Undergraduate students enrolling at Diné College this Fall will have a new program to consider, thanks to a collaboration with Arizona State University. The new degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Navajo Law, is designed to be completed entirely on the campus of Diné College. After earning their bachelor’s in Navajo Law, students have the option to begin their careers or transfer to ASU for their graduate studies.
ASU offers two distinct master’s degree programs in tribal law: Master of Legal Studies and Master of Law programs that focus on Navajo law. The university is also home to a Juris Doctor program with a designated certificate in Indian law.
Diné College President Charles Roessel said, “Our mission is to furnish students not only with theoretical knowledge but also with the practical acumen to effectively apply laws and legal processes within the Navajo Nation and beyond. This program serves as a beacon of hope, a testament to our steadfast commitment to advancing justice and sovereignty through education.”
Diné College was recently highlighted in our ranking of the top 30 Colleges with the Most Federal Funding for 2024. Arizona State University is one of the top public schools in the nation, ranked #51 by U.S. News & World Report.
Stacy Leeds, dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, hopes the program will serve as a model for other emerging programs around the nation: “I really think that this model that we’ve mapped out could really be replicated with other tribes and other universities. It’s a great model for making sure that you have a real comprehensive approach to legal education, that it’s not limited to a few people who are lucky enough to get an opportunity to go to an American law school.”
Source: Diné College, ASU Collaborate on Navajo Law Program
Related: Guide to the Top Tribal Colleges