About the Program
As the challenges facing our court systems mount, it is essential that the judiciary be equipped for transition. At the forefront of this movement is the highly successful Judicial Studies Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, one of only two such programs offered nationwide. The Master of Judicial Studies Degree program, established in 1986, has had an unmistakable impact on the field of judicial education, currently enrolling judge-participants from 33 states and several foreign countries.

Additionally, we are now also proud to offer a Doctor of Philosophy in Judicial Studies, generously funded by the E.L. Cord Foundation. The only doctoral degree program in the nation for judges, the Judicial Studies doctorate is conferred by the University of Nevada, Reno for work of distinction, and like the masters program, is organized jointly with the National Judicial College and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Holding some of the most prestigious public offices, judges are expected to possess the highest ethical standards, wisdom, independence and impartiality — our citizens demand it. The university’s outstanding judicial studies degree program is intended to provide a formal academic setting in which to meet these goals.

Trial judges and juvenile and family court judges can integrate technical studies of the judiciary with more academic ones in an effort to provide an intellectual assessment of the role of the American judiciary. Toward this end, the National Judicial College and National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges provide a series of courses treating technical subject matter, and the University of Nevada, Reno provides specially designed courses that treat judicially related issues from a liberal arts perspective.

Master of Judicial Studies
The Master of Judicial Studies (MJS) is a specialized degree program for judges. The MJS degree is conferred solely by the university and is organized jointly by Extended Studies, the National Judicial College, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. The degree program is one of only two such programs in the nation.

Doctorate of Philosophy, Judicial Studies
The only doctoral degree program in the nation for judges, the Judicial Studies doctorate of philosophy is conferred by the university for work of distinction, and is organized jointly by Extended Studies, the National Judicial College, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Related Links

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges: www.ncjfcj.org

National Judicial College: www.judges.org

Center for Judicial Studies: www.unr.edu/justicestudies

State Justice Institute: www.statejustice.org

Program Contacts

For more information about Judicial Studies Degree Programs contact:

James Richardson, Program Director or
Denise Schaar-Buis, Program Coordinator
Judicial Studies Program/311
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557
Phone: (775) 784-6270
E-mail: jsp@unr.nevada.edu