BA/MA Shared Credit Degree

BA TO MA SHARED CREDIT DEGREE IN NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES

THE PROGRAM

The BA to MA Shared Credit degree program in Native American Studies is designed to allow outstanding undergraduate NAS majors to complete a B.A. and M.A. in approximately five years. To accomplish this, five courses, or 15 credit hours, are counted towards both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, which then reduces the time to complete the NAS M.A. by one academic year.

Native American Studies BA students must complete 120 undergraduate credit hours along with other graduation requirements and the MA in NAS degree requires 30 credit hours. Students do not start the MA degree program officially until their BA is completed and further instructions will be given. However, in the BA/MA Shared Credit program, NAS students can complete the following 15 credit hours that will count towards both BA and MA degrees as long as they earn a grade of “B” or better for the following courses:

  • NATV 474, Seminar: Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy, 3 credits
  • NATV 550, Indigenous Nations and Sustainable Communities Seminar, 3 credits
  • NATV 555, Native American Policy and Community Building, 3 credits
  • NATV 560, Research Method and Practice in Indigenous Scholarship, 3 credits
  • NATV Focus Elective, Select 1 NATV MA Focus course, 3 credits.

This program is great for those considering attending the MA in Native American Studies program as well as for any NAS major who wishes to continue their education in Native American Studies past the undergraduate level.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Students must be an admitted to the BA Native American Studies degree program (i.e., not in Pre-Major status).
  • The following BA course requirement must still need to be completed: NATV 474: Seminar: Applying Traditions in Native American Philosophy.
  • Students must be currently taking or have already successfully completed NATV 300: Research Methods in Indigenous Contexts, with a “C” or better.
  • Students must be designated at senior level status, or be within 30 credit hours of graduating by the time they start the shared credit program.
  • Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 at the time of application to the shared credit program.

Admission to the graduate portion of the program occurs after the undergraduate degree is awarded.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

For admission into the BA to MA Shared Credit degree program in Native American Studies, students must submit their application in the Spring semester of their Junior year. Application deadlines will be posted in the prior Fall semester.

To apply to the Native American Studies BA to MA Shared Credit Program, go to the following LINK:

NAS BA-MA Shared Credit Application

and submit the following:

  • Eligibility Requirement: have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or its equivalent in the last two (2) undergraduate years in your major field.
  • Upload a Letter of Intent (3-5 pages) that addresses educational goals, professional plans, interest in the BA to MA Shared Credit program, and background in Native American Studies or Indigenous communities.
  • Upload a Writing Sample (10-15 pages) of original work that is academic, technical, professional, or artistic in nature (i.e. research paper, article, thesis, film, manuscript, reports, briefings).
  • Upload a copy of your latest resume or CV.
  • List the three (3) names of those who will write Letters of Recommendation. Academic letters are strongly encouraged. Important: please request that your recommenders for the BA to MA Shared Credit program email their letters of support directly to the Student & Graduate Services Coordinator (kyleharvey@unm.edu). 

Applications for the BA to MA Shared Credit Program 2025-2026 school year are due by January 31, 2025.

FUNDING

Students in this program will be eligible for one year of departmental funding while completing their BA degree. Until students receive their BA in NAS, students will continue to have undergraduate status, therefore will continue to be eligible for undergraduate scholarships. Once students earn their BA degree, they will move forward as a MA degree student in NAS, thus being eligible for graduate funding.