Program: Law - Juridical Science, SJD - University of Pittsburgh

Program Information

The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) is the Law School’s most advanced degree, which is designed for legal academics who wish to pursue advanced independent study, research and writing. The Law School’s SJD program offers candidates the opportunity to become active members of a vibrant legal community.

Degree Requirements

The SJD is a research degree. There is no formal requirement for candidates to pursue course work, whether for credit or otherwise, other than required participation in a non-credit, ungraded colloquium for SJD students during their first year in the program. However, a candidate may be required by his advisor to take or audit courses and participate in seminars and discussions which will further the student’s understanding of his or her field of knowledge and its relation to other fields. Each candidate will be allowed 2-4 years to complete the program, the first year of which must be spent in residency at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. The year of residency is in addition to the LLM year for Pitt Law LLM graduates. A candidate is required to conduct rigorous research and produce an original dissertation that will contribute significantly to legal scholarship and further understanding of the law. Specifically, a candidate is required to submit a dissertation overview, defend that overview, submit a doctoral dissertation, and successfully defend the dissertation. The SJD degree must be completed under the supervision of a faculty member who has consented to serve as the faculty advisor.