Degree: Certificates

Master of Jurisprudence – Special Education Advocacy Concentration

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

Special Education Advocacy 

The field of special education and advocacy is a growing and in-demand field with strong career prospects, both nationally and in Texas. Pursuing a graduate program in this field can help professionals advance their careers and make a positive impact on the lives of students with disabilities and their families. Our Master of Jurisprudence with a concentration in Special Education Advocacy is designed to prepare students for careers in special education teaching, advocacy and related fields. This new graduate degree concentration can aid school personnel, service providers and those advocating on behalf of students with disabilities and their families in gaining a greater understanding of the law in this area.

Upon learning of this ground-breaking M.Jur. program in Special Education Advocacy, I immediately applied. This innovative graduate program concentration is the first and only one to receive acquiescence from the American Bar Association and it is entirely online, making it accessible wherever an advocate may live. I hope others will join me and enroll, taking one step forward towards making special education advocacy a true profession.

– Patricia Johnson Howey
M.Jur. Special Education Advocacy 2024 Graduate

Professional advancement

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of special education teachers and advocates is projected to grow 3% from 2020 to 2030. This growth is driven by an increasing demand for special education services for students with disabilities. In addition, there is a growing need for advocates who can help families navigate the complex special education system. In Texas, the BLS reports that employment of special education teachers is projected to grow 5% from 2019 to 2029, which is slightly faster than the national average. Texas has a large and diverse population, including many students with disabilities who require special education services. Additionally, there is a need for advocates who can support families in navigating the special education system in Texas.

Catherine M. Michael, J.D. is an attorney who is licensed and practices throughout the states of Indiana, Texas, Michigan and Ohio. She focuses on representing children and their families in a myriad of personal injury and education law issues. Her expertise encompasses personal injury of children and disabled adults, special education due process, Section 504 matters, expulsion and disciplinary challenges, and tort-related litigation including sexual abuse, molestation and rape both within and outside school settings, as well as private school disputes and discipline. 

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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

Additional Special Education Training Opportunities

The St. Mary’s University School of Law offers a Special Education Advocacy Summit.

Learn more

Concentration Emphasis Courses

Course NameCourse Numbers
Administrative Law*LW 5302
Education Law*LW 5309
Special Education Law*LW 5608, 7234
Child Protective ServicesLW 6600
Employment LawLW 5308, 8791
Family LawLW 7331
Family Law MediationLW 7295
Federal Education LawLW 6600
Immigration LawLW 9441
Juvenile LawLW 8244
MediationLW 8755
Mental Health and the LawLW 5610, 6600
NegotiationsLW 5310, 8761
School Discipline, Expulsion and Due ProcessLW 5614
Trauma Informed AdvocacyLW 5230
Digital Evidence and RecordsLW 5612
Personal Injury of ChildrenLW 5211

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

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

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Curious which Law Certificate is right for you? Questions about the admission process or the program? Our team will answer any questions and help you through the process when you’re ready.

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Applying to the M.Jur.

See details about admission requirements and how to apply:

Apply for Fall 2024
Apply for Spring 2025

Contact

Shannon Sevier, Assistant Dean for Graduate Law Programs

Health Care Compliance Certificate

Familiarize yourself with the major issues concerning the health care industry, including fraud prevention, an expansion of telemedicine and credentialing, antitrust enforcement and health care privacy regulation.

As the health care industry continues to grow, professionals in the field will be expected to manage a diversity of functions.

The 16-hour certificate in healthcare compliance is ideal for those already working in the health care sector or are looking to pivot into the health field.

Health Care Compliance Courses

CoursesCredit Hours
Fundamentals of the American Legal System2
Legal Research and Writing2
Compliance, Ethics and Risk Management3
Health Care Law3
Administrative Law & Regulatory Interpretation3
Business Law and Ethics1
HIPAA Privacy Law2

Accreditation

All of our compliance certificates are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College and have obtained acquiescence from the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.

St. Mary’s School of Law is the only law school in Texas that is accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB)®. J.D., M.Jur. and LL.M. students who complete the requirements are eligible to sit for any of the CCB’s certification exams for up to a year after graduation, without any additional continuing education or professional work experience requirements.

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Curious which Law Certificate is right for you? Questions about the admission process or the program? Our team will answer any questions and help you through the process when you’re ready.

Request Info

Applying to the Law Certificate Program

See details about admission requirements and how to apply:

Apply for Fall 2024
Apply for Spring 2025

Contact

Shannon Sevier, Assistant Dean for Graduate Law Programs

Armando Prado, Director of Graduate Law Admissions and Enrollment Management

Legal Studies Certificate

The legal studies certificate will give professionals a deeper understanding of the American legal system, and is ideal for those who work in areas that frequently intersect with the law, such as human relations, the court system, journalism, social work, technology and business.

In addition to a broader understanding of the law, students can choose a field of law to specialize in, and add a concentration to their certificate.

Legal Studies Certificate Courses

All students who wish to earn their Legal Studies Certificate must complete the Fundamentals of the American Legal System course.

This course will help lay the foundation for your knowledge of the law. Depending upon concentration choice, curricular requirements may vary.

Course selection is completed in consultation with the program director, who will assist you in tailoring a program to your professional goals. Students can choose to take a variety of courses, or develop a specific track with an emphasis in a particular area.

Legal Studies Concentrations

  • Cyber Law and Data Security
  • Education Law
  • Tax Law
  • Employment and Human Resources Law
  • Administrative Law
  • Health Law
  • International and Comparative Law
  • Business and Entrepreneurship Law
  • Oil and Gas Law
  • Procurement Law

Request Information

Curious which Law Certificate is right for you? Questions about the admission process or the program? Our team will answer any questions and help you through the process when you’re ready.

Request Info

Applying to the Law Certificate Program

See details about admission requirements and how to apply:

Apply for Fall 2024
Apply for Spring 2025

Contact

Shannon Sevier, Assistant Dean for Graduate Law Programs

Armando Prado, Director of Graduate Law Admissions and Enrollment Management

Compliance, Business Law and Risk Certificate

The field of compliance law has experienced significant growth and rapid evolution within the past few years. The 15-hour compliance, business law and risk certificate will provide a comprehensive overview of compliance, which is applicable to a majority of commercial fields and government organizations, especially in light of the regulatory changes prompted by the 2008 global financial crisis.

Compliance, Business Law and Risk Courses

CoursesCredit Hours
Fundamentals of the American Legal System2
Contracts4
Administrative Law & Regulatory Interpretation3
Compliance, Ethics and Risk Management3
HIPAA Privacy Law2
Business Law & Ethics1

Accreditation

All of our compliance certificates are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College and have obtained acquiescence from the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.

St. Mary’s School of Law is the only law school in Texas that is accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB)®. J.D., M.Jur. and LL.M. students who complete the requirements are eligible to sit for any of the CCB’s certification exams for up to a year after graduation, without any additional continuing education or professional work experience requirements.

Request Information

Curious which Law Certificate is right for you? Questions about the admission process or the program? Our team will answer any questions and help you through the process when you’re ready.

Request Info

Applying to the Law Certificate Program

See details about admission requirements and how to apply:

Apply for Fall 2024
Apply for Spring 2025

Contact

Shannon Sevier, Assistant Dean for Graduate Law Programs

Armando Prado, Director of Graduate Law Admissions and Enrollment Management

Certificates

In a world of ever-changing circumstances, it is important to have access to trusted and professionally accredited academic opportunities. Micro-credentials such as our certificate programs in Compliance and Health Care Compliance can be completed in one semester, can be stacked with additional courses should you decide to pursue a Master’s degree with us in the future and indicate unique professional development that will set you apart from your peers.

Students will have the option of a Master’s track or Certificate track, and can start in either Fall or Spring.

Accreditation

All of our compliance certificates are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College and have obtained acquiescence from the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.

St. Mary’s School of Law is the only law school in Texas that is accredited by the  Compliance Certification Board (CCB)® . J.D., M.Jur. and LL.M. students who complete the requirements are eligible to sit for any of the CCB’s certification exams for up to a year after graduation, without any additional continuing education or professional work experience requirements.

More about the Certificates

St. Mary’s University School of Law has been offering online courses since 2016. All of our professors are certified to teach online and each course has gone through a rigorous review process. Our programs provide the education and experience that an individual will need to excel in the fields of Compliance & Health Care Compliance online, and if qualifications are met, will enable you to sit for one of five professional exams offered by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB).

We are one of 14 schools with accredited programs nationwide and one of 15 globally. The degree and the certification-by-exam are just what you need to jump-start your career and differentiate you from other professionals in the same field.

About the Compliance,
Business Law and Risk Certificate

The 15-hour Compliance, Business Law and Risk Certificate will provide a comprehensive overview of compliance, which is applicable to a majority of commercial fields and government organizations, especially in light of the regulatory changes prompted by the 2008 global financial crisis.

About the Health Care
Compliance Certificate

The 16-hour Certificate in Health Care Compliance is ideal for those already working in the health care sector or are looking to pivot into the health field.

Familiarize yourself with the major issues concerning the health care industry, including fraud prevention, an expansion of telemedicine and credentialing, antitrust enforcement and health care privacy regulation.

About the Legal
Studies Certificate

The Legal Studies Certificate will give professionals a deeper understanding of the American legal system, and is ideal for those who work in areas that frequently intersect with the law.

In addition to a broader understanding of the law, students can choose a field of law to specialize in, and add a concentration to their certificate.

Request Information

Curious which Law Certificate is right for you? Questions about the admission process or the program? Our team will answer any questions and help you through the process when you’re ready.

Request Info

Applying to the Law Certificate Program

See details about admission requirements and how to apply:

Apply for Fall 2024
Apply for Spring 2025

Contact

Shannon Sevier, Assistant Dean for Graduate Law Programs

Armando Prado, Director of Graduate Law Admissions and Enrollment Management

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