Graduate Certificate – Nation Building Online
Gain specialized skills for helping Native communities promote sustainable, long-term growth while preserving cultural values and heritage through this accelerated online certificate program.
Program Overview
Promote sustainable growth and resilience in Native communities with the online nation-building program
Prepare to lead economic development strategies that support tribal self-determination with the online Graduate Certificate – Nation Building program. Rooted in deep reverence for Native American heritage and culture, this community-focused program equips you with advanced knowledge of Indigenous forms of leadership, policy implementation and sustainable governance.
Explore key concepts such as cultural match, seventh generation thinking and constructive indigenization as you progress through accelerated, 100% online coursework. The nation-building certificate program empowers you with the specialized knowledge to drive meaningful change for tribal 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.
In this online nation building program, you will:
- Understand the fundamentals of tribal nation-building and sustainable governance
- Apply economic development strategies that support tribal self-determination
- Develop leadership and decision-making skills relevant to tribal government operations
- Analyze the role of policy and strategic planning in strengthening Native economies
- Understand the fundamentals of tribal nation-building and sustainable governance
- Apply economic development strategies that support tribal self-determination
- Develop leadership and decision-making skills relevant to tribal government operations
- Analyze the role of policy and strategic planning in strengthening Native economies
Upon completion of this nation building online program, you will be prepared for specialized roles, such as:
- Economic Development Specialist
- Intergovernmental Relations Specialist
- Tribal Self-Governance Coordinator
- Legislative Affairs Manager of Trial Affairs
- Tribal Affairs Liaison for Federal or State Agencies
- Economic Development Specialist
- Intergovernmental Relations Specialist
- Tribal Self-Governance Coordinator
- Legislative Affairs Manager of Trial Affairs
- Tribal Affairs Liaison for Federal or State Agencies
Other online graduate certificate programs also available:
In addition to the nation building certificate program, SE offers a broad range of master’s degrees in Native American Leadership. Explore our online NAL programs.
Tuition
Pay your affordable tuition one course at a time
SE is committed to providing an outstanding education that is also affordable. Tuition is structured to give our students the best value and flexibility.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Cert – Nation Building | $380 | $1,140 | $4,560 |
*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:
“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
Don’t overlook these important dates and deadlines
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.
| 8 week courses | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall I | 8/18/25 | 8/4/25 | 8/4/25 | 8/15/25 | 9/15/25 | 10/5/25 |
| Fall II | 10/13/25 | 9/29/25 | 9/29/25 | 10/10/25 | 11/1/25 | 12/7/25 |
Now enrolling:
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Gather your application materials for the online nation-building cert program
Southeastern Oklahoma State University's online Graduate Certificate – 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
To meet the admission requirements for SE's online graduate certificate program, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA or minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of courses, or
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 2.5 overall GPA or minimum 2.75 GPA in last 60 semester hours of courses, AND at least three years of continuous professional work experience, or
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 2.5 overall GPA or minimum 2.75 GPA in last 60 semester hours of courses, AND a portfolio consisting of a letter of application which outlines the applicant's career goals and objectives and how a graduate certificate will enhance them; a current resume; three professional letters of recommendation, or
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university and at least 9 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 GMAT is required for the Southeastern Oklahoma State University online graduate certificate
- 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.
- 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
- 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
Discover what you’ll learn in the online nation-building certificate program
For the Graduate Cert – Nation Building online program, you must complete the following coursework, which consists of four core courses.