Academic Programs

LL.M. Program in International Human Rights

Geared toward lawyers from outside the United States, this program provides specialized study and research in international human rights law. Students in this program analyze human rights issues with members of the faculty who are specialists in the field, while also drawing upon the resources of Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, and Department of Political Science. These collaborations allow our students to 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

The J.S.D. program is designed for those who intend to teach and pursue research at the university level. Applicants admitted to the J.S.D. program have demonstrated potential for writing a dissertation of publishable quality—one that will make a significant scholarly contribution to the field. The CCHR typically admits one to three applicants each year to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.).

The J.S.D. degree requires two consecutive years of full-time residency. During year one, candidates must successfully complete at least 12 credit hours of course work. The second year is devoted to entirely to dissertation writing.

After the required two years of residency, candidates continue to work on their dissertation under the direction of a member of the Law School faculty, either in residence at Notre Dame or elsewhere. It typically takes three to five years to complete our J.S.D. degree requirements.

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