This unique program combines the classic study of intellectual property rights with the rapidly emerging field of information technology law. Students study fundamental and advanced intellectual property rights issues in copyright, patent, and trademark law and also learn about issues that lie at the heart of today’s digital information society, such as cybercrime, e-commerce, information privacy law, and Internet law. Core courses include Copyright Law, Intellectual Property Law, Internet Regulation, Mass Media Law, Patent Law, and Trademark Law. Students also choose from more advanced and specialized courses in the fields of information technology and intellectual property law.
CREDIT HOURS
Each student is required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of approved courses; the maximum number of credits permitted is 27.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIRED COURSES
The 24-credit minimum must include 12 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law program.
The 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must include at least 6 credits from the following Core Distribution Courses:
- Copyright Law
- Information Law Survey
- Intellectual Property Law
- Patent Law
- Trademark Law
Remaining credits needed to fulfill the 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must be chosen from among the wide selection of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law program.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES
For students who do not hold a degree from a U.S. law school, the following courses are also required:
- Introduction to the U.S. Legal System
- Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students
- Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession
- At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses
Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part-Time Students
The LLM program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient for all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next).