Graduate Certificate – Tribal Sovereignty Online
Deepen your understanding of Native American history, culture and sovereignty through this online program that prepares you for careers in, or collaborating with, tribal governments.
Program Overview
Deepen your understanding of Indigenous sovereignty with this powerful, 100% online graduate certificate program
Explore the complex legal and political issues affecting Native American communities with the online Graduate Certificate – Tribal Sovereignty program. Our culturally responsive curriculum examines the historical relationships of Indigenous peoples and the major eras in federal Native American policy and law, so you're equipped to lead efforts that support and sustain tribal sovereignty.
Join a lifelong community of changemakers as you learn from Indigenous faculty who guide you through unique concepts such as the importance of place and survivance that offer valuable context for the experiences of Native Americans. This online program honors Indigenous heritage and culture while preparing you for leadership roles in tribal governance and sovereignty.
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 tribal sovereignty certificate program, you will:
- Master the legal and policy frameworks that define and protect tribal sovereignty, treaties and self-governance
- Develop advocacy and leadership skills to influence policy, defend tribal rights and advance self-determination at all levels of government
- Learn to navigate economic, legal and political challenges to strengthen sovereignty and promote sustainable growth within Native nations
- Master the legal and policy frameworks that define and protect tribal sovereignty, treaties and self-governance
- Develop advocacy and leadership skills to influence policy, defend tribal rights and advance self-determination at all levels of government
- Learn to navigate economic, legal and political challenges to strengthen sovereignty and promote sustainable growth within Native nations
Upon completion of this tribal sovereignty certificate online program, you will be prepared for specialized roles, such as:
- Tribal Government Administrator
- Director of Native Advocacy and Public Affairs
- Tribal Sovereignty and Governance Specialist
- Tribal Legal and Policy Advisor
- Economic Development Officer of Tribal Enterprises
- Tribal Government Administrator
- Director of Native Advocacy and Public Affairs
- Tribal Sovereignty and Governance Specialist
- Tribal Legal and Policy Advisor
- Economic Development Officer of Tribal Enterprises
Other online graduate certificate programs also available:
In addition to the tribal sovereignty certificate, SE offers a broad range of master’s degrees in Native American Leadership. Explore our online NAL programs.
Tuition
Take advantage of our affordable tuition
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 – Tribal Sovereignty | $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
Choose the start date that best fits your schedule
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
Begin your streamlined application for the online tribal sovereignty cert program
Southeastern Oklahoma State University's online Graduate Certificate – Tribal Sovereignty 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
Take a look at the courses for the online Graduate Certificate – Tribal Sovereignty program
For the Graduate Cert – Tribal Sovereignty online program, you must complete the following coursework, which consists of four core courses.