Welcome to the Certificate in Education Law Program

The Education Law Certificate program offers education professionals the opportunity to participate in a focused course of study that examines the modern interplay of law and education. This one year, 18 credit program, provides students with the framework to identify and understand legal issues that frequently arise in educational settings. Students learn to apply legal research techniques in order to find statutes, case law and administrative materials to become better informed on issues they face in their professional careers. The Certificate graduate will be better prepared to respond to the legal challenges presented in an increasingly complex area of law and practice.

Historically the establishment of educational systems was left to the states. While states still bear the primary responsibility of providing a public education, the federal government and administrative regulations have substantially influenced education in America. Complex legislation such as I.D.E.A., F.E.R.P.A., and No Child Left Behind compel states to provide a free and appropriate public education while removing forms of discrimination to ensure equal opportunities for all students. Compliance with the state and federal legislative mandates has proven to be a constant source of legal tension generating numerous challenges to the propriety of actions taken by school officials. These challenges have increased over time as the law has continued to expand and influence educational practices.

In addition to long standing legal issues like student prayer and free speech, new issues such as campus safety, educational accountability, school vouchers, bullying, cyber-stalking, reasonable accommodations, and teacher rights are just a few of the legal issues that face school administrators and teachers. The landscape of education has become more responsive to legal requirements even though individuals charged with implementing school polices and procedures are many times not attorneys, but rather educators. The need for focused study on education law can provide critical insight to the practical aspects of education law as applied to the day-today running of a school, school district, or classroom.

Each student will complete four 10-week terms of coursework.  Students take two courses per session. Certificate students will be in courses with Master of Science in Education Law students. 
To accommodate the need of education professionals to remain in their present location and employment and, at the same time, draw upon a nationwide faculty, the certificate program is uniquely offered via NSU Law’s state-of-the-art, Internet-based distance learning technology. All coursework will be accomplished conveniently from the student’s own home, on the student’s own timing, without requirement compromise of career and other obligations.

The program begins with a brief, on-campus mandatory orientation. At this time, students will become orientated with classmates, meet the faculty, and undergo intensive computer training.
Online courses are all asynchronous, meaning that students do not need to access their online course at any participate time during the day. The program is, however, characterized by a great deal of required interactivity. Students will often find themselves online nearly everyday. Such interactivity promotes a high-quality learning experience and differentiates this program from a correspondence or “self-study” program. Some professors will hold live chats during their courses.

Grades are available to students via the Nova Webstar system. http://webstar.nova.edu The certificate program in Education Law uses the following grading scale: A, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, and F.