IU, University of Oxford offer joint degree program

IU has planned a joint degree program with the University of Oxford.

Students who finish the program will have the distinction of completing the world’s only specialized graduate law degree in information law and policy.

The program is now accepting applications and is highly competitive, according to the press release.

“This is an incredible opportunity for students interested in the emerging field of information governance,” Fred H. Cate, distinguished professor and C. Ben Dutton professor of law in the Maurer School of Law, said in a press release.

“The surge in online and mobile transactions, the proliferation of metadata and other developments are creating a tremendous amount of data, and attorneys and policy experts are increasingly in demand to help address such challenges. Having one of the world’s only specialized degrees in this area will put future leaders in a better position to help solve them.”

Students accepted into the program will begin their fall semesters at IU and will be enrolled in 12 to 16 credit hours of regular law classes. In mid-January, the students will begin to relocate to Oxford, England.

Upon arrival at Oxford, students will have a number of class-load options but are to be enrolled in two graduate elective courses offered by the Oxford Internet Institute, according to the press release.

Recent classes have covered topics such as the Internet and society, Internet economics, online social networks and digital-era government and politics.
The classes in England will conclude in mid-March.

The program is not finished with the students’ arrival back on American soil. During the summer, students are required to complete a 10,000-word Oxford master’s thesis with both IU and Oxford faculty to be finished by Aug. 1, according to the press release.

Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Applicants must have a Juris Doctor degree, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

— Michael Majchrowicz