Home>Academics>International and National Dual Degrees>Dual degree with Georgetown Law School
Dual degree with Georgetown Law School
Two-Year Dual-Degree
Programme in English
France & United States
Georgetown University Law Center is one of the world’s premier law schools. It has the largest faculty of any law school in the United States, and is preeminent in several areas, including constitutional, international, tax and clinical law. Drawing on its Jesuit heritage, it has a strong tradition of public service and is dedicated to the principle that law is but a means, justice is the end. With this principle in mind, Georgetown Law has built an environment that cultivates an exchange of practical ideas and the pursuit of academic excellence. It brings together an extraordinarily varied group of teachers, scholars and practitioners, as well as an outstanding student body.
Georgetown Law’s LL.M. program draws approximately 400 students per year from the United States and more than 60 countries around the world. Through the various available degree options and certificate programs, Georgetown Law offers an unparalleled opportunity for lawyers to broaden and deepen their understanding of law. The depth of its faculty allows Georgetown Law to offer more than 300 courses and seminars, covering everything from foundational issues in jurisprudence to cutting-edge issues of the most sophisticated legal practice. Our talented LL.M. students bring exemplary academic credentials and practice experience from throughout the United States and around the world.
Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., Georgetown Law’s campus is within walking distance of the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, the U.S. Tax Court, and other government agencies and courts. Washington is a beautiful, international city that is the seat of U.S. government and is also home to major international organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States. The many governmental, international and non-profit organizations.
An elite program in international affairs and law
Georgetown Law and Sciences Po recognize the importance of preparing lawyers and policy makers to function in an increasingly globalized society. With this understanding, Georgetown Law and Sciences Po worked together to create a program of study that allows young lawyers to expand their backgrounds in the social sciences, and to deepen their knowledge in their chosen area of law, in preparation for careers in international affairs and law.
Sciences Po’s wide and varied curriculum, its multidisciplinary approach, and the availability of several specializations complement Georgetown Law’s array of courses dealing with transnational and international law (both public and private), and its institutional focus on preparing lawyers for transnational practice. Both institutions are located in cities that are major centers for international policy, law and business, where students can have the opportunity to observe the principles that they are learning being put into action.
Program Overview
The Dual Master of International Affairs and Law (M.I.A./LL.M.) established by Georgetown Law and Sciences Po is open to students who have completed a law degree that satisfies the academic requirements for practicing as a lawyer in the country where they studied. This dual degree is ideal for individuals who wish to combine their law studies with careers in international affairs, and is open to students of any nationality.
Academic Program
Students will begin the two-year degree program at Sciences Po in Paris, where they will complete two semesters of coursework at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA).
During the second year, students complete the Master of Laws (LL.M.) curriculum at Georgetown Law in Washington, DC. Georgetown’s extensive course list and flexible degree requirements allow students maximum freedom to design a program of study that best meets their interests and career objectives.
At the completion of the two-year program, students will earn both an LL.M. degree from Georgetown, and the Master in International Affairs from Sciences Po.
Foundations of American Law and Legal Education
Students also have the option of enrolling in a 4-week summer program at Georgetown, “Foundations of American Law and Legal Education", in between the first and second years of the dual degree.
Year 1 - at Sciences Po
During the first year of the Dual Degree, students may join one of the following Master's programs offered by the Paris School of International Affairs.
- International Security
- International Governance and Diplomacy
- International Economic Policy
- International Development
- Human Rights and Humanitarian Action
- Environmental Policy
- International Energy Transitions
Each student will meet with his/her advisor at Sciences Po before classes start in order to discuss his/her first-year curriculum. Some changes can be made within each of these tracks to allow students to be best prepared for the concentration they have chosen at Georgetown.
Core Courses and electives Students must complete required courses and electives related to their chosen track.
Assessment - Students will have to complete at least 60 ECTS credits during their year at Sciences Po. Students who have not completed the required number of credits over the first year will be asked to take extra courses in order to fulfil credit requirements before they start year 2 of the program at Georgetown Law.
Degree Students will receive the Master’s degree of Sciences Po in International Affairs after completing their two years of studies and all requirements at the two institutions. A specific specialization will appear on their Master’s degree according to the courses completed at Georgetown.
For more information on the Dual Degree structure at PSIA please visit the website.
Year 2 - at Georgetown Law
For the LL.M. portion of their studies, students will select from among the following LL.M. degree specializations (this program selection will be made after admission to the dual degree program, during Year 1 of study):
- Master of Laws (general)
- Master of Laws in International Legal Studies
- Master of Laws in International Business & Economic Law
- Master of Laws in Taxation
- Master of Laws in Global Health Law*
- Master of Laws in Energy and & Environmental Law*
- Master of Laws in National Security*
Students also have the option of combining one of the following Certificates with their LL.M. degree:
- Certificate in International Human Rights Law
- Certificate in National Security Law
- Certificate in World Trade Organization Law
- Certificate in Securities and Financial Law
- Certificate in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
- Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies
- Certificate in Food and Drug Law
- Certificate in International Taxation
Curriculum Requirements and Course Selection
During their LL.M. year, students who have earned their first law degree outside the United States complete a minimum of 20 academic credits. Additional requirements for the different degree specializations, as well as suggested course selections and prerequisite information, are described in detail at https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissions-aid/graduate-admissions/llm-degree-programs/
Foreign languages: Students are not required to enrol in language classes at Georgetown Law. (They are required to demonstrate proficiency in English prior to admission to the program.)
Externship: Students are not required to complete an externship in order to earn the LL.M. degree, but have the opportunity during the second semester to earn course credit by completing an externship at a government agency, non-governmental organization or non-profit organization. Students work under the direct supervision of a lawyer for at least 10 hours per week, and earn two academic credits on a pass/fail basis. Recent externship placements have included: Center for International Environmental Law, Federal Trade Commission, Inter-American Development Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Assessment: To receive the LL.M. degree, students must earn a minimum grade point average of 2.00 for their Georgetown coursework. All credit requirements must be completed within the prescribed period of study, i.e., one academic year for full time students. Written examinations are held at the end of the class work in all courses, unless otherwise indicated on the course schedule, and final papers in seminars and other courses are normally due on the date announced in the academic calendar.
Degree: Students will receive the Master’s degree of Sciences Po in International Affairs and the LL.M. from Georgetown Law after completing their two years of studies and all their requirements at the two institutions.
Academic calendar: The academic year at Georgetown Law typically runs from September to December and from January to May. Students are required to attend Orientation events during the last week of August before the start of first semester classes. For more details.
* Admission to these LL.M. programs is selective. Students who wish to specialize in one of these degrees must submit an additional essay during Year 1 to a committee at Georgetown. Those who are not selected for a specialized degree may choose any of the other more flexible LL.M. programs, and will still have an opportunity to enroll in elective classes in any area. For more information about admission
Financial Support
Find out about the financial aid available on the following pages:
Contacts
At Sciences Po
- The Center for the Americas
- Catarina Laranjeira, Assistant Dean for Admissions, Paris School of International Affairs
At Georgetown Law
