Master of Jurisprudence –
Education Law Concentration

The Education Law Concentration is just one of your options. See the main Master of Jurisprudence page for details about the overall program and other available options.


M.Jur. Education Law Concentration

Education administration, and education law and policy are  growing and in-demand fields with strong career prospects in the San Antonio metroplex and the I-35 corridor. Pursuing the Master of Jurisprudence Program with a concentration in Education can help professionals advance their careers and make a positive impact on the education system in their community. There is also a growing demand for advocates with expertise in education law and policy to serve in school administration and area nonprofits. This is driven by the increasing complexity of education laws and regulations, as well as the need for schools and educational institutions to navigate legal and policy issues related to student rights, teacher contracts and funding.

I plan to use my M.Jur. degree with a concentration in Education Law to help students. I believe that academic advising and mentoring are a partnership with students and an essential part of teaching and research. As an advisor, I would like to engage with students at the secondary or post-secondary school levels to help them in their planning, and teach them how to navigate relevant academic resources, and encourage them to take responsibility for decisions about their academic progress.

-Douglas McBryde (M.Jur. ’21)


Proven results and professional advancement

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of education administrators nationally is projected to grow 4% from 2020 to 2030, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Texas has a large and diverse population, with a significant number of students and educational institutions. The BLS projects that employment of education administrators in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area is projected to grow 9% from 2019 to 2029, which is faster than the national average. This growth is driven by a growing population and the need for administrators to manage and lead educational institutions. There is also a growing demand for professionals who can coordinate policies and procedures with legal teams who require contextual support and occupational insights related to education law and policy to inform their practice on behalf of school districts.

In Brown v. the Board of Education, the Supreme Court stated that ‘education is the most important function of state and local governments.’  The Court went on to say, ‘Today it is the principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing them for later professional training and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education.’ While these words were written over sixty years, they remain salient today. Education remains the bedrock of any democracy and the understanding of the intersection of law and education remains essential to understanding the vital concepts of democratic values.

-Alan Haynes, J.D.
Assistant Service Professor in Law and Director of Pipeline Initiatives


Required Courses

Core courses
Fundamentals of the American Legal System
Legal Research and Writing
Choose two from the following:
Criminal Law
Constitutional Law
Contracts
Property Law
Torts

Concentration Emphasis Courses

Course NameCourse Numbers
Administrative LawLW 7704
Education Law*LW 7380
Child Protective ServicesLW 7265
Employment LawLW 7600
Family LawLW 8604
Family Law MediationLW 6200
Federal Education LawLW 5313
Immigration LawLW 5609
Juvenile LawLW 5612
MediationLW 5310
Mental Health and the LawLW 5610, 6600
NegotiationsLW 5310, 8761
Special Education LawLW 5608, 7234
School Discipline, Expulsion and Due ProcessLW 5614
Digital Evidence and RecordsLW 5612
Advanced Torts: Personal Injury of ChildrenLW XXXX

Courses marked with an * are required electives. Two additional courses from the list must be chosen.

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Applying to the M.Jur.

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