Law and Government Certificate

Students who desire to concentrate their elective courses of study and their co/extra-curricular activities in the general area of law and government can seek to earn a Certificate in Law and Government. The Certificate is an acknowledgment by the faculty that the student has successfully completed a focused course of study to expand his or her skill and knowledge in law and government, and those issues situated at the intersection of law, government, and public policy.

Course of Study

Required Courses

Elective Courses

Students must successfully complete at least 15 credit hours of Law and Government course work – the combination of required courses noted above plus selections from the elective courses listed on the chart below. Of the fifteen total required credit hours, a minimum of nine credit hours must be earned in courses taught by full-time Washburn Law faculty. Externship credits will not count towards this nine-credit minimum, and no more than four externship credits will count towards the fifteen-credit hour requirement for the Certificate.

Professional Development Requirement

Complete 500 minutes of participation in co/extra-curricular programming aimed at enhancing student understanding of important issues in the realm of law and government. Students can meet this requirement by participating in events sponsored by either the Center for Law and Government or any student organization presenting a program supported by the Center. Participation in any Washburn Law Centers for Excellence program that bears on government-related issues also counts toward meeting this requirement. Additionally, with pre-approval from Professor Robinson, participation in other activities and/or events may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Writing Requirement

Complete the upper-level writing requirement (or equivalent writing project) on a pre-approved Law and Government topic. Students may satisfy the Certificate writing requirement through Directed Research (LW763) or an alternative writing opportunity approved in advance by Professor Robinson. Students must receive a grade of "B" or better on the paper they submit to satisfy this requirement.

General Requirements

Students interested in pursuing a Law and Government Certificate must first meet with the faculty member administering the program (Professor Robinson) to declare their interest, plan their course of study, and, following the meeting, complete a "Meeting Summary." This must be done prior to completing 40 hours of study. [NOTE: This requirement will be adjusted to accommodate students who have completed 40 hours but desire to pursue this new Certificate opportunity.] Professor Robinson will serve as the student's Certificate advisor and must approve any waivers or alternative courses allowed or required by the program.

The student must complete 90 hours of total law school credit and achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the 15 hours of courses selected by the student to meet the Certificate requirements. Students who obtain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for courses used to satisfy their Certificate requirements will be awarded the Certificate in Law and Government (with distinction).

Elective Courses

Approved by the faculty: December 14, 2010
Effective: January 2011
Revised: October 5, 2011