA and M.S. in NAL student

Southeastern alumni Julia Boyd

“I delved deeper into my culture, my ancestry, and learned a lot that I did not know... It makes me proud that we have come as far as we have as a tribe, overcoming much adversity to get to where we are today—and that makes me so proud that I'm a member of the Choctaw Nation.”

Julia Boyd

MBA and M.S. in NAL student

Calendar

Add these important dates to your calendar

At SE, we offer multiple start dates throughout the year, so you never have to wait long to begin your online degree program. The chart below shows upcoming start dates, along with important deadlines, such as when your application should be submitted and when payments are due.

View full calendar  + 

8 week coursesProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineLast Class Day
Fall I8/18/258/4/258/4/258/15/259/15/2510/5/25
Fall II10/13/259/29/259/29/2510/10/2511/1/2512/7/25

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 8/4/25
Class Starts 8/18/25

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Apply Now

Admissions

Learn how to apply to the online master’s program in nation-building program

Southeastern Oklahoma State University's online M.S. in Native American Leadership – Nation Building program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.

  • Online Application
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA
  • No GRE or GMAT
View all admission requirements +

If you have any special circumstances that need further clarification, please contact us at 844-515-9100.

To meet the admission requirements for the M.S. in Native American Leadership online program, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 2.75 overall GPA or minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of courses, or
  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA and a current resume demonstrating two years of experience in the field of study that must be reviewed and approved by program coordinator, or
  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university and at least 6 hours in a graduate program from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and must be in good standing at previous university
  • No GRE is required for Southeastern Oklahoma State University online M.S.-NAL programs
  • The M.S. in Native American Leadership degree online at SE allows a maximum of 9 credit hours that can be transferred from another program with approval from the program coordinator
  • There is a non-refundable $30 application fee for both domestic and international students

International Application and Admissions Requirements: Please note, unfortunately, students with an F-1 visa are ineligible for online programs.

  1. Complete the application
  2. Academic Records:
    • Original final post-secondary transcript(s) from each college or university attended within the United States
    • Post-secondary records from outside the U.S. must be course-by-course analyzed by a NACES (www.NACES.org) educational credential evaluation service such as IERF or WES or ECE
  1. English Proficiency: Internet-based TOEFL score of 79 or an IELTS Academic score of 6.5; taken within two years of enrollment.
    • For TOEFL, have your score report sent to Southeastern (institution code: 6657)
    • For IELTS, let us know your TRF number
    • You do not need TOEFL or IELTS scores if you meet one of the following:
      • English is your first language from a country whose official language is English
      • You have a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university
      • You have a bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking country

Official sealed transcripts from all previous institutions should be sent to Southeastern Oklahoma State University:

Southeastern Oklahoma State University/Registrar
425 W. University Blvd.
Durant, OK 74701-3347

Email: [email protected]

Courses

Explore the key concepts from the master’s in nation-building online program

For the M.S. in NAL – Nation Building online program, students must complete 10 courses for a total of 30 credit hours.

Expand all courses

NAL 5970 is an optional course that may replace any of the other courses (approval required).

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course examines issues that directly impact the daily operations of tribal governments and the tribal members of those governments. The course will highlight areas from a broad range of topics with the understanding that these topics of interest are constantly changing and developing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Leaders not only need a vision, but a way to effectively communicate that vision. This course will prepare the student for a variety of leadership roles by exploring contemporary concepts about the meanings and functions of communication and presentations in organizations. Communication styles of Native American peoples will be examined to better understand the characteristics that may include eye contact, assertiveness, and body language. Students will analyze key aspects of knowing the audience, developing persuasive content, effectively using media, understanding delivery techniques, and the use of story in presentations. Students will contend with these concepts from a personal standpoint by using examples from their own experiences to apply best practices and improve their own communication and leadership skills.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the role of Native culture and Indigenous ways of knowing and being in approaching and solving problems, the mental activities needed to effectively formulate or solve problems, make decisions, or understand and conceptualize issues. Concepts such as free-will, determinism, truth, knowing, and moral judgements will be explored and applied to the modern leader. Barriers to effective problem solving will be reviewed along with strategies for improvement. Special attention will be paid to the role of Indigenous cultural values, traditions, and worldviews in the problem-solving process.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on historical and contemporary developments in Indigenous Native American and Alaskan Native education policy within the United States; and the results of governmental education policy and law on Indigenous peoples. The course includes historical perspective on North American Indigenous education prior to the arrival of Spanish, British, French, and other European influences and will give careful examination to U.S. Federal "American Indian Education" legislation and policies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the historical relationships of Indigenous peoples of North America to place and the tribal nation's experiences of the treaty-making era with the United States of America. Concepts of agency, survivance, and the importance of place in Indigenous cultures will be discussed to assist students in understanding the context of Native American removal, and relocation. Students will use colonial era documents, Historical Geography, Native American Indigenous Peoples' Geographies of the Homeland, and Native American Treaties as evidence for to multi-disciplinary, qualitative research.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores concepts of Indigenous Sovereignty, and the effects of U.S. policy and law on Native American and Alaska Native Indigenous peoples. Concepts of agency and survivance will be applied to assist students in understanding sovereignty and its many potential implications and expressions beyond a legal construct or matter of law. Students will use European colonial era documents, U.S. federal and state court cases, federal Indian policies, Indian treaties, and/ or the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights as evidence for multi-disciplinary, qualitative research.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the history of Native peoples through the lens of land, agency, sovereignty, language, and aesthetic. Students will use historical records, and source materials such as maps, music, paintings, photography, folklore, oral tradition, archaeological materials, museum collections, enduring customs, language, and place names to perform multidisciplinary, qualitative research.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on effective organizational leadership approaches, strategies, and methods within Native American Organizations. Introducing leadership tactics and cognitive frames students can use to assess organizational culture and environmental factors, evaluate behaviors, and apply effective responses within a Native American organizational context.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will learn the process by which Native nations strengthen their capacity for effective, culturally relevant self-governance and community development, focusing on building institutions, making strategic decisions, and implementing them to address challenges and rebuild societies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on developing the personal skill set to become an exceptional leader in Indian Country. Exploring the influence of leaders regardless of position and the role of managers at all levels as servant leaders in tribal organizations. The challenges of balancing the needs of supervisors, subordinates, colleagues, and citizens will be addressed along with the case studies exploring how exceptional leaders in Native American / tribal organizations successfully handled challenges and crisis.

Request More Information

Submit this form, and an Enrollment Specialist will contact you to answer your questions.

  • *All fields required.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Or call 844-515-9100

By submitting this form, I am providing my digital signature agreeing that Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SE) and its agent, Risepoint, may email me or contact me regarding educational services by telephone and/or text message utilizing automated technology or a pre-recorded message at the telephone number(s) provided above. I understand this consent is not a condition to attend SE or to purchase any other goods or services. Privacy Policy. SMS Terms.

Ready To Begin?

Start your application today!

Apply Now
Apply Now
Or Call 844-515-9100 844-515-9100
for help with any questions you may have.