If you are an attorney with a focus on healthcare law and policy, the Doctor of Juridical Science in Health Law program offers the opportunity to develop your expertise. As a doctoral candidate, you will follow an individualized course of study, and you will focus your efforts on a specific health law topic in order to produce a dissertation worthy of publication. Applicants for the Doctor of Juridical Science in Health Law must possess a JD and either a LLM in Health Law or a related field, or a Masters in Health Administration or Public Health.
S.J.D. Application Procedure: The S.J.D. is an intensive effort in research, writing, and analysis. The candidate must demonstrate capacity to do sustained, high-level work. With that in mind, the candidate must submit the following materials in support of the application and transcripts:
- A writing sample that demonstrates the candidate’s abilities in writing, research, and analysis.
- A brief statement of the proposed dissertation topic, accompanied by an outline. It is recommended that the candidate discuss the topic with a member of the health law faculty with knowledge of the topic before submitting these materials. The Director of the Health Law Institute will be available to direct the applicant to an appropriate faculty member.
- A personal statement, describing the applicant’s reasons for seeking the degree.
Curriculum
- The S.J.D. candidate will be required to register for 2 credits per semester for two years (8 credits).
- The S.J.D. candidate may also take health law course work (depending on the experience of the candidate).
Your doctoral dissertation must be on a subject matter within the expertise of the health law faculty. These include, but are not limited to:
- Healthcare Liability
- Managed Care Legal Issues
- Healthcare Antitrust
- Bioethics, including Reproductive technology and issues in Death and Dying
- Public Health
- Law and Science
- Toxic Torts
- Healthcare Regulations and Finance
- Bioterrorism
Contact Information Director: Professor John G. Culhane
Phone: (302)-477-2107
Email: jgculhane@widener.edu Secretary: Karla Harris
Phone: (302)-477-2704
Email: kmharris@mail.widener.edu