Application Process and Course Registration

Who is eligible for the Specialized Human Rights Program?
When does the Academy start accepting applications?
When is the application deadline?
What is the Letter of Interest?
How should I send in the application?
When do participants register for courses?
Is there an orientation?
Do WCL students need to fill out an application to enroll in the program?
Where can I find more information about the program and course prerequisites?
What is the maximum number of courses that I can register for?
Do I need to demonstrate my proficiency in English or Spanish to take the courses I want?
Are the courses translated into other languages?

Financial Information

How much do courses cost?
What does the $65 paid at the time of application submission cover?
Which types of payment are available?

Courses

Tell me more about the course schedule
Are there any online courses?
Does the program require full-time commitment?
What is the differences between the Certificate of Attendance, Courses for Credit, and Diploma?
How are participants graded?
What is the attendance policy?
Do I have to take exams?
Should I stay in Washington for the dates of the exams?

Disability Support

Does WCL have a diability policy?

Exams

Do I have to take exams?
When are exams due?

Housing

What housing options are available?
What is included in university housing?
How do I apply for university housing?

Weather

How is the weather during the Program?

Technology

Will I have access to Wi-fi on campus?

Application Process and Course Registration

Who is eligible for the Specialized Human Rights Program?
In order to apply, candidates must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Hold a law degree either from a U.S. law school accredited by the American Bar Association or from a foreign law school with equivalent standards;

• Hold a bachelors degree from an accredited institution in a field related to international affairs, government, political science, journalism, or any other field related to human rights;

• Be enrolled in a law degree program at a U.S. law school accredited by the American Bar Association or a foreign law school with equivalent standards and have completed the first year of law school.

When does the Academy start accepting applications?
December 1, 2012

When is the application deadline?
The last day to apply is May 1, 2013. If you decide to apply later than this date, you may do so by paying an expedited application fee of $100 instead of $65 dollars. However, you must keep in mind that this will only allow a couple of weeks to process your visa, which may not be enough time. Applicants who apply late will not be guaranteed to have their materials or books on the first day of class. All courses should be paid for by May 17, 2013.

What is the Letter of Interest?
The Letter of Interest is a 1 page letter that briefly tells the Academy (1) why you are interested in attending the Program of Advanced Studies and (2) how the program complements your career and/or career goals.

How should I send in the application?
We encourage participants to apply via our online application since it is the easiest and most effective method. The Statement of Interest and other supporting documents may be attached to the online application. However, participants may also e-mail or print out the application forms and supporting documents and send them via regular mail to:

Program of Advanced Studies
Academy on Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016-8181

When do participants register for courses?
After applicants submit all the application materials, the academy reviews them. Once applicants are accepted they will receive an acceptance letter and the requested courses will be automatically registered. This applies only for Certificate of Attendance, and Diploma. Registration of students attending for ABA credit will be handled through the WCL Registrar's Office.

Is there an orientation?
Yes, orientation will be held on Monday, May 27, 2013 beginning at 5pm. Please arrive on time since orientation is mandatory. This is where you can pick up your course materials, change courses and buy tickets for all of the program events.

Do WCL students need to fill out an application to enroll in the program?
No, the application, essay and recommendation letters are for participants who are not currently enrolled at the Washington College of Law. WCL students can register for the Academy courses like any other course offered at WCL.

Where can I find more information about the program and course prerequisites?
For more information please look at our web pages on courses and admission requirements.

What is the maximum number of courses that I can register for?
You can register for as many courses as you wish, as long as the class times don’t interfere. However, due to the rigor of the classes, we strongly reccommend taking no more than 4 courses.

Do I need to demonstrate my proficiency in English or Spanish to take the courses I want?
English proficiency must be demonstrated only if you are taking English courses when pursuing the Certificate of Attendance or the Diploma. Any of the following may be used to demonstrate proficiency:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 580 on a paper based test or 93 on the internet based.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) with a minimum score of 63.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5.
• International Legal English Certificate (ILEC).
• An English language course at a language institution.
• A higher degree program in an accredited English-speaking institution.
• A study abroad program that required taking courses in English.

Are the courses translated into other languages?
No. You will need to be able to speak and understand the language in which the course is presented in order to attend.

Financial Information

How much do courses cost?
The cost for courses varies based on enrollment for ABA credit, Certificate of Attendance, or Diploma. Please see our Tuition and Fees page for more information.

What does the $65 paid at the time of the application submission cover?
The $65 payment is for the application process. The tuition is to be paid separately.

Which types of payment are available?
There is no installment plan available for the Program. All fees must be paid in their totality by May 17, 2013.

Courses

Tell me more about the course schedule.
Although the schedule is subject to change, there are generally nine morning classes and eight or ten afternoon classes to choose from. Nine of these courses are in Spanish and the other ten are in English. Please note that not all courses start on the same date. On average, classes are about 1 hour and 50 minutes in length though some classes are longer. The classes are consecutive from 8:30am-10:20am, 10:30am-12:20pm, 2:30pm-4:20pm, and 4:30-6:20 (or 7:00pm depending on the class). There is always a break from 12:30 to 2:30PM between morning and afternoon classes.

Are there any online courses?
No, since the purpose of the summer program is to immerse students in the subject of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and to establish links among students, all of the classes require the presence of the participant and there are no online courses available at this time.

Does the program require full-time commitment?
Full-time commitment is strongly reccommended since the intensive format of this program only allows participants and professors two to three weeks to learn and cover all the material.

What is the difference between the Certificate of Attendance, Courses for Credit, and Diploma?

• The Certificate of Attendance is based on the participant attendance to the classes. While exams are not required for the Certificate, they may be required if participants are transferring credits to their home university or if the participant's sponsor requires them to. It is also the only option available to participants who have not attained or are not pursuing law degrees.

• The Diploma cost is different than for the Certificate and exams are mandatory for ALL registered courses. Participant must register for at least 64 hours of class, which can be achieved by taking two 14 day courses and one 7-day course. An optional fourth course is included in these costs. Persons pursuing the Diploma MUST have already attained a law degree.

• The ABA Academic credit option requires participants to complete exams to receive academic credit. It is open only to people studying law in the United States.

How are participants graded?
Grading depends on the course and the professor; however, there is an expectation regarding participation. Participants are expected to attend 90% of their class hours.

What is the attendance policy?
Participants are expected to attend to 90% of the class hours. This means you can only miss two class sessions for 14-day courses and one for 7-day courses. Three late arrivals will be considered an absence. If you miss more than two classes the course will not be included in your Certificate of Attendance.

Do I have to take exams?
Exams are required to receive academic credit, the Diploma or if your sponsor requires exams. Ask your advisor at your home university to check on the specifications of your school as well. Exams are done online and will be due between June 15 and July 10, 2013.

Should I stay in Washington for the dates of the exams?
No, students can submit the exams electronically; therefore they do not need to stay at the program after June 14.

Disability Support

Does WCL have a disabiltiy policy?

The Washington College of Law is committed to making all of its educational opportunities accessible to students with disabilities by providing them with reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, students are encouraged to notify the school of their disability as early as possible once enrolled as students at WCL. The notification and accommodation request process is confidential.

The Office of Student Affairs works closely with the Academic Support Center and Disability Support Services on main campus to coordinate a variety of services for students with disabilities. Services vary according to the type and level of impairment experienced by each student. To ensure that appropriate accommodations are received in a timely manner, students should follow the following general procedure in their request for accommodations:

• Contact Kathy Schwartz at the Academic Support Center (for ADHD/learning disabilities) or Joanne Benica at Disability Support Services (other disabilities) to meet with them and discuss your request for accommodations. Students seeking accommodations will be asked to fill out paperwork and/or provide documentation of their disability. For more information on guidelines for documentation of learning disabilities, please check HERE; for more information on guidelines for documentation of other disabilities, please check HERE.
• ASC or DSS will recommend a plan of accommodation based on evaluation of documentation provided and discussion with students. The recommended accommodations will be forwarded to Myra Wilder, Assistant Director of Student Affairs, at the Office of Student Affairs, who is responsible for implementing accommodations for law students with disabilities.
• Contact Myra Wilder at the Office of Student Affairs to meet with her and discuss your recommended accommodations and policies for the implementation of accommodations.

The Office of Student Affairs handles the implementation of accommodations for all law classes and the administration of exams for all law students with disabilities. All accommodations will be implemented in a manner that seeks to assure confidentiality. Students with disabilities are expected to comply fully with all examination policies.

Exams

Do I have to take exams?
Exams are only mandatory for:

• Diploma seekers

• Participants transferring credits to their universities in their home countries

• Participants whose sponsors require them.

When are the exams due?
Exams are done online and will be due between June 15 and July 10, 2013. More information.

Housing

What housing options are available?
The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law does not provide housing for participants nor do we endorse any particular option. However, we do have a special arrangement with AU Housing in which participants can stay in the residence halls for a reduced rate.

What is included in university housing?
Residence halls are basic accommodations including beds, desks and dressers. These accommodations usually include single or shared rooms and shared bathrooms.

How do I apply for university housing?
Participants may contact the American University Summer Conference Housing, by e-mailing summerhousing@american.edu or by calling (202) 885-3370. Participants will then apply for Summer Housing a few months prior to the beginning of the program.

Weather

How is the Weather during the program?
Washington D.C. weather can vary greatly. In general, climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be 70 to 80 degress farenheit. You can check a detailed weather forecast at www.weather.com

Technology

Will I have access to Wi-fi on campus?
Yes, you will have to register your laptop with IT.