Application Deadline: January 31
Admissions Requirements
Applicants for admission to the JSD programme must have demonstrated superior academic ability during their previous legal education. Normally it will be necessary to have (i) attained at least the equivalent of a Dalhousie A- average grade at the LLB level and (ii) completed successfully a Master's degree in law. Preference will be given to applicants with established credentials in published scholarship of a professional calibre. The ability to conduct independent research and work easily in the English language is a prerequisite for admission. Foreign candidates whose educational background is not in English are required to pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) to the satisfaction of the Graduate Studies Committee of the Schulich School of Law prior to admission. Applicants seeking JSD funding from Dalhousie University should ensure that their completed applications are received by the University no later than January 1 of the year in which they intend to commence their studies.
Residency Requirement
Applicants must be prepared to spend at least one full academic year (12 months) in full-time residence at Dalhousie after registration for the JSD program. The Graduate Studies Committee of the Schulich School of Law reserves the right in certain cases to require the completion of a second year of residency. It is to be noted, however, that consistent with other doctoral programs at Dalhousie University, JSD candidates must pay fees at the full-time rate for two years regardless of whether they have been required to spend a second year in residence at Dalhousie. The Faculty of Graduate Studies requires candidates to complete their JSD within six years.
Pre-Thesis Programme Requirements
Candidates entering the JSD program as of 2004 must complete the following requirements:
Candidates for the JSD degree may be required by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Schulich School of Law, on the recommendation of their thesis committee, to carry out advanced course work in the area of their thesis, or in a cognate area of a more general field of law, or in a discipline other than law, which is deemed to be highly relevant to their thesis topic. All requirements must be completed with no grade level below B–. A student who fails to meet these requirements is automatically dropped from the programme, but may apply for readmission.
A directed reading course is normally of a one-on-one nature with the faculty member in question, but may involve more than one faculty member. The area of the field must be quite broad, such as ‘modern legal theory’ or ‘international legal relations’ or ‘equality theory’, to give a few examples. The syllabus will be developed jointly by the student and the faculty member(s). The faculty member(s) and the student meet together once every two weeks for one term. The student then writes a paper which provides a comprehensive and critical appreciation of the field. The paper at the end of the reading course will ideally allow the student not only to reflect on some of the major issues in the field, but also begin to consider where his or her own ideas fit within that landscape. The purpose of the paper is not so much a test of knowledge acquired as an opportunity to engage critically with the field.
The area exam is a rather more self-directed exercise. It does not involve regular meetings between the faculty member and the student, though episodic meetings are encouraged. The student and the faculty member (who may or may not be the supervisor) agree on a syllabus, and the student independantly analyses the materials. The purpose of the area exam is to ensure mastery of a certain body of knowledge; it may be a body of theory but it may also be a body of law or a combination of the two. The evaluation may be by paper or by take-home exam.
The purpose of the thesis defence proposal is to evaluate whether the proposal discloses a feasible doctoral project. The main concerns are the definition of the issues to be addressed, the theoretical perspectives, the methodology, and a detailed outline of the structure of the thesis. The thesis defence proposal should normally take place at the end of the first year of studies, and not less than one year before submitting the thesis. Failure to pass this examination may result in dismissal. However, the student may be permitted to repeat the examination within the subsequent twelve months..
The reference to “other course work” is meant principally to cover the graduate seminar, which will be required of any JSD student who has not taken a similar course previously. It is possible that other courses in law or in other faculties may also be required.
Special Skill Examination Requirements
A candidate may, at the discretion of the thesis committee, be required to pass a special examination designed to demonstrate the examinee's proficiency in a foreign language, statistical method, computer analysis, or other skill deemed to be important for successful completion of the candidate's thesis in the chosen area.
Thesis Requirements
The primary requirement for the JSD degree is the completion of a substantial thesis which should not only display original scholarship of high standard, but also represent a significant contribution to the literature of the chosen subject. In applying for admission, an applicant is required to satisfy the Graduate Studies Committee of the Schulich School of Law that the suggested topic is suitable for development as a doctoral thesis. Normally, a JSD thesis should be between 350 and 500 typescript pages in length (double-spaced). After an applicant has been accepted, a thesis committee consisting of a supervisor and two advisors will be appointed by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Schulich School of Law. All candidates are required to comply with the decisions of their thesis committees. The Faculty of Graduate Studies requires that the completed JSD thesis must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee within six years of the date of original registration in the program. Submission of the thesis must follow the rules and regulations laid down by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Thesis Defence Requirements
Each JSD candidate is required to defend the completed thesis in an oral examination. This defence shall be conducted in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations for Oral Examination of a Doctoral Candidate.
Teaching Activities
The Graduate Studies Committee of the Schulich School of Law may give permission to a JSD candidate to engage in teaching activities during the period of residency, if such activities are deemed to fall within the field of the candidate's thesis topic. Under no circumstances shall any JSD candidate be permitted to spend more than six hours per week in teaching activities and related preparations.