Program Information for USC J.D. Students
USC Law School’s selective, semester abroad, exchange program with the University of Hong Kong (HKU) allows USC J.D. students to experience Hong Kong and its legal culture and enables international law students from HKU to attend USC Law School.
Established in 1911, HKU is a leading university in Asia. Linked with over 80 partner institutions in 15 countries, HKU has exchange programs with prominent universities worldwide. The language of teaching at HKU for its law courses is English.
For more information, visit HKU’s Faculty of Law website at http://www.hku.hk/law/
ELIGIBILITY
USC Law School’s Graduate & International Programs (G&IP) office administers this semester abroad exchange program. This program allows for up to four students from USC Law School to attend HKU during the academic year (fall and spring). Students may participate in this exchange program during their 2L fall, 2L spring, or 3L fall semesters. Selection will be based upon academic performance, interest in overseas study, and potential benefits from overseas study. In-person interviews will be conducted. Students must have excellent law school records, must have at least a 3.0 GPA, must be in good standing, and must not be on 'restricted enrollment' in order to be considered for admission to the program.
Transfer students, LL.M., M.C.L., and visiting students are ineligible to participate in USC Law School’s semester abroad programs.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
USC students who choose to study abroad should be aware of HKU’s academic calendar, which differs from USC Law School’s calendar. HKU’s fall semester typically begins in the first week of September and final exams are scheduled through the end of December. HKU’s spring semester typically begins in mid-January and final exams are scheduled through the end of May. For an example of HKU’s academic calendar, visit their web site at http://www.hku.hk/law/teaching/calendar.htm
APPLICATION
Exchange program applications must be submitted by January 18, 2008 for the Fall 2008 semester, or by June 6, 2008 for the Spring 2009 semester. Applications are available at http://lawgip.usc.edu/studyabroad.cfm
Students must have a valid passport. USC Law School’s G&IP office and HKU will assist with the provision of documents necessary for the student to obtain the appropriate visa. For visa processing purposes, exchange students will need to provide evidence of sufficient funds for accommodation and other personal expenses during their semester abroad. This amount is stipulated by USC’s Office of International Services and will be updated each semester.
Participants in the study abroad program will also be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure meeting to review and finalize any necessary details.
CURRICULUM
USC Law School students can take classes from HKU’s LL.M. program. The most current LL.M. curriculum offered by HKU is available on their website: http://www.hku.hk/law/teaching/time_tables.htm It is the student’s responsibility to review the course offerings to determine those classes that are open to exchange students in any given semester.
As per the university's articulation officer, J.D. students who study at the University of Hong Kong must enroll in standard law courses in order to earn credit on their USC transcripts. In keeping with this requirement, students will not receive credit for language courses taken at HKU such as Practical Chinese for Law Students or Use of Chinese in Law. However, students can enroll in a language course so long as they remain under the unit cap of 15 maximum units. They will not however receive any credit for these units and as such they will not appear on their USC transcripts.
Students must consult with USC Law School’s Study Abroad Academic Director, Professor Edwin M. Smith, to define the educational and professional objectives a student seeks to achieve during their semester abroad, and to seek advice about curriculum selections. Students are required to submit their final course selections (and any subsequent changes) to the G&IP office. At the conclusion of the program, students will be required to submit a writing sample from one of their overseas courses at HKU for review by Professor Smith. It is the student’s responsibility to submit this sample within one month of the student’s return from the overseas institution. A written assignment or written examination taken at HKU will fulfill this requirement.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Students must satisfactorily complete the equivalent of 13 to 15 USC Law School units during their semester abroad at the HKU. Students will be granted 1 USC unit for every 2 HKU units. A typical USC student will take 4 or 5 HKU courses equivalent to 24-30 HKU units, in order to meet the Law School’s minimum unit requirement. Students must take the standard HKU law courses as approved by USC and USC Law School. HKU will provide a list of approved courses each semester.
The student will also be required to write a brief evaluation of the exchange program. The evaluation must be filed by the student with the G&IP office within one month of the student’s return from the overseas institution.
CONSIDERATIONS
Students should note the following when considering semester abroad programs:
(A) Writing projects taken at HKU do not fulfill USC Law School’s upper division writing requirement. Students must complete writing and skills requirements at USC.
(B) Participation in the semester abroad program may impact students' eligibility to participate or enroll in Honors Program Boards, student organization leadership rolls, Honors Journals, Moot Court, the OCI program, and Order of the Coif during their semester abroad.
(C) Credits earned in a semester abroad program do not satisfy the minimum law units required in a dual degree program, for example the J.D./MBA program. Therefore, students enrolled in a dual degree program that would like to participate in this semester abroad program must anticipate that an additional semester (7th semester) of law school studies will be required of them.
GRADING
In accordance with USC’s grading policy for courses taken at foreign institutions, courses taken at HKU by USC J.D. students will be letter graded, A - F. However, these letter grades will be converted to Credit/No Credit by USC and will appear on the student’s USC Law School transcript as CR/D/F units (consistent with the Law School’s grading system). Thus, by enrolling in the HKU exchange program, the USC J.D. students will earn CR/D/F units for all units that they complete satisfactorily [subject to Items 1, 2 and 3 below]:
1. Students should note that the J.D. degree requires satisfactory completion of 35 numerically graded USC law units after the first year of law school. HKU units will transfer as CR units only and semester abroad students will still need to meet the 35 numerically graded upper-division law school units requirement of USC Law School.
2. USC’s policy for the USC Law/HKU semester abroad program requires that USC J.D. students achieve at least a C in order to be granted Credit (CR) on their USC Law School transcript for courses taken at HKU. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required of each student during their semester abroad.
3. Students who receive below a "C" grade or an Incomplete in a course will not be given any USC credit for that course. Students may not audit courses at HKU.
TRANSCRIPT
At the conclusion of the semester abroad program, HKU will supply an official transcript of results to the student. The student will need to arrange to have an official transcript from HKU sent directly to the USC Law School's G&IP office or no credit will be applied toward the USC J.D. degree.
TUITION & FEES
USC students participating in the USC Law/HKU exchange program will pay tuition to their home institution. Thus, our students will pay tuition to USC Law School. Students will be responsible for all other expenses, including travel, housing, meals, special fees, health insurance, medical/dental or other expenses not covered by health insurance, plus textbooks, clothing, passport and visa costs, and all other costs incurred in connection with their semester abroad. It is estimated that these expenses will amount to roughly $4,000-$6,000. For those students with financial aid, questions should be addressed to Mary Bingham, Director of Financial Aid, at mbingham@law.usc.edu
Proof of medical insurance coverage by USC students (either USC's health insurance plan or an equivalent insurance policy) is mandatory.
HOUSING
USC Law School semester abroad students seeking campus housing at HKU will be required to apply to each postgraduate residence hall independently. The G&IP office will provide students with HKU housing information; however, it is ultimately the responsibility of each student to adhere to HKU’s deadlines.
CANCELLATION
HKU reserves the right to cancel any course for reasons of insufficient student registration. If the student notes these changes prior to their departure from the U.S., and the student is unable to identify satisfactory substitute courses, he or she may choose to withdraw from the program. If the student notes the cancellation occurs after the student has arrived in Hong Kong, substitute courses must be selected and submitted for approval to USC Law School’s Study Abroad Academic Director, Professor Edwin M. Smith.
POLICIES
USC J.D. students in attendance at HKU must abide by all the rules and regulations of the University of Hong Kong.
*Please note that all the information on the Law School website is subject to changes.
For more information, please contact:
USC Gould School of LawGraduate & International Programs Office
699 Exposition Blvd. Room 105
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0071
Tel: (213) 821-5916
Email: studyabroad@law.usc.edu
