Policymakers, adjudicators and practitioners in international organizations, governments, NGOs, and private firms must be prepared to address the challenging human rights and humanitarian issues that face the international community today.  To help achieve this goal, Georgetown Law offers the Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies program for students who have a career interest in human rights and humanitarian issues, with special focus on refugees and post-conflict situations.

Certificate Program Requirements

In consultation with the Faculty Director, students choose a total of six courses that satisfy Certificate requirements.  To ensure broad coverage of the field, each student generally must take at least one course on: 

1. Refugees, Migration, or Humanitarian Emergencies/Disaster Relief,
2. Human Rights, and
3. Conflict/Post-Conflict Related Issues, Rule of Law, or Development.

To learn more about the Certificate requirements, visit the Human Right Institute's Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies Certificate page.

Eligibility Requirements

• The Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies program can be pursued in conjunction with the J.D. or an LL.M. degree.
• Students cannot be admitted into the Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies program on a standalone basis.
• Students who wish to apply for the Certificate should do so by:

1. Notifying their J.D. Academic Advisor or LL.M. Program Director no later than the last day of add/drop activity in the last semester before their graduation, and
2. Contacting Andrew Schoenholtz, Faculty Director of the Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies, to inform him of their interest in the program.

NOTE: Georgetown Law and Walsh School of Foreign Service's Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM) run parallel Certificate programs. ISIM organizes a joint awards ceremony for graduating students who obtain the Certificate. For Master's students interested in the Certificate who are enrolled in a degree program in the Walsh School of Foreign Service, McCourt School of Public Policy, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and School of Health, please consult with Professor Christi Smith about Certificate program requirements. More information can be found on the ISIM Graduate Certificate in Refugees, Migration, and Humanitarian Emergencies page.

Contact Information

To learn more, please contact:

Andrew Schoenholtz
Faculty Director,  Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies
Phone: (202) 662-9036

Please address any questions about admissions to the Office of Graduate Admissions.