Course Work
The University of Oklahoma College of Law faculty and administration are committed to the integration of Native American law topics into the curriculum. The result is a comprehensive Indian law curriculum, allowing for varying levels of exposure and specialization, depending on student interests. The following eleven courses specifically include coverage of indigenous issues within their larger frameworks:
| American Legal History | Children and the Law |
| Environmental Law | Federal Courts |
| International Human Rights | International Environmental Law |
| Oil and Gas | Public International Law |
| Water Laws | Wills & Trusts |
The Law School also offers a wide variety of specialty courses in the field of Native American Law. In addition to course credit for the American Indian Law Review, NALSA Moot Court competition, and the Federal Indian Law and Tribal Judicial Externships, students are regularly offered six courses dedicated to particular Indian law topics.
Comparative Indigenous Peoples Law Seminar
(2 hours) The seminar will examine the differences and similarities between Canadian, United States, Australian and New Zealand laws affecting native peoples. Participants in the seminar will include students from the University of Ottawa Law School, University of Saskatchewan, Auckland University, and Monash University attending via television. Professors from these schools will co-moderate. Paper required. Federal Indian Law is not a prerequisite, but recommended.
Economic Development and Self-Determination in Indian Country
(2 hours) Federally recognized Indian Tribes are increasingly engaged in developing tribal economics and creating and managing tribal public service programs, including health care programs. These activities are subject to extensive federal legislative and judicial control. Directed to the student anticipating representing tribes of businesses dealing with tribes, this seminar examines the laws affecting economic development and self-determination in Indian country, as well as theoretical instructions.
Federal Indian Law
(2 or 3 hours) The law governing the relationship between the Indian tribes, the states and the United States. Topics include the history of federal Indian law and policy; the federal-tribal relationship; tribal sovereignty, federal supremacy and states rights; the jurisdictional framework; criminal jurisdiction; civil jurisdiction; taxation and regulation of reservation economic development, including environmental regulation and regulation of Indian gaming; Indian religion and culture; water rights; fishing and hunting rights.
Indian Land Title
(2 hours) Indian Land Titles explores the interface between real property law and federal Indian law to examine how Indian land ownership is treated “differently” by virtue of its status. The course combines historical, jurisprudential and practical perspectives in confronting such issues as the differing role private ownership of land plays in Anglo American versus Native American institutions, the development and progression of that role from the time of “discovery” to the present, the nature of Indian land title and federal control over its parameters, and the mechanics of acquiring, retaining, and transferring parcels of real property owned by tribes or their members. There are no prerequisites to the course.
Native American Resources
(2 hours) After an overview of the history of U.S. native policy and the basic doctrines of Indian law, this course covers a variety of issues relating to tribal interests in and jurisdiction over environmental resources. Course coverage includes tribal rights to land; land use and environmental protection in Indian country; economic and natural resource development issues (including grazing, minerals, timber and taxation); water rights; hunting and fishing rights; as well as international perspectives on indigenous resources. Throughout the course, students will consider the roles of the tribal, federal and state governments in resource regulation and use.
Tribal Courts and Tribal Law
(2 hours) This course examines the history and development of tribal justice systems, the application of traditional and modern tribal laws and norms, and the role of tribal courts in governmental and international affairs.