Graduate specializations allow students to focus their elective coursework on a specific topical area. 

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Management of the courts and the judicial process in contemporary society requires expert knowledge and complex skills. The courts need qualified professionals who can ensure that the public receives timely and just resolution to cases requiring judicial intervention.

The Specialization in Judicial Administration, which is administered by the School of Criminal Justice within the College of Social Science, is available online as an option to students who are enrolled in Masters degree programs at Michigan State University.

This specialization is designed to meet the educational needs of students currently working in the judicial system. It prepares students to understand the purposes and responsibilities of the courts; leadership and its role in guiding the courts; and interaction with the community. It provides opportunities to learn how to obtain and manage human resources including staff education and development, budgets, and fiscal resources; manage cases and information technology effectively; envision and plan strategically; and implement and manage auxiliary court programs and
required services, which complement and support the core functions of the courts.

With the approval of the department or school and college that administers the student’s degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the master’s degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s guidance committee for the specialization.

Requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Judicial Administration

The student must complete all of the following (12 credits)

Equivalent courses may be substituted with approval of the Criminal Justice academic adviser.

Upon completion of the requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Judicial Administration, the student should contact the Director of the School of Criminal Justice and request certification for the completion of the specialization. After the certification is approved by the Director of the School of Criminal Justice and the Associate Dean of the College of Social Science, the Office of the Registrar will enter on the student’s academic record the name of the specialization and the date that it was completed. This certification will appear on the student’s transcript.

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The complexities of modern society have combined to generate a variety of threats to business organizations, information networks, government installations and operations, and individuals. The Graduate Specialization in Security Management is designed for students who are interested in private and government security.

The specialization, which is administered by the School of Criminal Justice, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in master's degree programs at Michigan State University. The specialization should be of particular interest to students who are enrolled in certain programs in the Eli Broad College of Business and the College of Social Science.

The Specialization in Security Management is designed to help students to understand:

1. The business and technical aspects of protecting private and government assets.

2. The administrative, management, technical, and legal problems of asset protection and loss prevention.

3. Concepts related to protecting personal and personnel rights, proprietary information, facilities, and other assets of an organization.

4. Security's relationship to the value of freedom and democratic principles in our society.

With the approval of the department or school and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the master's degree.

Requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Security Management (on-campus):

* Students enrolled in the Criminal Justice Masters program will note that CJ 801, CJ 811, and CJ 812 are core courses applicable to Masters program requirements.

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