Academic Program: Curriculum
Intellectual Property & Communications Law Program students have numerous academic avenues to pursue through the Law College’s integration with MSU, international opportunities and expansive course offerings internally. They are:
- Basic, Advanced, and Associated Courses
- Intellectual Property focused Reading, Writing & Advocacy
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Courses
- Study Abroad
- Master’s Programs
- Externships
Basic, Advanced, and Associated Courses
The Intellectual Property & Communications Law Program requires students take two of the basic courses and at least eight additional credit hours of advanced courses offered. Students choose from a wide and ever-expanding array of courses and specialized seminars listed below:
Intellectual Property focused Reading, Writing & Advocacy
Those students who have decided on the Intellectual Property & Communications Law Program prior to their first year may choose to focus their first year requisite Research, Writing & Advocacy course in intellectual property. This course was specially designed to enable students to develop writing, research, and advocacy skills in their intended practice area while becoming familiar with this specialized field.
Interdisciplinary Graduate Courses
Students may take up to six credits of professionally related graduate courses offered by the Colleges of Communication Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Natural Sciences at MSU. The graduate engineering and science courses offered by the Colleges of Engineering and Natural Sciences offer easy solutions for students who need science and engineering course credits to complete their eligibility for the patent bar examination. Subject to approval by the Program Director, a maximum of three credits from these courses will be counted toward fulfillment of the concentration.
In addition, students may participate in courses, projects, and events sponsored by the following MSU Law IPCLP partner institutions:
- The James J. and Mary B. Quello Center for Telecommunications Management & Law, MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences
- The Institute of International Agriculture, MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Institute of Public Utilities, MSU non-for-profit, independent educational and research organization
- Cybersecurity Initiative at MSU
- Matrix: The Center for Humane, Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Online, at MSU
- Michigan Small Business & technology Development Center, cooperative agreement between U.S. Small Business Administration and Siedman College of Business at Grand Valley State University (GVSU)
- The Legal Institute of West Michigan, established in collaboration with MSU Law, GVSU, MSU, and Grand Rapids Bar Association
- The Working Group on Property, Citizenship, and Social Enterpreneurism (PCSE), sponsored by the Program in Law and Market Economy at Syracuse University College of Law
Study Abroad
As the world becomes increasingly globalized, attorneys who have a sophisticated understanding of the global business environment and foreign legal systems are in high demand. To help students acquire this marketable knowledge, the Law College offers:
- J.D./LL.B. dual degree with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
- Study abroad programs in Canada, Mexico, or individually tailor your experience
- American Legal System LL.M.
- Visiting Scholars Program
- International Summer Internship Program
J.D./LL.B. dual degree with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
The practice of law in Canada and the U.S. increasingly reflects the economic and social consequences of international integration and globalization. Given the strength of the University of Ottawa law faculty in the areas of intellectual property, Internet, e-commerce, and privacy law and the fact that University of Ottawa is one of the very few Canadian institutions that has both a common law and civil law faculty, the Law College teamed up with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law to offer a J.D./LL.B. dual degree program. This program can be earned in four years and is ideal for students interested in studying cross-border business transactions and global intellectual property and technology law.
Study abroad programs in Canada, Mexico, or individually tailor your experience
In addition to the J.D./LL.B. dual degree program, students may choose to study abroad in Mexico or tailor their study abroad experience so that it is right for their interests. MSU Law study abroad options go further than our neighboring nations. Students may benefit from study abroad programs offered by other U.S. law schools.
American Legal System LL.M.
The Law College offers a master of laws (LL.M.) program in the American Legal System for foreign lawyers who want to advance their careers with knowledge of U.S. laws and regulations. This program allows foreign students to acquire both an in-depth understanding of the U.S. Legal system and U.S. intellectual property and communications law. Half of the Law College’s full-time faculty has taught abroad, making the law College an ideal place to study the American legal system.
Visiting Scholars Program
MSU Law brings the most promising and engaging scholars and practitioners in the area of IP and communications law to campus each year for IPCLP conferences and input on the program, as well. The Law College works closely with the MSU Visiting International Professional Program (VIPP) to develop a visiting scholars program so that they may participate at IPCLP events and consult with faculty and students regarding their study in the field.
International Summer Internship Program
MSU Law and IPCLP offer students an intense yet engaging one week summer internship program abroad. The International Internship Program in Intellectual Property Rights and technology Transfer began in 1996 and is sponsored by the Institute of International Agriculture at MSU. Students’ internships focus on technology transfer, use, and management within context of GATT/WTO. Students get hands-on training in the day-to-day handling of intellectual property rights issues in university, business, and other settings.
Master’s Programs
The Law College offers two masters’ programs to provide students with the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to keep pace with the ever-changing fields of intellectual property and communications laws. The Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree is aimed at students who have earned their J.D., LL.B. or an equivalent law degree. The Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) degree is designed for individuals who do not have a law degree, such as doctoral students in other disciplines, policymakers, government officials, business executives, intellectual property agents, journalists, media professionals, scientists and computer programmers. To offer further specialization and better prepare students for their career advancement, participants in the LL.M./M.J. Program select from the general category of Intellectual Property Law or one of the following five specialized tracks:
- Communications Law
- Copyright/Trademark Law
- Entertainment and Sports Law
- International Intellectual Property Law
- Patent Law
The LL.M. and M.J. programs are open to both domestic and international students. Participants may enroll on either a full-time or part-time basis and may begin their studies in either the fall or spring semester. Unless approved by the Program Director, LL.M. candidates who do not have a basic or advanced law degree in a common law jurisdiction and M.J. candidates will not be able to begin their studies in the spring semester.