Master's Degree

The M.A. program in Native American Studies emphasizes the Hemispheric Study of the Americas. Graduate students may narrow their focus area in their thesis work. Throughout the process, students should coordinate their plan of study and chart their progress with their Major Professor.

The M.A. Program in NAS requires approximately two years. The length of the program, however, is based on the student’s progress in mastering subject matter. Ordinarily, the M.A. thesis or project or comprehensive exam should be completed by the second year.

There are two possible plans for completion of the Master’s Degree; Plan I (Thesis or Project), or Plan II (Examination). By the end of the second quarter of their first year, students should begin consulting with their Major Professor to determine which is the best option for the completion of the M.A. Degree.

Successful completion of a Master's Degree requires knowledge of the following subject areas listed below. Students may have fulfilled this requirement prior to admission. Otherwise, relevant coursework will have to be taken at Davis.

  • Native American history (North, Central or South America)
  • Native American religion and philosophy
  • Native American government, politics and society
  • Native American/ Indigenous art (visual sovereignty)
  • Native American performance
  • Native American literature
  • Native American women
  • Native American language or linguistics


Plan I (Thesis) requires 30 units of graduate and upper division courses (the 100 and 200 series) and a thesis (or a project in lieu of a thesis).  At least 16 of the 30 units must be graduate courses in NAS. Students must complete the required core courses, NAS 200 and NAS 246, with a grade of B+ or better or they will be required to repeat the course. Students may take up to 8 units of course work in the 100 series. These must not duplicate courses taken for the B.A.  The choice of courses must be made in consultation with the Major Professor.

Core Courses required for Plan I (Thesis) (8 Units)
NAS 200 (4) Basic Concepts in NAS
NAS 246 (4) Native American/Indigenous Research Methodologies

Elective Courses required for Plan I (Thesis) (22 Units)
NAS 202 (4) Advanced Topics in Native American Studies
NAS 207 (4) Leadership Skills and Strategies in California Language Documentation & Revitalization
NAS 208 (4) Advanced Study of Native American Languages
NAS 212 (4) Indigenous Community Development for Autonomy
NAS 213 (4) Native Criminality and Deviance
NAS 217 (4) Public Law 83-280: Colonial Termination
NAS 220 (4) Colonialism, Racism, and Self-Determination
NAS 224 (4) Performance in the Americas
NAS 233 (4) Visual Sovereignty
NAS 237 (4) Native American Art Collections and Museums
NAS 240 (4) Native American Public Health: Topics and Issues
NAS 250 (4) Indigenous Critique of Classic Maya Ethnographies
NAS 254 (4) Native American Literature
NAS 257 (4) Indigenous Religious Traditions in the Americas
NAS 280 (4) Ethnohistorical Theory and Method
Independent Study (298, 299)
 

Plan II (Examination) requires 36 units of graduate and upper division courses, of which at least 20 units must be graduate courses in NAS. Of the remaining 16 units, up to 4 units may be 299 or 298 courses, and up to 8 units may be from the 100 series; the rest should be 200 level courses. Students must complete the required core courses, NAS 200 and NAS 246, with a grade of B+ or better or they will be required to repeat the course. The choice of courses must be made in consultation with the Major Professor. Faculty may require graduate students enrolled in upper division undergraduate courses to complete additional work. A comprehensive examination of three days is required.

Core Courses required for Plan II (Examination) (8 Units)
NAS 200 (4) Basic Concepts in NAS
NAS 246 (4) Native American/Indigenous Research Methodologies

Elective Courses required for Plan I (Examination) (28 Units)
NAS 202 (4) Advanced Topics in Native American Studies
NAS 207 (4) Leadership Skills and Strategies in California Language Documentation & Revitalization
NAS 208 (4) Advanced Study of Native American Languages
NAS 212 (4) Indigenous Community Development for Autonomy
NAS 213 (4) Native Criminality and Deviance
NAS 217 (4) Public Law 83-280: Colonial Termination
NAS 220 (4) Colonialism, Racism, and Self-Determination
NAS 224 (4) Performance in the Americas
NAS 233 (4) Visual Sovereignty
NAS 237 (4) Native American Art Collections and Museums
NAS 240 (4) Native American Public Health: Topics and Issues
NAS 250 (4) Indigenous Critique of Classic Maya Ethnographies
NAS 254 (4) Native American Literature
NAS 257 (4) Indigenous Religious Traditions in the Americas
NAS 280 (4) Ethnohistorical Theory and Method
Independent Study (298, 299)
 

  • One graduate course from a discipline related to the student’s research: Anthropology, English, Comparative Literature, Critical Theory, Cultural Studies, Human and Community Development, International Agricultural Development, Art History, Geography, History, Law, or other relevant programs
  • Up to four units of 298/299 (independent study). To reiterate, these are graded on a S/U basis and, therefore, do not count as letter-graded courses. Students may take more independent studies with the approval of the Major Professor, but only four units (the equivalent of one graduate course) can count towards the degree  
     

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: NATIVE LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR THE M.A. DEGREE 
Students seeking the M.A. degree are required to demonstrate basic competence in a Native American/indigenous language. With the approval of their Major Professor and the Graduate Adviser, students demonstrate knowledge of a Native American language by one of the following:

     1. Complete 4 units of coursework or independent study, in which the student examines some aspect of a Native American/ indigenous language relevant to his/her research.
     2. Participate in a language internship program in which at least one quarter is spent off-campus doing language study in an indigenous community, or taking classes in an indigenous language through a tribe, or a college or university.
     3. A student who comes to the program with a high degree of proficiency in a Native American/ indigenous language may compose a 500-word text in the language (either in writing or by audio recording) without the help of a dictionary. This option is normally reserved for people who are native speakers of the language or who have other relevant background, such as advanced coursework or extensive experience living in communities where the language is spoken. A native speaker or a qualified linguist may act as a consultant for purposes of judging language competence. In the event of failure, a student may repeat an examination after one month. In the event of two successive failures the student may be required to enroll in a language course designated by the Graduate Advisor.