May 08, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Legal Studies Graduate Certificate


The Legal Studies Graduate Certificate is intended for working professionals and graduate/PhD students whose fields intersect with the law and who would benefit from legal studies but do not wish to pursue the JD or MLSD degrees. The certificate is available to individuals who are 1) pursuing other academic programs at the master’s or doctoral levels, or 2) post-baccalaureate and enrolled solely in a graduate certificate program. Home department: College of Law .

Campus Code


Knoxville Campus
Distance Education

Graduate Certificate Type


Add-On
Stand-Alone (earned terminal degree required)

Admissions Standards/Procedures


  • Since graduate certificates are university credentials, a student must apply through the Office of Graduate Admissions to the graduate certificate program.
  • Students must be admitted to the certificate program prior to completing six graduate credit hours toward the certificate.
  • Students must maintain a minimum 3.00 graduate grade point average once in the program and complete the requirements of the certificate program as stated in the Graduate Catalog to be awarded the graduate certificate.
  • Students must submit an application to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs prior to the commencement of the student’s final semester.

Academic Standards


A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 is required on all graduate coursework taken at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to remain in good standing and to receive any graduate degree or certificate from the university. Graduate Certificate students will be graded separately from JD students on a scale that correlates with the University’s grading policies for graduate students. The grades of any Graduate Certificate student in particular class will not be taken into account for purposes of determining any applicable required course mean or median.

Credit Hours Required


15 law credit hours

Required Courses


NOTE: At least three (3) credit hours for the certificate must be earned outside of the requirements of the degree(s) and other certificates.

Additional Course Requirements


Students must complete the remaining 9-11 credit hours from other Law courses. Students are not permitted to enroll in the following Law courses: 811, 820, 905, 906, 907, 908, 911, 945, 946, 947, 948, 949, 950, 951, 952, 953, 982, 983, 987, 989, 991, 992, 995, 996, 997, 999. A student’s enrollment in upper-level Law courses (i.e., courses outside of the required curriculum for first year J.D. students) is subject to the approval of the relevant faculty member, who may also require completion of prerequisites that JD students would have completed prior to taking the class. Students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies will register for classes after the registration periods for JD students (and MLSD students if applicable) have closed.

Non-Course Requirements


To receive the certificate, students must:
1) complete the Graduate Certificate Course Verification Form (located on the Graduate School webpage under the Forms Central tab) and
2) through MyUTK, apply to graduate from the certificate program.