Degrees for International Students

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

The University of Kansas School of Law is one of the few law schools in the United States to offer a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.), the terminal degree in law. The S.J.D. program is designed for students interested in deep legal research and writing, and a career as a legal scholar or a senior public official.

Recent S.J.D. graduates are working as faculty at universities all over the world and as policy researchers at private firms in the U.S.

Candidates must hold a basic law degree (LL.B.) and a master’s (LL.M.) or a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school; show an accomplished academic record; and compose an original, thoughtful dissertation proposal that introduces the research topic the candidate intends to pursue, explains its importance and presents an initial argument that the candidate plans to develop as an S.J.D. candidate.

For a complete description of our International and Comparative Law Program, browse our multilingual brochure.