Program Details
The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree at the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy (IPLP) Program offers candidates an intellectually challenging opportunity for academic specialization. Candidates for the SJD conduct research and produce original scholarship under the guidance of IPLP's internationally renowned faculty. SJD Students must complete a full-time, two semester year in residency to complete a minimum of 24 credits.
The SJD program trains students to be specialists through rigorous research and advocacy work. Graduate students receive professional training to address the complex issues facing Indigenous peoples today, allowing them to develop a proficiency in fields like federal Indian law, Indigenous peoples' human rights advocacy, environmental law, Indigenous community and economic development, and the protection of cultural and natural resources. The superior learning experience provided by IPLP is reflected by the fact that we are the only program in the world with two of our SJD graduates who served on the two UN Bodies with the specific mandate to promote Indigenous peoples' human rights within the UN system.
IPLP faculty engage students in major human rights advocacy projects and litigation on behalf of Indigenous peoples. Our faculty and students have represented the Rio Yaqui of Mexico, Maya of Belize, the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group of Canada, and other Indigenous and tribal communities in human rights cases and petitions with far-ranging international reach and impact. For students interested in academic careers, IPLP allows you to conduct pioneering research under the guidance of leading scholars in their respective fields.
"During my time with the IPLP Program, I have been very fortunate to be mentored and taught by some of the mot gifted faculty in the world. I have benefited immensely from the meorship and support of Professors Williams and Tatum in particular. Coming from a different part of the world as a historically lower caste citizen of India, I knew pursuing a doctoral law degree in the US would be the biggest challenge I ever faced. Professor Tatum taught me to speak and write for my community and encouraged me to be myself and view my identity as special. I have also benefitted from the support of fellow students. Based on my experience, IPLP is a community that understands students' backgrounds and how to support them. More than teaching, IPLP nurtures students to be the leaders in their own communities."
Vishal Gaikwad, IPLP SJD Alumnus (Class of 2023)
Course Requirements
Students in the program are required to successfully complete:
Required Courses
LAW 527 - International Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples
LAW 631A - Federal Indian Law
Additionally, international students* must complete:
Law 507 - Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research
Law 685 - Introduction to the U.S. Legal System
*All students who have not earned a previous law degree in the U.S. are required to complete the Introduction to the U.S. Legal System course. Please note that this course does not count towards the 24 credit hours. Students are also required to complete Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research, which does count towards the 24 credit hours. Students who have completed a previous U.S. law degree may request a waiver for this course, depending upon their previous course work.
Dissertation Database
In order to promote Indigenous peoples’ human rights and to disseminate the program's research and advocacy, the IPLP Program has created a digital dissertation database of some of our SJD graduates' dissertations to assist legal practitioners and advocates.