Syracuse University

What you'll study

This doctoral programme combines rigorous doctrinal legal analysis with social-science methods to support sustained, original research on gender-related legal issues in national, transnational and comparative contexts. Students take advanced seminars in feminist legal theory, comparative constitutional law, international human rights law, and law and social change, alongside training in qualitative and quantitative research methods.

• Core components: advanced seminars in gender and the law; comparative legal systems; international human rights instruments and enforcement; theories of law and social change.
• Research methods: courses in empirical methods for legal scholars, qualitative interviewing, comparative case-study design, and legal history relevant to gender and family law.
• Electives and interdisciplinary coursework: public policy analysis, migration and refugee law, international criminal law, health law and bioethics, and courses offered through the Maxwell School and other departments to support comparative and interdisciplinary research.
• Milestones: completion of required coursework, a comprehensive or qualifying examination to assess readiness for dissertation research, the development and defence of a dissertation proposal, and completion and defence of an original dissertation under the supervision of a faculty committee.
• Teaching and professional development: opportunities to teach or co‑teach undergraduate and graduate law courses, present at research colloquia, participate in grant-writing workshops, and engage with clinics and centres relevant to gender and international law.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a strong graduate law degree such as a JD, LLB plus a graduate degree (MA, LLM), or a master's in a related social-science or humanities discipline, with evidence of substantial legal or interdisciplinary research experience. Typical application materials include:

• Academic transcripts demonstrating strong performance in prior degree(s).
• A detailed research statement or proposal outlining the intended doctoral project in gender, international or comparative law.
• A scholarly writing sample showing original research and legal or interdisciplinary analysis.
• Letters of recommendation from academic referees who can attest to research potential.
• Evidence of language skills if the proposed research requires working with non-English primary sources; some projects may require demonstrated proficiency in relevant languages.

Admissions committees evaluate applicants on the originality and feasibility of their proposed research, prior academic record, and fit with available faculty supervision. Prospective students are encouraged to identify potential supervisors in advance and to contact faculty whose research aligns with their interests.

Career prospects

Graduates of this PhD typically pursue careers in higher education as tenure-track faculty in law schools, departments of political science, sociology, or gender studies. Many find roles in policy research, think tanks, international and regional organisations (for example agencies and bodies working on human rights, gender equality, migration or development), and in leadership positions at NGOs and advocacy organisations.

• Academic roles: assistant professor, research fellow, or lecturer in law and interdisciplinary programmes.
• Policy and research: senior researcher or policy analyst at international organisations, government agencies, or policy institutes focused on gender, human rights, and comparative law.
• Advocacy and practice: leadership and specialist roles in non-governmental organisations, strategic litigation units, and international legal practice focusing on gender and human-rights litigation.
• Consultancy and public engagement: advisors on legal reform, gender impact assessment, and comparative legal design for foundations and multilateral donors.

Why study at Syracuse University

Syracuse University offers interdisciplinary strengths that support advanced legal research in gender, international and comparative law. PhD candidates benefit from access to faculty with expertise across law, international affairs and social policy as well as university-wide research centres and resources. Graduate students can draw on cross-college collaboration with the Maxwell School for public affairs and international relations, clinics and experiential learning opportunities through the College of Law, and university research support for interdisciplinary projects.

The college’s commitment to combining doctrinal and empirical approaches, mentoring for early-career scholars, and opportunities to engage with external partners and clinics make Syracuse a supportive environment for scholars seeking to influence academic debates, policy, and practice on gender and international law.