Academic Programs
LL.M. Program in International Human Rights
This program is designed to provide lawyers—primarily those from outside the United States—the opportunity to engage in specialized study and research in human rights law. As a student in this program, you will analyze human rights issues with members of the faculty who are specialists in the field of international human rights law. You will also draw upon the resources of Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute for International Studies, the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, and the Department of Political Science. This way, you study both the legal processes that pertain to the pursuit of human rights as well as the social, economic, and political contexts in which human rights are violated, protected or promoted.
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J.S.D. Program in International Human Rights
Admitted students to the J.S.D. program have demonstrated potential for writing a thesis of publishable quality that will make a significant scholarly contribution to the field of human rights.
The Notre Dame Law School admits a minimum of one student each year to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.). The J.S.D. program is designed for those who intend to teach and pursue research at the university level.
The J.S.D. degree requires two consecutive years of full-time residency. During the first year, you must successfully complete at least 12 credit hours of course work. The second year is devoted to dissertation writing full-time.
After the required two years of residency, you may continue to work on your dissertation under the direction of a member of the Law School faculty. During this time you may remain in residence at Notre Dame or complete your work elsewhere.
Completion of the J.S.D. degree requirements ordinarily takes three to five years.
