UC Graduate Studies Catalog 2019-2023

Section XV

Law Programs

 

As Cambodia recovers from its traumatic past, and thereby modernizes and interacts more regionally and globally, there is an ever-growing need for professionals with an in-depth knowledge of our own country’s rules of law; Cambodian and international regulations governing trade and commerce between countries; international conventions on the environment, labor, intellectual property, human rights; and also dispute resolution. Such knowledge is important for both policy development and advocacy work within Cambodia.

Reflecting the University's various areas of focus in the Social Sciences (e.g. in International Relations, Peace Studies or Political Science), the College of Law provides graduate studies and research in Master’s and Doctoral degree programs in international law. 

·         International Law (LLM, LLD)

1. INTERNATIONAL LAW

This program is intended for students who want to pursue postgraduate studies of international law in the field of human right law, criminal and war crime law, humanitarian law, environmental law, commercial law, diplomatic law, law of the sea, global governance and dispute resolution, etc. Students who have interest in studying this field can apply to study the international law program at the College of Law. Students must complete the core subjects in order to be eligible for writing a Master’s or Doctoral thesis in any proposed area.

i. Master’s Degree

Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in Law; otherwise, they must take and pass three Bridging courses in order to be considered for acceptance (see Section XV.2).

(a) The following program structure applies for existing Master’s students, based on a previous MoEYS directive (see Section VIII.3).   

Common Courses (12 credits)

 

FDN501: Research Methodology

 

FDN502: Statistics for Research

 

FDN503: Research Paper Writing

 

FDN504: Ethical Leadership

 

Major Courses (18 credits)

 

LAW504: Introduction to International Law

 

LAW508: United Nations

 

LAW511: International Trade Law

 

LAW513: International Human Rights Law

 

LAW514: International Law and the State

 

LAW515: Law of Treaty

 

Elective Courses (12 credits)

 

LAW516: Global Environmental Governance

 

LAW607: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

 

LAW621: Law of the Sea

 

LAW684: International Relations

 

Option I: Thesis (at least 12 credits)

 

RPT601-RPT604 Master’s Thesis

 

Option II: Comprehensive Exam (12 credits)

 

LAW602: Politics in Developing Areas

 

LAW617: Sociology of Human Rights

 

LAW627: International Development Law and Policy

 

CAP601: Capstone (Seminars, etc.)

 

Ø  Master’s Research Paper

Ø  Comprehensive Exam

 

(b) For new Master’s students enrolling in Academic Year 2018-2019, the latest revision by MoEYS means that there are three options available (see Section VIII.7). The following outlines what is required to be satisfactorily completed for the first two of these (all courses are 3 credits each, unless otherwise indicated).

Research Methodology

FDN501: Research Methodology

FDN502: Statistics for Research

FDN503: Research Paper Writing       

Major Core Courses

LAW504: Introduction to International Law

LAW508: United Nations

LAW511: International Trade Law

LAW684: International Relations

Major Courses

LAW513: International Human Rights Law

LAW514: International Law and the State

LAW515: Law of Treaty

LAW621: Law of the Sea

Major Elective Courses

FND504: Ethical Leadership

LAW516: Global Environmental Governance

LAW607: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Option 1

Comprehensive/State Exam

Option 2

Research Project Report

LAW602: Politics in Developing Areas

RPR601: Research Proposal

LAW617: Sociology of Human Rights

RPR602: Paper Presentation

LAW627: International Development Law and Policy

RPR603: Master’s Project Report (6 credits)

SEM601: Individual Seminar/Workshop

For the third option, the Master’s Thesis, candidates are required to do both of the above suites of Research Methodology and Major courses. Thereafter, they must earn the remaining 33 credits through successfully completing the following:

THE601: Research Proposal (3 credits)

THE602: Publication of a Paper (6 credits)

THE603: Paper Presentation (3 credits)

THE604: Individual Seminar/Workshop (3 credits)

THE605: Thesis (18 credits)

ii. Doctoral Degree

Applicants should have at least a Bachelor’s degree in Law. Those without an appropriate Master’s degree must take and pass three Bridging courses in order to be considered for acceptance (see Section XV.2).

Doctorate Courses (9 credits)

FDN701: Research Methodology

FDN702: Statistics for Research

FDN703: Research Paper Writing

Supplementary Courses (9 credits)

FDN704: Ethical Leadership

LAW707: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

LAW708: United Nations

Oriented Courses (9 credits)

LAW716/DEV711: Global Environmental Governance

LAW713: International Human Rights Law

LAW714: International Law and the State

Ø  Comprehensive Exam

Dissertation (33 credits)

DIS801: Oral Defense of Research Proposal (3 credits);

DIS802: Publication of Research Papers (6 credits)

DIS803: Participation in an Academic Meeting (3 credits)

DIS804: Individual Seminar (3 credits)

DIS805: Dissertation (18 credits)

Ø  Oral Defense of Dissertation

2. BRIDGING COURSES

i. Prospective Master’s Students

Applicants wanting to do a Master's in International Law but fail to meet the requirements listed above must first obtain a Graduate Certificate in Law by passing up to three bridging modules (CLA501-3: see table below).

Bridging Module

Components of Relevant Undergraduate Courses

CLA501

LAW101 (Introduction to Law), LAW102 (Constitutional Law)

CLA502

LAW314 (Law on Human Rights), PST102 (Human Rights and Global Justice)

CLA503

LAW417 (Diplomatic Law), LAW211 (Public International Law)

ii. Prospective Doctoral Students

Applicants wanting to do a PhD in International Law must have at least a Bachelor’s degree in Law; those who do not have a Master’s degree in Law from a reputable university must first obtain a Pre-Doctoral Certificate in International Law by passing up to three bridging modules (CLA601-3: see table below).

Bridging Module

Components of Relevant Master’s Courses

CLA601

LAW504 (Introduction to International Law), LAW211 (Public International Law)

CLA602

LAW515 (Law of Treaty), LAW314 (Law on Human Rights)

CLA603

LAW621 (Law of the Sea), LAW417 (Diplomatic Law)