Indigenous Health

IH 715. Global Indigenous Health Perspectives. 1 Credit.

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. Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in the PhD in Indigenous Health or a graduate student at UND with consent from instructor(s). S, odd years.

IH 731. Applied Biostatistics. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: .Successful completion of a 3-credit, graduate-level biostatistics course, 3-credit graduate-level epidemiology course, admission into Indigenous Health PhD Program or consent from instructor. F.

IH 745. Indigenous Leadership & Ethics. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program or consent from instructor. F.

IH 751. Applied Epidemiology. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Successful competition of a 3-credit, graduate-level course in epidemiology, enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program or consent from instructor. S.

IH 760. Public Health Program Evaluation. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program or consent from instructor. S.

IH 761. Indigenous Evaluation Frameworks. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Successful completion of IH 760, enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program, or consent from instructor. F.

IH 762. Quantitative Methods. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Successful completion of IH 731 and IH 751, enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program or consent from instructor. SS.

IH 763. Qualitative Methods. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program or consent from instructor. F.

IH 764. Mixed Methods Research. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Successful completion of IH 762 and IH 763, enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program or consent from instructor. S.

IH 765. Indigenous Research Methods. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Successful completion of IH 762 and IH 763, enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program or consent from instructor. SS.

IH 766. CBPR & Tribally-Driven Research Frameworks. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program or consent from instructor. S.

IH 781. Principles of Indigenous Health 1. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Indigenous Health PhD degree program or consent from instructor. F.

IH 782. Principles of Indigenous Health 2. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Successful completion of PH 581 or IH 781, enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program, or consent from instructor. S.

IH 783. American Indian Health Policy. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Enrollment in MPH degree program or Indigenous Health PhD degree program, or consent from instructor. F.

IH 784. Indigenous Health Policy. 3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Successful completion of PH 583 or IH 783, enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program, or consent from instructor. F.

IH 790. Indigenous Health Seminar. 1 Credit.

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. Prerequisite: Enrollment in Indigenous Health PhD degree program. Repeatable to 6.00 credits. S/U grading. F,S,SS.

IH 799. Research. 1-9 Credits.

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. F,S,SS.

IH 970. Special Topics in Indigenous Health. 1-3 Credits.

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. Prerequisite: Approval of Faculty Advisor. Repeatable to 6.00 credits. F,S,SS.

IH 996. Continuing Enrollment. 1-12 Credits.

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. Repeatable to 32.00 credits. S/U grading. F,S,SS.

IH 997. Independent Study. 1-6 Credits.

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. Repeatable to 12.00 credits. F,S,SS.

IH 999. Dissertation. 1-12 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.). Prerequisite: Passage of a comprehensive exam, and successful completion of Indigenous Health PhD coursework. Repeatable to 12.00 credits. S/U grading. F,S,SS.