Certificates & Tracks

Unlike in your undergraduate education, you do not need to “major” in a particular subject. Whatever you want to do with your law degree, Maryland Carey Law will prepare you to excel in that field, connect you with our impressive alumni network in your areas of interest, and advise you along the way.

We encourage you to take a broad array of courses beyond the required curriculum to explore various subject areas, sharpen your professional skills, provide you with opportunities to blend legal theory with practice, and prepare you for the bar exam. You will learn from faculty who are leading scholars and attorneys in their areas of expertise, who are dedicated to teaching and mentoring students. 

What are certificates and tracks?

If you want to deepen your study of a particular subject area, Maryland Carey Law offers specialty certificates and tracks in several areas connected with our highly regarded, nationally ranked specialty programs.

The certificates and tracks provide you with a specialized course of study that combines core courses, practical training, professional development opportunities, career counseling, and networking with leading professionals and attorneys in that field. Certificates and tracks provide a field-specific structured curriculum that includes core courses, seminars, and practical experiences.

Specialty certificate programs include:

Tracks include:

What is the difference between a certificate and a track?

Certificate programs have been approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. If you successfully complete a certificate program, it will appear on your transcript. Certificate programs require at least 17 qualifying credits, along with both a writing and experiential requirement. Tracks are similar to certificate programs but may have more flexible requirements. You can designate successful completion of a track on your resume, but it does not appear on your transcript.

Why pursue a specialty certificate or career track?

Specialty certificates or tracks work well if you know you want to pursue a particular professional path. Or you may want greater flexibility to explore many different subject areas, without pursuing a specialty certificate or track.

  • Focused Curriculum: Certificates and tracks have a structured curriculum designed to cover key legal topics and emerging policy issues within the chosen area of law, taught by faculty experts and leading scholars and attorneys in the field. This focused curriculum ensures you receive a well-rounded education specific to your interest in a particular legal field.
  • In-Depth Knowledge: Certificates and tracks provide a comprehensive education in a particular area of law. This allows you to gain a deep understanding of the nuances, complexities, and specific law and policy issues within that field. You can enter the field well prepared to be “practice-ready” in that subject area.
  • Career Focus: If you know that you want to study or practice in a particular subject area, a certificate or track offers you the customized education and experience needed to excel in that field. For example, someone interested in business law can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become an effective business law attorney. If you do not know the legal field in which you want to practice, a certificate or track may not be right for you. Instead, take a wide array of courses in many different subject areas, with a robust menu of doctrinal electives, theoretical and policy seminars, and practical skills courses.
  • Networking Opportunities: All Maryland Carey Law students have access to our career development programming and a vast, engaged alumni network. Specialized certificates and tracks connect you with a supportive community of faculty, alumni, and other students who share similar interests not only in the classroom, but outside of the classroom in professional development workshops, alumni and practitioner panels, symposia and roundtables on cutting-edge issues, and other extra-curricular opportunities.
  • Job Market Advantage: Some legal fields demand specialized expertise. Completing a certificate or track may give you a competitive advantage in those fields by signaling to employers your strong commitment and specialized academic training in a specific subject area.

If you are interested in a certificate or track, you should contact the managing director or faculty leaders for the program to learn more about the program requirements. You should indicate your intent to complete a certificate or track at least one semester prior to graduation.

Whatever path you choose, Maryland Carey Law will prepare you for excellence in the profession.

Certificates

Tracks