PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE | FULLY ONLINE
TRIBAL COURTS & JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION (TCJA)
check_box 467 CTPP - Tribal Courts Practice and Procedure
Starting Jan 14, 2026
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The Professional Development Certificate in Tribal Courts and Justice Administration is designed to provide a strong foundation in the workings of tribal courts and justice systems for working professionals wishing to expand their knowledge of tribal court systems. This program prepares you for a wide range of tribal-justice related careers and teaches you the foundations of Native American law and policy. The curriculum covers topics ranging from federal Indian law, tribal courts, tribal criminal law, and tribal family law, all taught by industry leading faculty.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
calendar_month FULLY ONLINE ASYNCHRONOUS CLASSES
wifi Offering Flexible Learning to Fit Your Schedule
The courses are available fully online, offered over 7.5 weeks with flexible, asynchronous content. This means lectures are pre-recorded and accessible at your convenience, allowing you to balance work and study effectively.
There's no requirement to be online at specific times, ensuring minimal disruption to your work schedule and family time. Weekly tasks are part of the curriculum, but with the self-paced nature of the course, you can manage these alongside work commitments. You will have an instructor who will be facilitating online content and available if you have questions or concerns.
COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Judge Michael Harralson
Chief Judge, Lower Sioux Indian Community
Michael Harralson is the owner of Lakes Legal PLLC, based in Minneapolis, MN, where he provides judicial services for Tribal Nations. Judge Harralson currently serves as Chief Judge for the Lower Sioux Indian Community. He also serves on the benches of the Prairie Island Indian Community, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, and the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Additionally, he is an Associate Justice on the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Supreme Court. Judge Harralson also sits on the Board of Directors of the National American Indian Court Judges Association.
filter_4 Course Choices
The Professional Development Certificate in Tribal Courts and Justice Administration is available both to University of Arizona students and to members of the community interested in administering justice in Indian country.
Students pursuing this 9-credit certificate must complete three of the following four courses:
| check_box_outline_blank | 450A NALP | Native American Law and Policy (3 credits): Explores the place and status of Tribal Governments in our federal system, focusing in particular on federal policy decisions underlying various laws and statutes. The course examines ways to interpret and apply the relevant laws and explores the impact that would be result from changing the policy behind those laws. Graduate students will be assigned differential graduate-level coursework outlined in the course syllabus. |
| check_box_outline_blank | 467 CTPP | Tribal Courts Practice and Procedure (3 credits): This course provides students with an in overview of the applicable tribal, state and federal laws and procedures governing native nations, with an in-depth examination of Indian tribal courts, their history, procedures along with the roles of their participants. This course will also focus on the organization of the judicial structure within tribal nations. |
| check_box_outline_blank | 468 CRLP | Tribal Criminal Law and Procedure 3 credits): This course will cover the basics of criminal law and procedure that apply in tribal courts in the United States. Students will gain an appreciation of the complexities of the maze of criminal jurisdiction in this area of law, and the unique problems that face native populations. |
| check_box_outline_blank | 469 FDRL | Native American Family and Domestic Relations Law (3 credits): This course concentrates on the role tribal courts and tribal jurisprudence play in regulating family relations impacting indigenous cultural values. Students will learn how the law protects native children and regulates parental rights, guardians, custodians, and the rights of traditional extended families. |
school TUITION COST & SCHOLARSHIP
paid TUITION FEE
| looks_one | Each Course | Each 3 credit course costs $500. |
| looks_3 | All three 9-Credits Courses | The total tuition cost to complete the certificate is $1,500 for 9 credits. |
| check_box | Completion Requirement | You can enroll in as many or as few as you like, you just need to complete 3 of the 4 courses to complete the certificate. |
| flip_camera_android | Enrollment Flexibility | Each of the courses run on a rolling basis, so you can complete the certificate at your own pace. |
article APPLICATION FEE
$25 non-refundable application fee is mandatory in order to complete the application.
| Pascua Yaqui enrolled students who receive a 100% scholarship will only pay the required $25 application fee ($0 tuition) |
| Students who receive a 50% scholarship will be required to pay the $25 application fee and 50% of the tuition fee ($250 tuition). |
| Students who receive a 25% scholarship will be required to pay the $25 application fee and 75% of the tuition fee ($350 tuition). |
The application fee payment link will be available on the application confirmation page after you have successfully submitted this application. Please indicate in the additional information field if you are paying on behalf of the applicant.
star SCHOLARSHIP
All PYT-UA Microcampus students are eligible for scholarships. Applicable scholarship awards are tiered, based on the below breakdown:
| PYT members and employees are eligible for up to 100% scholarships |
| Non-PYT applicants are eligible for up to 25-50% scholarships |
If you would like to be considered for a scholarship as part of this application form for each course, the application form will ask you to write a short statement (no more than 250 words) describing interest in the course, financial need, and circumstances that meet the selection criteria.
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