The mission of the Indigenous Law Certificate Program is to prepare students to practice Indian Law upon graduation by providing rigorous and comprehensive training in Indigenous law, policy, and practice. The Indigenous Law Certificate Program at Michigan State University College of Law is one of the nation’s best programs in Indigenous law, including Federal Indian Law and Tribal Law. Since only a limited number of law schools award certificates in Indigenous Law, students who graduate with this certificate are recognized in the field as possessing the awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary to identify, analyze, and solve Indian Law issues, represent Indian Nations, and appreciate their unique legal systems.
To obtain the Indigenous Law Certificate, students must complete the following requirements:
Complete at least 15 credits (10-14 credits of required courses and 5-7 credits of elective courses).
Complete a substantial research paper on a topic relating to Indigenous law issues. The paper must meet the law school’s Upper-Level Writing Requirements (ULWR), whether or not it is actually used to satisfy the ULWR. The requirement can be satisfied by writing a paper in conjunction with either of the following:
Any course from the list of Indigenous Law Certificate Program required courses that are listed on the College of Law course schedule with a “U” for “ULWR.”
Any directed study (LAW 624) or paper for another class with the approval of the Director of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center following the supervising professor’s approval for the Directed Study course or paper.
Completion of the Indian Law Clinic I (LAW 631J) or an externship with a tribal government (legal department, court, or government office), state, or federal government unit that focuses on Indian Law issues, or a nonprofit or non-governmental organization involved in Indian law issues. Students who do not participate in the Indian Law Clinic will have the opportunity to propose an externship in Indian Law as an alternative. The externship must be approved by the Associate Dean of Experiential Education and the Director of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center.
Students are eligible for admission to the certificate program after successful completion of their first-year required courses.
Students who fill out the application and complete the requirements will be awarded the Certificate upon graduation.
Coursework Requirements
Required Courses
Credits
Federal Law and Indian Tribes (LAW 635B)
3
At least two courses from the list below:
Advanced Topics in Indian Law: Native American Natural Resources Law (635A)
American Indian Children and the Law (LAW 635D)
Tribal Law (LAW 635E)
Gaming Law (LAW 635F)
Global Perspectives on Indigenous Peoples (635G)
Additional Courses approved by the Director of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center
4-5
Indian Law Clinic I (LAW 631J)
Externship
3-6
Elective Courses
Credits
At least two courses from the lists below:
Trusts and Estates (LAW 501D)
Administrative Law (LAW 532)
Family Law: Child, Family and the State (LAW 541F)
Federal Jurisdiction (LAW 579G)
Criminal Procedure: Investigation (LAW 616B)
Environmental Law (LAW 566A)
Natural Resources Law (LAW 566C)
5-7
Research Paper in Indigenous Law
Courses from the list of Indigenous Law Certificate Program required courses that are listed on the College of Law course schedule with a “U” for “ULWR”
Directed Study (LAW 624) or paper for another class with the approval of the Director of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center following the supervising professor’s approval for the Directed Study course or paper
Special Note Regarding Sequence of Courses Students should note that Federal Law and Indian Tribes is an introduction to the field of Federal Indian Law and provides students with an understanding of the foundational doctrines of the field. As a result, students should endeavor to take Federal Law and Indian Tribes prior to enrollment in other Indigenous law courses, the clinic, or other experiential learning opportunities in Indigenous law. At a minimum, Federal Law and Indian Tribes should be taken at the same time that students enroll in other Indigenous law courses.
Professionally Related Graduate Courses Students may count up to three credit hours of graduate-level courses from other colleges at Michigan State University, if approved by the Director of the Indigenous Law Program, who determines that such a course is appropriate for the student's course of study and that there is no comparable class offered at the law college.
Research Paper in Indigenous Law Students are required to complete a substantial research paper on a topic relating to Indigenous law issues. The topic must be approved by the Director of the Indigenous Law Program, and the paper must meet the law school’s upper-level writing requirements (ULWR), whether or not it is actually used to satisfy the ULWR. ULWR standards may be found on the website.
The Law College continuously examines the curriculum to identify the skill sets that the course of study at MSU College of Law should emphasize. Any certificate may be subject to enhanced requirements. Contact the above faculty member to confirm certificate requirements.
