Oct 03, 2024  
2020-2021 Catalog and Handbook 
    
2020-2021 Catalog and Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Advanced Certificate in Immigration Law Studies


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Program Director: Dawn Picken
CUNY School of Professional Studies
119 West 31st Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10001
Email Contact: immigrationlaw@sps.cuny.edu

Mission

The mission of the Advanced Certificate in Immigration Law Program is to educate students on U.S. immigration law, through online instruction led by active legal professionals. By teaching applicable law and the ethical and legal restrictions on the practice of law to those working with immigrants, the immigration law certificate program seeks to provide students with the knowledge they need to work with immigrant populations, advocate on behalf of immigrants and live in an internationally diverse society.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Immigration Law Advanced Certificate will be able to:

  1. Identify and analyze immigration issues in fact patterns to assess an individual’s legal status and options.
  2. Locate and access the resources needed to analyze immigration law issues.
  3. Identify major immigration applications and forms, their purposes, and issues.
  4. Develop strategies for successful presentation of major applications.
  5. Recognize the ethical and legal restrictions and implications of the unauthorized practice of law.

The Program

Immigration is one of the most pressing contemporary issues in the United States. Professionals across the country, working in many fields, are faced with immigrant employment and family issues on a regular basis. The Advanced Certificate in Immigration Law offers a unique opportunity for those working with immigrants, employers, and families to:

  • Understand law and regulations governing immigration and citizenship;
  • Learn how to comply with rapidly evolving immigration policies;
  • Learn how to file petitions and applications;
  • Witness immigration court proceedings first hand;
  • Work with top CUNY faculty and legal experts; and,
  • Gain expertise to professionally advance.

Students will learn how to: determine an individual’s eligibility for benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act; access the resources needed to analyze complicated legal issues; identify and complete standard immigration applications and petitions; and, recognize the ethical and legal restrictions on the practice of law by non-attorneys.

Graduates may pursue careers working with immigrant populations in areas such as law, education and non-profit and community-based organizations. It is important to note that this program does not qualify anyone who does not hold an attorney’s license to practice law.

Online course format:

All courses in the program are available online. The online courses in the Immigration Law program are provided asynchronously, which allows students to read course materials, participate in class discussions and complete assignments at their own pace each week. For more information about online learning at CUNY SPS, visit http://sps.cuny.edu/online.

Admissions Criteria

Candidates for admission to advanced certificate programs must possess a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher from an accredited undergraduate institution.

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