- Exam opens: Monday, 12:01 am CT
- Work on exam: Two weeks
- Exam due: Sunday, 11:59 pm CT
- Faculty grading period: One week
- Grade provided: Monday, 8:00 am CT
- One-week revision period: Final revision due Saturday, 11:59 pm CT
- Final pass/fail decision: Within five business days of submitted revision(s)
Coursework
Indigenous Health Ph.D. Curriculum
IH 790. Indigenous Health Seminar
This seminar provides PhD students with the resources, skills, and support necessary
to succeed in the PhD in Indigenous Health Program and to grow as Indigenous health
scholars. Students will collaborate across cohorts, strengthening scholarly networks
and developing professional relationships. All students are expected to complete the
six consecutive seminars, whether enrolled full or part time.
IH 731. Applied Biostatistics
This course provides an introduction to key statistical concepts and methods used
in public health research, with a focus on Indigenous populations. Students will learn
descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, contingency tables,
and linear regression through published studies and real-world datasets. Using R and
RStudio, students will apply biostatistical tools, interpret results, and communicate
findings for both professional and community audiences.
IH 781. Principles of Ingenious Health – 1
This three-credit course is designed to provide students with a critical understanding
of Indigenous health principles. The course will explore traditional and modern aspects
of Indigenous health, including traditional healing systems, cultural safety, Indigenous
food systems, Indigenous data, research methodologies and evaluation processes, and
decolonizing narratives. The focus will be on understanding the impact of colonization
and health disparities in communities while utilizing a strengths-based approach to
understanding Indigenous concepts of health and healing.
IH 745. Indigenous Leadership & Ethics
This doctoral-level course explores Indigenous leadership and ethics within public
health, organizational, and community contexts. Students will critically examine leadership,
organizational, and change theories alongside Indigenous leadership frameworks, emphasizing
the centrality of land, culture, language, and self-determination. The course highlights
Indigenous perspectives on bioethics and research ethics and prepares students to
lead ethically and innovatively in diverse, globalized contexts.
IH 751. Applied Epidemiology
This doctoral-level course advances students' expertise in applying epidemiologic
and biostatistical principles to the design, implementation, and critical evaluation
of public health surveillance systems in Indigenous contexts. Students will examine
the methodological, ethical, and cultural considerations involved in generating, analyzing,
and interpreting surveillance data, with an emphasis on Indigenous data sovereignty
and community priorities. Through engagement with case studies on communicable diseases,
chronic conditions, mortality trends, and risk factors, students will develop the
capacity to design innovative surveillance approaches, critique existing systems,
and translate findings into actionable strategies that support Indigenous health equity,
policy, and governance.
IH 782. Principles of Indigenous Health – 2
This three-credit course expands on the knowledge attained in IH 781 by prioritizing
in-depth examinations of complex Indigenous health topics. Students will critically
engage with international discourses from Indigenous communities across the globe
while exploring global Indigenous health, social and ecological determinants of health,
traditional knowledge systems, and sustainability models. Through decolonizing narratives,
students will analyze systemic challenges and evaluate promising practices in Indigenous
health. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to assess health challenges,
apply culturally grounded frameworks, and design strategies that advance equity, resilience,
and systemic transformation.
IH 760. Public Health Program Evaluation
Doctoral students will design, defend, and evaluate culturally responsive public health
program evaluations with a focus on Indigenous contexts. The course emphasizes synthesizing
theoretical frameworks, critiquing existing evaluations for rigor and cultural relevance,
and constructing methodologically robust, community-driven evaluation plans that honor
Indigenous sovereignty, ethics, and priorities.
IH 762. Quantitative Research Methods
This course introduces advanced quantitative research methods in public health with
a focus on Indigenous and underserved populations. Students will examine major research
designs, assess their strengths and limitations, and analyze case studies on social
determinants and Indigenous health. Emphasis is placed on designing culturally responsive
studies and developing appropriate data collection tools. By the end, students will
be able to critically evaluate and generate quantitative research to advance Indigenous
health equity.
IH 783. American Indian Health Policy
This doctoral-level course critically examines the historical, legal, and structural
foundations of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health policy. Students will
analyze the historical and legal foundations of American Indian and Alaska Native
(AI/AN) health policy, including the evolution of the I/T/U (Indian Health Service,
Tribal and Urban), federal trust responsibilities, and other key policies impacting
AI/AN health. Emphasis is placed on evaluating the role of Tribal sovereignty and
intergovernmental relationships in advancing health equity and self-determination.
IH 763. Qualitative Research Methodologies
This doctoral-level course provides an in-depth examination of qualitative research
methodologies with specific application to public health and Indigenous health contexts.
Students will critically engage with paradigms of qualitative inquiry, evaluate methodological
and ethical considerations, and design rigorous qualitative studies responsive to
Indigenous and other underserved communities. Emphasis is placed on advancing competencies
in study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation to generate culturally
grounded evidence that informs public health practice, policy, and knowledge.
IH 761. Indigenous Evaluation Frameworks
This doctoral-level course examines Indigenous approaches to public health program
evaluation, emphasizing community ownership, cultural responsiveness, and alignment
with traditional values. Building on widely accepted public health evaluation models,
the course centers on the American Indian Higher Education Consortium's Indigenous
Evaluation Framework. Students will explore how this framework integrates qualitative
and quantitative methods, measures experiences over time, and captures outcomes from
multiple perspectives, including individual and community levels. Through critical
engagement with key principles of the framework, learners will develop skills to design
and conduct evaluations that honor Indigenous knowledge systems and advance community
priorities.
IH 784. Indigenous Health Policy
This doctoral-level course investigates international Indigenous health systems, disparities,
and policy frameworks. Students will evaluate how national and global health policies
engage-or exclude-Indigenous peoples and assess their impacts on Indigenous health
outcomes. The course emphasizes comparative analysis of policy approaches, Indigenous-led
frameworks, and promising strategies for advancing health equity and sovereignty globally.
IH 764 . Mixed Methods Research
This doctoral-level course provides an advanced examination of mixed methods research
with specific application to Indigenous and public health contexts. Students will
critically engage with the epistemological, theoretical, and methodological foundations
of mixed methods inquiry, emphasizing the intentional integration of qualitative and
quantitative data to address complex health issues. Through analysis of published
studies and the design of an original project, students will evaluate the strengths
and limitations of mixed methods approaches, develop skills in culturally responsive
study design, and generate insights that advance Indigenous health scholarship, practice,
and policy.
IH 766. Community Based Participatory Research and Tribally-Driven Research
This doctoral-level course examines Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
and tribally driven research frameworks as approaches to advancing Indigenous health.
Students will critically assess the ethical, cultural, and methodological foundations
of these approaches, and design research that is responsive to Indigenous sovereignty,
priorities, and knowledge systems. Emphasis is placed on fostering equitable partnerships,
sustaining trust, and producing scholarship that contributes to health equity and
Indigenous well-being.
IH 765. Indigenous Research Methods
This culminating doctoral-level course prepares students to design and conduct research
using decolonizing approaches rooted in Indigenous research paradigms. Students will
engage deeply with Indigenous ontology, epistemology, axiology, and methodology to
inform their scholarly practice. Students will draw upon their positionalities, cultural
knowledge systems, traditions, oral histories, and ancestral teachings to inform and
construct a conceptual framework for their research. Emphasis is placed on integrating
ethical principles in Indigenous research including research and data sovereignty,
relationality, relational accountability, reciprocity, responsibility, among others,
into transformative research design.
IH 999. Dissertation Credits
Students will complete a dissertation in one of the following two formats (1) Academic
Track - Students will produce a dissertation in the more traditional format of the
scholarly monograph or (2) Applied Track - Students will produce a dissertation that
includes three products with prior approval of faculty advisor and Indigenous Health
PhD degree program (e.g., published manuscript, Tribal program evaluation, Tribal
health strategic plan, grant application, policy brief, etc.)
Elective Curriculum for the PhD in Indigenous Health
The following are the course descriptions, course pre-requisites, course learning objectives and outcomes, and the topics to be covered in the course as indicated and approved by the University’s Course Inventory Management system.
IH 715. Global Indigenous Health
This doctoral-level course provides a global perspective on Indigenous health systems,
highlighting cultural practices, policies, personnel, and processes that shape health
and well-being. Through international and comparative approaches, students will critically
examine strengths and innovations across diverse Indigenous contexts.
IH 799. Research
This course is intended for doctoral students engaged in original research under faculty
supervision beyond their formal dissertation credit requirements. Students will refine
advanced research skills, contribute to scholarly knowledge in Indigenous health,
and demonstrate independence as emerging scholars.
IH 970. Special Topics in Indigenous Health
This doctoral-level opportunity provides an in-depth exploration of emerging and specialized
topics in Indigenous health, guided by faculty expertise and current issues in the
field. The course fosters critical dialogue, interdisciplinary engagement, and advanced
scholarship around complex health challenges facing Indigenous communities. Because
topics vary, students may repeat the course for credit when content differs.
IH 996. Continuing Enrollment
This course provides continuing enrollment for doctoral students who are actively
engaged in dissertation research, independent scholarship, or other program-related
work. Enrollment ensures access to university resources, faculty mentorship, and academic
community while progress toward degree completion continues. Grading is on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
(Pass/Fail) basis.
IH 997. Independent Study
This doctoral-level independent study provides students with the opportunity to engage
in focused inquiry on a specialized topic within Indigenous health. Working under
faculty mentorship, students will critically analyze and synthesize relevant literature,
evaluate existing evidence, and develop a scholarly report or presentation that demonstrates
advanced research skills and disciplinary expertise. The independent study emphasizes
self-directed learning, intellectual rigor, and the ability to contribute to scholarly
conversations in Indigenous health.
Topics
Health Policy, Research, and Indigenous Health Frameworks
Schedule
Comprehensive exams will be offered one time per academic year, and will be given
the first week of Summer semester; students will have two weeks to complete their
three comprehensive exams.
Typical Exam Schedule
The dissertation represents a culminating demonstration of the knowledge, skills, and competencies a student has developed throughout the PhD in Indigenous Health program. As such, substantive dissertation work should not begin until the student has completed required coursework, successfully passed the comprehensive examinations, and received approval of their dissertation topic proposal.
Students will select one of two dissertation tracks: the Academic Track (traditional or three-article dissertation) or the Applied Track (dissertation in practice/portfolio). This decision should be made in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor, who serves as Chair of the dissertation committee. The advisor will guide the student in selecting the track that best aligns with their academic goals, professional trajectory, and the expectations of the Department of Indigenous Health. Students selecting the Academic Track must indicate whether they will complete a traditional dissertation or a three-article dissertation. Students selecting the Applied Track will complete a dissertation in practice, consisting of a portfolio of three approved products.
All dissertations will follow UND Graduate School guidelines.
IH 790: Seminar
1 credit each semester and summer for the first 2 years (6 total). Meet in-person
for two 1-week seminars/year in the summer. The fall and spring seminars will be online.
Students are responsible for all travel and accommodations. These costs can be included
in the cost of attendance for financial aid.
Year 1 Summer - one-week onsite August
Year 1 Fall - online
Year 1 Spring - online
Year 2 Summer - one-week onsite in August
Year 2 Fall - online
Year 2 Spring - online
Various topics covered include current events in Indigenous health, pedagogy, grant writing and compliance, case studies, ethics, student-led discussions, among others.
- Laptop or Desktop computer capable of running and staying up to date with the latest versions of Windows or MacOS as they are released.
- High speed, reliable internet connection capable of supporting online live class sessions and for taking exams and quizzes.