LL.M. Degree Requirements
- Credits
- Qualifying Courses
- Completion Timeframe
- Thesis Requirement
- To satisfy the Thesis Requirement, the thesis must have an extensive research component and be of substantial length and publishable quality.
- The thesis must be original. A work product that merely reports, compiles or describes the work of other authors rather than engaging in original, thoughtful analysis is unlikely to qualify.
- A product less than 50 pages is unlikely to satisfy the Thesis Requirement.
- The thesis must receive a grade of B or better to satisfy the Thesis Requirement.
- The student submits a written thesis proposal to the faculty supervisor at the start of the first semester. The faculty member will meet regularly with the student to supervise the written project.
- The student attends the fall semester research colloquium to expand the thesis proposal.
- The faculty supervisor reviews and comments on written drafts of the paper before the student submits the final version.
- The faculty supervisor will communicate to the student the evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the student's final written product.
- When the faculty supervisor is prepared to certify that the student's final written product satisfies the Thesis Requirement, the student must complete and submit to the faculty supervisor a Thesis Certification Form. The faculty supervisor then must sign the Thesis Certification Form, certifying the student's satisfaction of the requirement, and file it in the law school’s Office of Registration and Enrollment.
- Good Standing
- Not be subject to matters of the Student Disciplinary and Appeals Procedure
- Not be subject to matters of the Student Honor Code
- Have satisfied the Tuition and Fee Payment Policies
- Residency Requirement
LL.M. students must complete 30 credit hours to satisfy all degree requirements, which include 24 credit hours of qualifying coursework plus 6 credit hours for the Thesis Requirement.
Coursework
Students must successfully complete courses totaling at least 30 credit hours in courses or other credit programs offered by the School of Law. A student may not transfer or apply credits earned at the law school or another college or university toward degree requirements at Maryland, including credits earned through University of Maryland School of Law cooperative programs with universities outside the United States, absent exceptional circumstances.
Required Courses:
Due to the individualized design, LL.M. candidates have few required courses, allowing greater flexibility in course selection. All LL.M. students must take the LL.M. Research Colloquium in the fall semester. Students who did not graduate with a J.D. degree from a U.S. law school must also take Introductory Survey of American Law.
Student coursework will vary based on the student’s area of specialization. Students work closely with a faculty supervisor to design a customized course of study in the area of specialization.
Students must earn at least 12 of the 24 credits required for graduation in courses within the area of specialization. The course catalog details courses available within distinct areas of specialization. Students may enroll in certain courses outside of the area of specialization with prior approval of the faculty supervisor. The course catalog provides a comprehensive list of courses offered at the School of Law.
Students must earn at least 18 credit hours in courses other than externships or practicums. With prior approval, students may be permitted to enroll in externships or practicums within the student’s area of specialization. A student may not receive credit toward degree requirements for elective Moot Court or student publications.
Students are expected to complete the degree requirements with one academic year of full time study. Students must complete degree requirements within 24 months of initial enrollment in the School of Law.
A student who returns to the School of Law after an approved period of absence may be subject to changes in the graduation requirements that apply to the class with which the student is expected to graduate. The student must contact the Program Director and the Office of Registration and Enrollment to discuss requirements.
The Requirement
As a requirement for graduation, each student must complete an original, scholarly thesis in the area of specialization. A student will earn 6 credits toward degree requirements for satisfactory completion of the scholarly thesis.
The Product
The Process
Satisfy the requirements of good standing in regard to both character and academics.
In regard to character,
In regard to academics, maintain a weighted cumulative average of at least a 2.67.
To fulfill the residency requirement, students must be enrolled full time for two semesters, carrying not less than 11 credit hours nor more than 17 credit hours each semester. To graduate, a student’s residency credit must add up to two or more full-time semesters. Most students will complete degree requirements including the scholarly thesis requirement within one full academic year.
