The Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) at Penn State Dickinson Law School is designed for aspiring legal scholars and academics seeking to make original contributions to legal scholarship. This postgraduate PhD program is ideal for those who have already earned a law degree and wish to engage in in-depth, supervised research. You will immerse yourself in advanced legal research methodologies, preparing you to tackle complex legal questions and produce a dissertation that advances the field. This program offers a rigorous pathway to becoming a leading voice in legal academia and practice.
You will pursue your S.J.D. on campus full-time over three years, with a mandatory one-year residency at Penn State Dickinson Law in Carlisle. During your residency, you will complete essential courses such as Research Methods and the Research Colloquium, fostering both methodological understanding and public engagement with your proposed research. You will work closely with faculty supervisors, potentially across different campuses, and have the opportunity to enroll in additional law courses. Upon successful oral defense of your dissertation and submission, you will graduate with a distinguished S.J.D. degree, prepared for careers in academia and advanced legal practice.