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Law and Policy Online Certificate Program
In the Law and Policy certificate, students explore and analyze the interplay of politics, public policies, and legal institutions that shape societies. A curriculum grounded in the social sciences, sociology, and political science equips students with an understanding of the ways law and policy evolve, intersect, and impact societal dynamics, with a particular focus on the role of race and ethnicity in these frameworks.
The certificate is ideal for professionals and students seeking research, analysis, or administration work in policy, law, or the public sector, or who are preparing for graduate study in related fields.
Learn from a faculty of industry leaders in this fully online certificate. Enhance your professional skillset and advance your career.
Or, apply credit earned to one of five SPS online bachelor's degrees.
Format
Online, asynchronous classes
Time to Completion
Four quarters (one year), one course per quarter
Quarter of Entry
Begin in any quarter
Number of Credits
Four courses to complete the certificate
Tuition
Estimated cost $2,300 per course
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About the Law and Policy Certificate Program
Law and Policy Goals and Courses
Program Goals
Law and Policy certificate students will:
- Examine the intersection of politics and public policies
- Explain how law, policy, and legal institutions developed across different temporal and geographic contexts
- Articulate the mutually constitutive relationship between society, law, and policy
- Analyze how race and ethnicity influence policy, law, and practice
Curriculum
Four courses are required:
- POLI SCI 230-DL Introduction to Law in the Political Arena
- SOC SCI 320-DL Social and Public Policy
- SOC SCI 322-DL Identity and U.S. Policy
- SOCIOL 318-DL Sociology of Law
VIEW COURSE SCHEDULE & DESCRIPTIONS
Admission for the Law and Policy Certificate
In addition to completing an online application, you'll also need to submit a few supplemental materials. A list of requirements for admission including application deadlines and tips on how to apply can be found at the Admission page.
Law and Policy Tuition
Certificate students in the School of Professional Studies pay per course. For more information about tuition and financial obligations, see the Tuition page.
Law and Policy Registration Information
Registration for courses opens 8 to 10 weeks before each quarter and is accessed CAESAR, Northwestern's online student records system. View course registration timelines and instructions on the Registration Information page.
Applying Credit to an Online Bachelor of Science Program
Students interested in the option of applying credit earned in an online undergraduate certificate to an SPS online bachelor's degree program should submit an online application and all required application materials. Students who elect to apply to a bachelor’s degree program before completing the certificate will be able to count completed courses toward the applicable bachelor’s degree, but a certificate will not be conferred.
If you are interested in exploring this option, contact an admission adviser for details.