Working in the California judicial branch today is an exciting opportunity to contribute towards maintaining a strong and impartial judicial system that will be accessible to the public we serve. The Sacramento State program provides students with an opportunity to learn from individuals that have been involved in the California judicial system during some of the most dynamic and innovative times for the judiciary. The Administrative Office of the Courts is excited to participate in a program that will introduce and inspire individuals to a career in judicial administration.
William C. Vickrey
Administrative Director of the Courts
The Department of Public Policy and Administration is proud to announce the establishment of graduate level certificate and concentration programs in judicial administration. These new programs, among the only ones of their types in the nation, have been developed in close cooperation with the California Administrative Office of the Courts and others directly involved in judicial administration. The programs reflect regional and statewide need for post-baccalaureate education as California courts move forward in their mission to provide access and fairness to a burgeoning population. Major changes in court policy and operations in the last decade demand an educational complement.
The four course certificate in judicial administration is designed for highly motivated individuals already working in the courts. The certificate will greatly enhance skills, making certificate holders capable of securing higher levels of responsibility within the court system.
The three course concentration in judicial administration is aimed at Sacramento State MPPA students who may wish to apply their master’s level abilities in the dynamic field of court administration.
This Web page contains links to specific information about such matters as application procedures and course descriptions. We also welcome inquiries from people within and outside the Sacramento State community who might be interested in more information about our programs.
2. Students who have successfully completed the Judicial Administration Fellowship Program (http://www.csus.edu/calst/judicial/) may substitute PPA 298A/B for PPA 291, Court Governance and Operations.
Specialization in Judicial Administration is offered through a four-course stand-alone graduate certificate. The program, developed in close coordination with a variety of court administrators, is open to 1) currently enrolled MPPA students at Sacramento State who desire to earn a specialized concentration in court administration and 2) selected individuals with a bachelor’s degree and direct experience in judicial administration.
Applications are accepted October 1 - November 30 for this certificate program.
Due to budget constraints and inadequate enrollment, the program will be sequenced every other year. The next full sequence begins fall 2011, with an application deadline of November 30, 2010.
- Deadline is November 30.
- Applications will be reviewed in the order they are completed.
- Qualifications
- Applicants will be screened for demonstrated interest in the court environment and aptitude to complete the program over a four semester sequence. Current court employees who desire to further their careers in the courts are encouraged to apply. The following qualifying criteria will be weighed:
- Completion of Bachelors degree
- Verification of graduation
- Academic record (GPA and rigor of academic coursework)
- Relevant work experience
- Statement of purpose
- Two letters of recommendation, one from a supervisor and one from an individual in a professional or academic position familiar with the applicant’s work
- Application
- Required
- California State University application (http://www.csumentor.edu/admissionapp/grad_apply.asp)
- Two sets of official transcripts submit to Graduate Center (http://www.csus.edu/ppa/define/gradcenter_contact.htm)
- Program Application
- Two letters of recommendation and recommendation forms
- One to two page statement of purpose (http://www.csus.edu/ppa/define/statement.htm)
- Optional
- Curriculum vita or resume
- Copies of all transcripts to the department -- expedites review of your application (unofficial transcripts OK for this purpose only)
- Download the application:
- PDF (http://www.csus.edu/ppa/forms/JudAdm_application.pdf)
Word (http://www.csus.edu/ppa/forms/JudAdm_application.doc)- Download the letter of recommendation form:
- PDF (http://www.csus.edu/ppa/forms/JudAdm_recommendation.pdf)
Word (http://www.csus.edu/ppa/forms/JudAdm_recommendation.doc)- Attach to the application a statement of purpose and letters of recommendation (with forms). Letters of recommendation may be sent under separate cover to:
- Department of Public Policy & Administration
Judicial Administration Certificate Program
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6081
Students can earn a Certificate in Judicial Administration by successfully completing a 12- unit, four-course sequence designed to cover the theoretical and practical aspects of court administration in the State of California.
Required Courses (12 units) (3) PPA 291, Court Governance and Operations (3) PPA 292, Court Management (3) PPA 293, Court Leadership (3) PPA 294, Emerging Issues in Judicial Administration Admission Requirements
- Enrollment in the Sacramento State MPPA Program
OR
- The baccalaureate degree AND application for the Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration AND determination that the application meets the eligibility criteria developed by the Department of Public Policy and Administration. Review of the application includes evaluation of submitted documentation:
- Transcripts
- Relevant work experience
- Statement of purpose
- Recommendation
- Deadline is November 30.
- Applications will be reviewed in the order they are completed.
Fees
Students enrolled in the certificate program can expect to pay part time graduate student fees if enrolled in 6 or fewer units, or full time graduate student fees if enrolled in more than 6 units. Please see the 2009/2010 University Fee schedule (http://www.csus.edu/schedule/fall2009spring2010/fees.stm) for details. (Fee schedule is updated annually and is subject to change.)Certificate Completion http://www.csus.edu/ppa/curriculum/certificate_completion.html
The University requires two forms, the Academic Certificate Course Verification and Application for Academic Certificate (with $10 fee), to determine completion of the certificate.Request Information http://www.csus.edu/ppa/judicial/info_request.htm
The two-track concentration and certificate in Judicial Administration offers specialized training in the interdisciplinary study of the courts, a study coming to be recognized as a component of public administration. The program, developed in close coordination with a variety of court administrators, is open to currently enrolled MPPA students at Sacramento State. Three courses, or nine units, are required to fulfill the requirements of the concentration. Students may also opt to take an additional course to earn the complementary twelve-unit Certificate in Judicial Administration.
Admission Requirements
- Enrollment in the Sacramento State MPPA Program
Required Courses for the Concentration (9 units) (3) PPA 291, Court Governance and Operations (3) PPA 292, Court Management (3) PPA 293, Court Leadership
Additional Required Course for the Certificate (3 units) (3) PPA 294, Emerging Issues in Judicial Administration
Following are detailed course descriptions. Syllabi will be available on the MPPA syllabi page (http://www.csus.edu/mppa/syllabi/) during the semester the course if offered.
- PPA 291, Court Governance and Operations. (3 units)
Offered fall semester.- Studies the state judiciary as both independent and interdependent with the legislative and executive branches of government at both the state and local level. Examines the ways statewide policy changes such as Court Unification and Trial Court Funding have altered the relationship of the courts with external governing bodies. Within the judicial branch, studies the role of the Judicial Council and the statewide Administrative Office of the Court. Finally, looks at the ways trial and appeals courts organize and govern themselves through the role of the presiding judge, the executive officer and executive committees. Builds knowledge about the court purposes, jurisdiction and organization by examining governance principles and the ways courts actually function through specific operations such as case flow management, civil and criminal procedures, legal writing and research, and jury management. The goal is to develop foundational knowledge of the historical and evolving governing and operational principles of the California court system.
- PPA 292, Court Management. (3 units)
Offered spring semester.
Prerequisite: Court Governance and Operations- Uses interdisciplinary literature on management theories and examples from several areas key to effective court management to illustrate concepts and provide practical examples. Explores ten core competencies identified by the National Association for Court Management: (1) Purposes of Courts and Court Systems; (2) Visioning and strategic planning; (3) Case flow management; (4) Information Technology Management; (5) Public Information and Media Relations; (6) Employee Training and Development; (7) Ancillary Services and Programs; (8) Human Resource Management; (9) Leadership; and (10) Resources, Budget and Finance.
- PPA 293, Court Leadership. (3 units)
Offered fall semester.- Draws from literature across the disciplines and professions including business and non-profit sectors, this course examines what makes a “leadership organization.” Students are challenged to research what ideas and best practices can be modeled or adopted by the courts to bring innovation to the organization. Examining leadership in the court environment as distinct from management, the student investigates how leadership principles are exercised in pivotal areas of the courts: community relations, creativity and innovation, organizational change, workforce development, succession planning, strategic planning and re-engineering.
- PPA 294, Emerging Issues in Judicial Administration. (3 units)
Offered spring semester.- Response to challenges and demands for innovations and improvements in the delivery of justice mirror the complexity and shape of the world. Because the California courts are in the forefront of court administration nationally, when court leaders find themselves faced with unanticipated demands, how they respond to such challenges is followed by the nation – both the courts and the public. The goals of this course are to explore some of the most current challenges faced by the California courts and analyze the role court leadership and management play in meeting those challenges
Course Delivery
Classes will be held at the Administrative Office of the Courts, Northern/Central Regional Office, 2880 Gateway Oaks Drive, Ste. 300, Sacramento, California 95833.
- The location of this class is easily accessible by car, air, train and bus.
- Two meetings per month on a Friday and Saturday, each day having six hours of instruction time, is the equivalent of a standard fourteen week graduate seminar (meeting weekly).
- Guest lectures featuring judicial and court administrative officers.
For further questions regarding application and admission, please contact:
| Rob Wassmer Professor, MPPA California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, CA 95819-6081 916-278-6557 rwassme@csus.edu |
Donna Hoenig-Couch Associate Director Center for California Studies California State University Sacramento, CA 95819-6081 916-278-6906 hoenigco@csus.edu |