This course explores tribal regulatory functions and policy-making from internal and external perspectives at the local, regional, national and international levels.  The context of the policy-making, and thus decision-making, processes, will be examined from the perspective of building political capacity into tribal institutions.  The course is designed to confront complex and changing alternatives through understanding policy analysis skills that build political capacity and contribute to the development of equitable and feasible policy alternatives. The focus on processes and choice among alternatives explores how to determine regulatory apparatus is needed to achieve objectives and what administrative structures are crucial for providing services and achieving policy goals. The course is designed to develop skills and abilities that support these goals, including conflict resolution, negotiation, policy design, and the analysis of alternatives and learning system strategies. Examples may be drawn from critical and current tribal issues tribes including land use planning, cultural resources, the establishment of codes, housing authorities, and implementation of programs like TANF.

Tribal Policy is required for Tribal concentration students and an elective for others with instructor's permission.