Colorado Law’s Master of Studies in Law (MSL) in Human Rights is an advanced degree program that offers training in international human rights law and policy for professionals from a wide variety of academic backgrounds. During this one-year degree program, MSL students will take 28-credits of courses, including core and elective courses on a range of topics related to the international human rights system. The program of study includes a special topics course that features a series of speakers who are well-known academics from other universities or practitioners in human rights NGOs or international institutions.
We welcome applicants who are interested in obtaining legal training and a comprehensive understanding of human rights law and policy. The MSL in Human Rights is open to those holding a bachelor's degree, or equivalent, and/or a graduate degree in any discipline from an accredited university. Neither a first degree in law nor a LSAT score is required for admission consideration.
We look forward to welcoming you to our vibrant community in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado Law is one of the best public law schools in the United States, with students and faculty from diverse backgrounds and pursuing diverse interests. In addition, MSL students have the opportunity to engage with the broader University of Colorado-Boulder campus, which is recognized internationally as the #44 Best Global University (U.S. News and World Report, 2017) and ranks #43 internationally by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2017. With over 3,000 international students from over 91 countries, we welcome students from around the world.
Colorado Law is not currently accepting application for the 2019-2020 MSL-Human Rights program.
If you are required to demonstrate English proficiency, we accept official score reports from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). We require a minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet-based test, or a minimum score of 7.0 or better on the IELTS, for full admission consideration. Students who score below these thresholds may be considered for conditional admission contingent upon the completion of a summer English course at our International English Center.
Colorado Law’s MSL in Human Rights curriculum consists of 28 credit-hours of required and elective semester-long courses. Students will also benefit from a rich array of guest speakers and short seminars from human rights experts from around the world. MSL students will have the opportunity to take elective courses also offered to our JD and LLM students. Students may elect to pursue a thesis as a part of their MSL degree.
In addition to these courses, MSL students can elect to take an additional graduate-level courses in other departments within the greater University of Colorado-Boulder.
Core Curriculum
Electives
The University of Colorado Law School actively pursues the highest quality professionals, academics, and students from the global community to fill our small, full immersion MSL program. A listing of upcoming recruiting events, opportunities to engage with faculty traveling abroad, and relevant fair registration links can be found below. We look forward to meeting you both abroad and in Boulder!
Colorado Law tuition and fees are among the most affordable among Tier 1 U.S. law schools. Please note that the estimates below are based on 2018-2019 costs. The University of Colorado Board of Regents may change tuition rates in the spring of 2018.
Costs | Non-Resident | Resident |
---|---|---|
Tuition | $36,512 | $29,708 |
Rent, Utilities, and Food | $13,302 | $13,302 |
Books and Supplies | $1,800 | $1,800 |
Medical Insurance | $2,430 | $2,430 |
Personal Expenses | $1,358 | $1,358 |
Transportation | $1,598 | $1,598 |
International Student Fees | $247 | $247 |
Total | $57,247 | $50,443 |
Financial Aid
Admitted applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for financial aid. Students may qualify for financial aid for the 28 credit hours required to obtain the MSL degree. Federal regulations will NOT permit students to borrow funds in excess of the total amount of the attendance budget. Interested students should review the law school’s financial aid website.
International students must have sufficient funding to finance the full course of study, through personal resources, government or private funding. All applicants will be considered for full and partial scholarship awards from Colorado Law and/or through our partnership with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
International students are encouraged to seek financial aid and scholarship funds from sources in their home countries. For assistance in locating sponsoring organizations, contact EducationUSA, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or the U.S. Information Agency in your country.
The information on this page has been compiled to assist you in your search for aid. Please be aware that sites may change at any time, the funding awards may increase, decrease or be eliminated without notices. Please check the websites for deadlines and requirements. Deadlines are often very early.
Health Insurance-International Students
Enrollment in the University of Colorado endorsed student health insurance plan is mandatory and automatic for international students. Information for international student health insurance is posted by the International Student and Scholar Services Department.
This information is subject to change without notice. It is intended as a general source of information about tuition and costs and is in no way intended to state contractual terms.
External Scholarship Opportunities
We highly encourage all international students to seek financial aid and scholarship funds from sources in their home countries. One of the best sources for relevant scholarships is EducationUSA, and we recommend that all international applicants speak with an in-country EducationUSA advisor in their home country.
The information below has been compiled to assist you in your search for funding. Please check the websites for deadlines and requirements. Deadlines are generally 6-12 months before the start of the MSL program. Please be aware that sites may change at any time and awards may increase, decrease and/or be eliminated without notice.
Scholarship Opportunities for International Students
Aga Khan Foundation -The Foundation accepts applications from nationals of the following countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique. In France, Portugal, UK, USA and Canada, applications are accepted from those who are originally from one of the above developing countries, are interested in development-related studies and who have no other means of financing their education.
America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST) - AMIDEAST administers the Fulbright Scholar Program in North Africa and the Middle East.
American Association of University Women International Fellowship - International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The Belgian American Education Foundation - Up to $48,000 for applicants with Belgian nationality to pursue a U.S. LLM degree.
Canadian Federation of University Women - The CFUW Charitable Trust provides funds for a range of post graduate awards and fellowships to women.
Citadel Capital Scholarship Foundation - CCSF grants scholarships to Egyptians to pursue their graduate studies in all academic fields and foreign universities.
College Women’s Association of Japan - The Association supports graduate study at English-speaking universities and research institutions abroad for women who are citizens or special permanent residents of Japan.
Colorado Law and the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights Fellowship - All International Law and Human Rights applicants will be automatically considered for this full tuition scholarship. Current International Law and Human Rights LLMs will have the opportunity to apply for a one-year, post-graduate fellowship at the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights in Washington DC.
Comisión Mexico-Estados Unidos para el Intercambio Educativo y Cultural (COMEXUS) - Helps administer Fulbright awards in Mexico.
The Denmark-America Foundation - The Denmark-America Foundation offer grants for Danes going abroad to study in America.
Finland Pertti Lindfors Legal Studies Fund - Citizens of Finland are eligible to apply.
Fulbright Foreign Students Program - Provides both monetary awards and the prestige of being a Fulbright Scholar.
German Academic Exchange Service: DAAD scholarship - Resource for German applicants/students.
The Icelandic-American Society
Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) - The OAS Academic Scholarship Program (Regular Program), established in 1958, grants scholarships every year to students from Latin America.
The League of Finnish-American Societies
The Margaret McNamara Educational Grants - MMEG awards education grants on a competitive basis to exceptional women from developing countries who are enrolled as full-time students for the following academic term in accredited universities in the United States and Canada, have demonstrated financial need and are committed to working for the well-being of women and children.
Noram Scholarship - Funding mechanisms for Norwegians.
Pakistan — Higher Education Commission - Higher education funding opportunities for Pakistani students.
PEO International Peace Scholarship for Women
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation - All LLMs who can demonstrate a commitment to the study of natural resources law are eligible to apply. Awards will vary.
Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship
Royal Thai Government Scholarships
Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council - Higher education funding for permanent residents of Hong Kong.
Sir Robert Black Trust Fund - Higher education funding for persons who have resided in Hong Kong for at least five years.
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans - The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is a fellowship program intended for United States immigrants and children of immigrants.
The Sweden-America Foundation Fellowship Program
Tan Kah Kee Foundation Scholarships - The Tan Kah Kee Foundation offers two postgraduate scholarships for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) pursuing their full-time PhD or Master's degrees.
Taraknath Das Foundation - Applicants must be Indian passport holders who have completed at least one year of graduate studies in the U.S.
Victor Pinchuk Foundation - Partial funding opportunities for Ukrainian students.
World Wide Studies (Ukrainian Students)
International Financial Aid College Scholarships
LANIC: Latin American Network Information Center Scholarships, Grants, & Loans
Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund - Interest free student loan program of the Organization of American States. Applicant must be a citizen of a Latin American or Caribbean member country of the Organization of American States.
The JD Mentor Program pairs MSL students with second or third year JD students who serve as academic, cultural, and social references for MSL students who may be new to the US, Colorado, and/or the US law school environment. All admitted MSL in Human Rights students will benefit from the opportunity to sign-up for a JD mentor, to begin to expand their academic and professional network prior to arriving in Boulder, and in many cases, to find a life-long friend and colleague.
Law students generally prefer to live in off-campus accommodations. The International Student and Scholar Services has information on long and short-term housing options.
University family housing consists of several apartment complexes located north and east of campus. One and two-bedroom apartments are for married students, and studio-style apartments (i.e., one-room quarters) are for single students. There is usually a very long wait due to high demand, so apply early. The application for family housing is separate from that of the residence halls. For further information, contact the Family Housing Office at 1350 20th Street, Boulder, CO 80302, call 303-492-6384, or email graduatefamilyhousing@colorado.edu.
The combination of living in an extremely bike friendly city, the CU student bus pass, Boulder's designation as a Gold Level Walk Friendly Community, and a relatively medium size college town provides for easy student access to campus and should reassure most international student concerns regarding a potential commute to campus. The University of Colorado Boulder also provides bus access to the Denver International Airport, the Late Night Transit program to assuage any safety and security concerns, and a Ski Bus Program that includes access to multiple Colorado ski resorts. More information for CU student transportation options can be found on our Environmental Center's website.
S. James Anaya-Dean and Charles Inglis Thomson Professor
Dean Anaya spearheaded the creation of the MSL in Human Rights program after his appointment as Dean of Colorado Law. The creation of the MSL in Human Rights aligns with his professional experience as a human rights scholar and practitioner. In addition to his teaching and scholarship, Dean Anaya has litigated major cases involving the human rights of indigenous peoples in domestic and international tribunals including the Supreme Court of the United States, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the Caribbean Court of Justice. Among his noteworthy activities, Dean Anaya participated in the drafting of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and was lead counsel for the indigenous parties in the case of Awas Tingni v. Nicaragua. The case represents the first time the Inter-American Court of Human Rights upheld indigenous land rights as a matter of international law. Dean Anaya joined the University of Arizona in 1999 after serving for 11 years on the faculty at the University of Iowa. He also has been a visiting professor at Harvard University, the University of Toronto and the University of Tulsa, and an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico and a law degree from Harvard Law School. Students benefit directly from Dean Anaya's expertise and will have the opportunity to enroll in his Human Rights Colloquium Seminar, which will feature human rights experts from around the world.
Anna Spain Bradley-Faculty Director
Professor Spain Bradley is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Colorado Law School and is the Faculty Director of the MSL Program in Human Rights. She also serves as the Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Professor Spain is an elected member of the American Society of International Law’s Executive Council and a former Council on Foreign Relations Term Member. She previously served as an Attorney-Adviser at the U.S. Department of State Office of the Legal Adviser where she received two Meritorious Honor Awards for her work representing the U.S. before the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal in The Hague and as a delegate to the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva. She also has policy experience at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and at the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Professor Spain has published numerous law review articles, book chapters and other works on international law, the United Nations, peace and security and neuroscience and decision making. Her forthcoming book will be published by Cambridge University Press. At Colorado Law, Professor Spain teaches international human rights in addition to other international law courses and enjoys mentoring students.
Email: Anna.Spain@Colorado.EDU
James Cavallaro-Visiting Professor
Professor Cavallaro will be a visiting professor at Colorado Law during the fall 2018 semester. The founding director of Stanford Law School's International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic, he has dedicated his career to human rights-in both his scholarly research and his legal practice. His extensive expertise is derived from active involvement in the defense of rights, in the development of international human rights law and the human rights movement, particularly in the Americas and in international human rights litigation. A prolific scholar and sought-after voice on international human rights issues, he is frequently called upon to offer his expertise by the media and civil society. In 1994, Professor Cavallaro opened a joint office for Human Rights Watch and the Center for Justice and International Law in Rio de Janeiro serving as director, overseeing research, reporting and litigation before the Inter-American system's human rights bodies. In 1999, he founded the Global Justice Center, a leading Brazilian human rights NGO. He has held positions at Harvard Law School as a clinical professor of law and executive director of the Harvard Law School Human Rights Program. He joined Stanford Law School's faculty in 2011. In June 2013, Professor Cavallaro was elected to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and served as the Commission's President (2014-2018). In December 2017, he helped to facilitate Colorado Law's partnership with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and will serve as a visiting professor for 2018-2019 MSL-Human Rights students.
Jimmy J. Ilseng is the Director of International Programs at Colorado Law, serves as the Program Director of the MSL in Human Rights, and assists MSL applicants and students with holistic admissions and program advising. He possesses over a decade of experience working with international students, scholars and professionals, including service as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Romania, the coordination of Fulbright and Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship programs at Vanderbilt University, the management of study abroad and exchange programs at Baylor University, and the management of international programs at the University of Texas School of Law. Mr. Ilseng enjoys working with international students and professionals to enable them to achieve their professional and personal goals, introducing international students to Colorado culture, and can normally be found either playing or watching football (aka soccer) or basketball.
Email: jimmy.ilseng@colorado.edu