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APPLICATION DEADLINES: April 1
THE NEXT APPLICATION CYCLE FOR THE S.J.D. PROGRAM WILL BE FOR THE FALL 2009 TERM INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS |
S.J.D. Application Form and Materials
Admission decisions are made on the basis of all information provided in the completed application. A completed application contains:
- Application Form
- Application Fee
- Official Copies of Academic Records
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Dissertation Proposal
- Official Proof of Competency in English (for non-native speakers) sent from testing agency
- Visa Materials for International Applicants
For further information, see the Admissions Policies page.
Application Form
Applicants must complete and submit the S.J.D. application form. We strongly encourage applicants to complete and submit the application online.
Application Fee
Each application for admission must be accompanied by a $55 application fee. The application fee is nonrefundable. Make checks or U.S. money orders payable to "Washington College of Law." All checks must be drawn on a bank that has a branch in the United States. We also accept American Express, Thomas Cook, and Barclay's traveler's checks. Postal money orders from other countries are not acceptable. Please do not send cash.
Academic Records
Applicants must submit official transcripts or notarized full-sized copies of previous law school work, including a record of all courses, examinations, and marks, and an official certification of the law degree received from a U.S. law school or from a recognized international institution. "Official" means a copy of your original document certified by an officer of your school or by a notary public. Faxed copies and photocopies of academic records will not be accepted. Transcripts must be written in the native language of the school. If this language is not English, the documents must be accompanied by a certified translation. Institutions must send the required documents directly to the S.J.D. admissions coordinator.
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from law professors, employers or other persons familiar with their academic and professional qualifications. Candidates are requested to use the following recommendation forms. The recommendations may either be enclosed with the application in sealed and signed envelopes, or sent directly to the S.J.D. admissions coordinator. The applicant should explain to the references that the committee gives considerable weight to the letters. Note: Applicants who hold an LL.M. from WCL must have at least one recommendation letter from a WCL faculty member.
Statement of Purpose
An applicant must submit a one-page single spaced essay explaining why he or she is seeking the S.J.D. degree and how it will advance his or her professional objectives. This essay might include reference to a specific position that the applicant seeks to attain, or to an area of law where the applicant plans to make a contribution. The S.J.D. is not primarily a course-based degree but is a dissertation degree. The S.J.D. dissertation should add to the existing legal literature in the chosen field. Why do you wish to write such a dissertation?
Dissertation Proposal
Each S.J.D. applicant must submit a 8-15 page dissertation proposal using the following five headings. A dissertation proposal lacking these five subparts will not be considered.
- The topic of the proposed dissertation
- A preliminary literature search
- This discusses the existing writing on the subject and compares what others have already done with this particular topic.
- This usually comprises an early chapter of a dissertation.
- This should explain what the existing body of writing has said in the area and how the dissertation will differ from, and add to, the existing literature.
- A clear statement of the proposed hypothesis to be explored in the dissertation.
- This includes the identification of a dissertation statement to be developed in the course of research and writing.
- The statement should not simply say you want to investigate a topic, or study an area, or summarize a field, rather the dissertation requires a developed perspective that takes a particular approach or analyzes a specific theme in the desired topic of study.
- A statement of the methodology to be followed in developing the dissertation.
Consider the following:- What is the plan of research?
- What bodies of writing will be consulted?
- Will there be empirical work to do?
- Will the dissertation be primarily theoretical in nature?
- Is the study to be comparative in perspective?
- Is it to be policy-oriented?
- Faculty advisor.
If the applicant has secured a WCL professor to serve as a faculty advisor, he or she should identify the faculty advisor in the proposal.
Proof of Competency in English
Applicants whose first language is not English must take one of two tests for English competency, either the TOEFL or the IELTS exam. It is not necessary to take both.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 100 iBt (250 for computer based test), with a minimum writing score of 24, is required for admission.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum IELTS score of 7.0 is required for admission.
This requirement is waived only for applicants who have completed a higher degree program from an accredited U.S. institution. Applicants requesting a waiver must submit with their application a letter explaining their circumstances and include all supporting documents.
With a strong overall record, conditional admission of an applicant with a TOEFL or IELTS score lower than 100 or 7.0 may be possible.
Visa Materials for International Applicants
Non-U.S. citizens must submit the Personal Information and Immigration Request Form (PIIRF) and appropriate financial documentation with their application to receive an I-20 form upon admission. The I-20 allows the student to apply for the F-1 (student) visa. Admitted applicants will be sent the I-20 after receipt of their seat deposit and statement of intent to enroll. Failure to return the PIIRF with the application may result in a delay in the issuance of the I-20. Students studying under other nonimmigrant visa categories will be contacted if there is a problem with their visa status.
Most international students attend WCL on an F-1 visa. A new visa can be acquired only at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Visa application procedures vary by location, so contact the U.S. embassy or consulate where you plan to apply for your visa.