LL.M. Academic Requirements and Curriculum - Geneva Semester

Geneva, capital of global health governance

The semester in Geneva provides participants with a unique opportunity to explore the world of international institutions and the relationship that it shares with global health governance.

Geneva is truly the capital of global health governance. No other city has such a strong presence of international organisations. With scores of official agencies and hundreds of international nongovernmental organisations based in and around Geneva, it is truly an international city, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, advocates, and many other professionals whose work focuses on the most challenging issues of global health law, policy, and governance.

Through its research programme on Global Health the Graduate Institute plays an important role in shaping the emerging study of the interface between foreign policy, economics, development and health. The Global Health Programme examines the characteristics and mechanisms that define successful global health governance at the beginning of the 21st century. It is particularly focused on the shifting power balances in global health, such as the increasing influence of emerging economies and the powerful role played by new foundations, the private sector, and nongovernmental organisations.

Curriculum at the graduate institute

Students will be required to complete a total of 39 credits at the Graduate Institute (one Georgetown Law credit is approximately equal to three Graduate Institute credits). 24 of these credits will be from courses in international law, humanitarian law, international trade law, international environmental law, refugee law and policy, international affairs, and international development studies, including:

Study plan 2011/2012

1) Mandatory course :  International Health Law, Gian Luca Burci (6 ECTS)

2) Electives courses : choice of 18 ECTS among this list :
International Institutions and Regulation, Andrea Bianchi, Cédric Dupont (6 ECTS)
International Organisations, Stephanie Hofmann (6 ECTS)
Global Public Health: Current and Emerging Issues, Nick Drager (6ECTS)
Gender and Development, Martina Viarengo (6 ECTS)
Corporate Responsibility in Transnational and International Law, Zachary Douglas (6 ECTS)
Human Rights Obligations of Non-State actors, Andrew Clapham
Advanced Topics in International Environmental Law and Policy, Jorge Vinuales (6 ECTS)
Trade and Investment Law Clinic, Joost Pauwelyn (6 ECTS)

In addition to coursework, students will be required to complete a 15-credit internship of at least four-weeks working full-time and a written report concentrating on some of the themes and questions addressed during the internship. It is expected that most students will complete this requirement at an international institution in Geneva during the six-week period between the end of the fall semester at Georgetown Law and the beginning of the spring semester at the Graduate Institute. Many students are likely to opt to continue a relationship with the institution for which they worked during the spring semester at the Graduate Institute and some institutions offering internship opportunities may require such a continuing commitment. With approval, some students may complete a 15-credit dissertation in place of the internship.

At the Institute, LL.M participants are integrated within the cohort of regular students in the Master programmes in International Law and can also attend a selection of seminars reserved to advanced PhD students. Support from the International Office and the Career Office is designed specifically for LL.M participants.