• Georgetown University Center for Latin American Studies

J.D. /M.A.L.A.S. degree candidates must satisfactorily complete course requirements for both the J.D. and M.A.L.A.S. degrees.  In addition to the J.D. and M.A.L.A.S. degrees, a Joint Program Certificate will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the program.  Students undertake a four-year course of study comprising a minimum of 109* credit hours (79* Law Center credits and 30 credits of MALAS work).  Six credits from the Law Center will satisfy MALAS degree requirements and 6 credits of MALAS coursework will satisfy JD requirements.  Candidates for this joint degree must meet the graduation requirements of both programs, including the Law Center Residency Requirement, and satisfy the academic standards of the two programs: maintain a minimum B (3.00/4.00) average; demonstrate advanced foreign language ability through successful completion of a Spanish or Portuguese oral proficiency examination; and successfully complete the written comprehensive examination of the MALAS Program.

• 24 credits of MALAS coursework, ordinarily taken in the first or second year of the joint program. 
• 6 credits of additional MALAS coursework, in the second, third, and/or fourth years or during a summer session;
• 31* credits of the required first year law curriculum, ordinarily taken in the first or second year of the joint program;
• 32 credits in further law courses including Professional Responsibility and the legal writing requirement. These courses are distributed among the third and fourth years; and
• 16 credits in international law courses including: 3 credits in the required course International Law I: Introduction to International Law and 13 credits in further international law courses at least 6 of which should focus on Latin America. These courses are taken in the third and fourth years of the joint program.

*NOTE: 1 fewer credit is required for students who completed the first year law curriculum prior to 2007-2008.

 

Revised October 14, 2010 (MC)