Bachelor of Arts

Native American Studies

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  • Flexible online degree
  • Local and regional tribal partnerships
  • Immersive, real-world experience

Program Details

Next Start Date
October 14th
Est. Program Length
2-4 years
Course Length
8 weeks
Cost per Credit
$321.80*
Credit Hours
120
Credits Accepted
90

*Price reflects tuition for Oklahoma residents. Non-resident tuition is $638.80 per credit hour. There is a non-resident tuition waiver available if certain requirements are met. Speak to an enrollment counselor for more information. An additional semester fee of $89 will apply for all students and possible charges for course related fees.

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Make a Positive Impact in Tribal Communities and Beyond

East Central University’s online B.A. in Native American Studies provides deep insight into the cultures and issues of contemporary Native American communities from a range of contexts and perspectives. It features interdisciplinary coursework, a real-world internship and partnerships with the local Choctaw and Chickasaw nations.

As a student, you will learn to work with and for tribal organizations through a combination of fully online coursework and hands-on learning opportunities. ECU Online faculty bring expertise in fields ranging from anthropology to law and environmental studies to the classroom, preparing you for success. The online format of the bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies program gives you the flexibility to take courses full- or part-time to balance work and life commitments.

After graduation, you will have the academic knowledge and applied science skills to pursue professional roles or graduate study in a wide range of fields. Earn your degree at a highly competitive tuition rate and transfer up to 94 credits to finish your online degree in as few as two years.


Topics of Study

ECU Online’s bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies offers a comprehensive curriculum that explores topic areas like:

  • History
  • Archeology
  • Cultural anthropology
  • Political science
  • Business
  • Legal studies
  • Communications
  • Human services

Learning Outcomes

By the time you graduate, you will be able to:

  • Think critically, analyze information from a variety of sources and communicate clearly to solve problems.
  • Utilize proven methods in applied social sciences.
  • Work with and for tribal entities in a variety of contexts.
  • Explain the role of native peoples in American history.
  • Understand the public policymaking process.
  • Engage with historical and contemporary Native American issues.
  • Research relevant issues and effectively present your work.
  • Understand the sociology of North American native cultures.
  • Discuss the multiplicity of Native American cultures from a variety of academic perspectives.

Courses & Requirements

Our online B.A. in Native American Studies requires a total of 120 credit hours. Students must take 40 credit hours in general education and 36 major credits (6 hours of major count towards general education requirements). In addition, 46 hours of electives are required to complete the degree. In the process of earning a degree, students can complete an internship in Native American Studies, cultural preservation, environmental work, tribal business, legislation, or the humanities. Typically, students spend five to six hours per week on coursework.

ECU requires all students to take general education courses. For this program, 6 hours (ANTH 2523 and ANTH 2713) are counted toward the major.

NAS 1113
NAS 4113
NAS 4223
Internship in Native American Studies*
NAS 3003
NAS 3013
NAS 4983
Indigenous Representations in Film and Documentaries
ANTH 2523
ANTH 2713

*Internship is required to complete core course for degree but internships can be guided through working with mentors on research projects via video conferencing. On-site experience is not mandatory.

BUS 3013
LS 4143
NAS 2113
NAS 2123
NAS 2884
Special Studies-Potawatomi I
NAS 4981-4
PS 3193
SOC 3003
SOWK 4113
CHI 1113
CHI 2113
CHI 3113
CHI 4113
CHO 1113
ENG 3123
Introduction to Linguistics
ANTH 2003
ANTH 3003
ANTH 4503
ANTH 4981-4
NAS 2883
Special Studies-Muskogee Creek I

An elective course is any college-level course not required by the degree that is utilized to reach the 120 credit hours required for degree completion. Elective courses are chosen according to the interest of the student.

Admission Requirements

To be accepted into ECU’s B.A. in Native American Studies online degree program, you must meet the following criteria:

  • If you are a transfer student, you must have completed 24 college credit hours with a retention GPA of 2.0 or higher. If you have fewer than 24 college credit hours, you will be required to submit your high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores for consideration.

How to Apply

To apply, you must submit the following materials: 

  • Online application
  • Official high school transcript or college transcript from an accredited institution
  • ACT/SAT scores (optional)

Have a question about this program or the admission process? Get connected to one of our knowledgeable enrollment counselors.

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Curriculum ComponentRequirementsCostTotal
Tuition120 credit hours$321.80*$38,616.00
Total with transfer credits (up to 90)**$9,654.00

*Price reflects tuition for Oklahoma residents. Non-resident tuition is $638.80 per credit hour. There is a non-resident tuition waiver available if certain requirements are met. Speak to an enrollment counselor for more information. An additional semester fee of $89 will apply for all students and possible charges for course related fees.
**Note: Transfer students must have completed at least 24 credit hours.
Fees and tuition subject to change.

Financial Aid

At ECU Online, we strive to ensure your education is as affordable as possible. Learn more about your options for financing your education by visiting our Financial Aid page.

View Financial Aid

Military Benefits

East Central University is a proud military-friendly school. Discover how your status as a U.S. military veteran or active-duty service member can help you earn your degree by visiting our Military & Veterans page.

View Military Benefits

Native American Students

Eligible Native American students can find financial aid programs, heritage scholarships, grants, and academic support services to help ensure their success at ECU.

View our Native American Students page

Are You the First in Your Family to Go to College?

At ECU, we recognize that “going first” can be difficult. We provide the extra financial support, scholarships, resources, services, and skills you need to succeed.

View our First-Generation College Students page

Transfer Students

If you’ve taken college-level courses elsewhere, you could save time and money earning your degree by transferring credits to ECU and may qualify for scholarships.

View our Transfer Students page

Career Outlook

Graduates with a background in Native American studies can pursue a wide range of rewarding careers in and outside of tribal communities. Whether you are interested in professional opportunities or continuing your education at the graduate level, this program can prepare you for career paths like public relations, museum and archival work, social work and counseling, law and politics, civil service, public health and teaching.

Grant Writer

Grant writers write and apply for grants, usually on behalf of nonprofit or government organizations. They complete research to support the grant application, ensure acquired grant funds are used correctly and report on the impact of the grant.

Average annual salary: $49,432

Museum Worker

Also known as museum technicians, museum workers create and maintain exhibitions as well as prepare objects for storage. They also keep records of pieces’ acquisition, condition and storage location.

Average annual salary: $52,140

Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists may also be known as media specialists or communications specialists. They develop and maintain an organization’s public image, create media strategies and raise awareness of its work.

Average annual salary: $62,810

Social and Community Service Manager

Social and community service managers oversee community programs and staff. While job responsibilities vary based on the size of the organization, these professionals often determine what new programs and services are needed, suggest improvements to existing programs, coordinate community outreach activities and more.

Average annual salary: $69,600

Career and salary info is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and PayScale.

Frequently Asked Questions

ECU Online offers a number of scholarships to qualified applicants. To be considered for scholarships, your first step is to complete an application. All scholarship recipients must be full-time students. For more information, visit our Scholarships page.

Your first step is to complete our online application. To apply, you will need a GPA of 2.25 or higher and official transcripts. If you are a transfer student, you must have completed 24 college credit hours with a retention GPA of 2.0 or higher. For more information, contact us at 833-624-5249 or request information.

Earning your B.A. in Native American Studies can open doors to a wide range of opportunities. After graduation, you will be prepared to pursue professional roles or continue your education with graduate study. Possible career paths in and outside of tribal communities include public relations, museum and archival work, social work and counseling, law and politics, civil service, public health, teaching and more.

This program features interdisciplinary coursework, an internship opportunity, and collaborative partnerships with the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations so you gain firsthand experience working with tribal communities. Topics of study include history, archaeology, cultural anthropology, political science, legal studies and more. As a student, you will complete 12 major courses and a total of 120 credit hours.

Ideal for working students, ECU Online’s interactive learning environment offers the flexibility you need to balance your education with your personal and professional schedule. As an online student, you’ll receive ample opportunities to virtually discuss course materials with your educators and classmates, plus the ability to access courses on your time and complete your degree at your own pace.

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