MA in Native American Studies in Davis United States | University of California Davis

The Graduate Group in Native American Studies takes an interdisciplinary, hemispheric perspective, examining the growing diaspora of Indigenous communities across the Americas while centering Indigenous knowledge systems to tackle issues affecting Native populations. Areas of academic focus encompass history, religious studies, philosophy, governance, political systems, social structures, language studies, and linguistic analysis, alongside Indigenous community development for self-governance, colonial legacies, racial dynamics, sovereignty movements, and ethnohistorical research. Both M.A. and Ph.D. candidates gain teaching experience through assistantships and instructor roles.

The Master's program in Native American Studies centers on Hemispheric American Studies, allowing graduate students to specialize through thesis research. Students must collaborate with their Major Professor to design their academic path and track advancement. Typically completed in two years, the M.A. program duration depends on individual mastery of course material. Students generally finalize their thesis, project, or comprehensive exams by their second year. Two completion tracks exist: Plan I (Thesis/Project) or Plan II (Examination). By winter quarter of their first year, students should meet with their Major Professor to select their optimal degree pathway.