Doctor of Juridical Science Degree (S.J.D.)

Program Overview

The University of Kansas School of Law is proud to offer an S.J.D. Program. This program is designed for students interested in engaging in in-depth legal scholarship and is particularly attractive for future academic leaders, government leaders, judges and others with a strong interest in the interplay of legal scholarship and practice. Candidates for the S.J.D. must hold a basic law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) and a master's (LL.M.) degree, possess a prestigious academic record, and show promise for reaching the highest ranks of legal service in their home country.

Admission to the S.J.D. Program

• Complete an LL.M. degree from any accredited law school faculty in the world. (The KU School of Law has discretion to waive the LL.M. degree prerequisite for S.J.D. admission. The waiver may be exercised in exceptional circumstances, but only for applicants holding a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.)

• Submit a dissertation proposal including title, table of contents, explanation and sample bibliography. Please note the dissertation proposal is the most important component of the application and should reveal why the candidate wants to study the dissertation topic and what arguments are likely to be raised in defense of the proposal. It is anticipated that an S.J.D. student will alter the proposal (e.g., with respect to its organization, methodology, theory, doctrine, etc.) based on research and discussions with faculty after joining the law school community.

• Submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and law school programs attended.

• Submit at least two letters of recommendation from persons who can attest to your ability to pursue advanced graduate work, including writing a dissertation.

• Provide proof of English proficiency as evidenced by TOEFL exam or successful completion of a basic law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) or Masters degree (LL.M.) in English medium. In certain exceptional circumstances, the KU School of Law may require the submission of a TOEFL score or request a personal interview of candidates who hold an LL.M.

• Obtain the agreement of one of the KU School of Law faculty members to serve as chair of a dissertation Committee.

• Complete the S.J.D. application for admission, which is available online.

• Submit $55 filing fee.

Requirements for Completing the S.J.D Program

The academic objective of the S.J.D. program is preparation of world-class scholarship, teaching and practical knowledge in a focused area of law. Accordingly, the curricular structure and requirements are as follows:

A minimum residency period of one year at KU is required. During this time, the candidate completes courses at The KU School of Law necessary for the candidate's dissertation research. During the first year, successful completion of 16 credit hours of coursework is required.

• Following the residency period, some candidates obtain or return to prominent jobs in the U.S. or their home countries and write their dissertation from these locations. However, all students remain continuously enrolled, whether or not in residence at KU, through completion of the degree. Thus, after earning 16 credits through coursework while in residence during the first year, a candidate needs 6 more credits, for a total of 22 credits, for the S.J.D. degree. These 6 credits are associated solely with dissertation research and preparation, and residency at KU is not required to earn them.

• Passage of dissertation includes the following:

• Successful completion of all required courses, as evidenced by a grade of C or better.
• Production of a dissertation of no less than 200 single-spaced pages (including front material, footnotes, and bibliography), with paper type, font, margins, and other format and style matters that conform to KU's Graduate School Instructions to Candidates for Doctoral Degrees, so that dissertation may be deposited in the KU Libraries.
• Evidence the candidate, in preparing the dissertation has identified a legal issue of relevance; constructed an original argument about that legal issue; defended that argument in a manner that is clear, organized, well-written and well-reasoned; and produced a work that would be publishable as a book, extended law review article, or linked series of law review articles.
• Successful, public defense of the dissertation.

Summary of S.J.D. Program Structure

* 1st Year must be in residence at the University of Kansas School of Law