IP@STU: The Intellectual Property Certificate at St. Thomas University School of Law

Official information on the St. Thomas Law IP certificate may be found at https://www.stu.edu/law/academics/certificate-programs. This page contains additional non-official relevant information on the certificate from certificate Director Professor Ira Steven Nathenson.

IP@STU certificate description

IP@STU means IP law at St. Thomas University. A Certificate in Intellectual Property Law will be awarded to a J.D. student that completes a minimum of 12 credit hours of designated course work and completes a skills component. The program course options provide innovative skills and writing opportunities to help students prepare for the digital economy. Many of the program courses provide an emphasis on integrating doctrinal studies with a practical context. Students will oftentimes engage in simulations of legal practice in order to develop practice skills, professional knowledge, and to assemble job placement portfolios.

Number of credits

A Certificate in Intellectual Property Law will be awarded to J.D. students who have satisfactorily completed at least 12 credit hours of designated course work, including:

Required courses

Students must first complete at least three of the following “core” courses:

Optional courses

If needed, any of the following “additional” courses to meet the total of 12 credit hours:

  • Administrative Law (2 or 3 credits);
  • Cyberlaw (3 credits);
  • Entertainment Law (3 credits);
  • First Amendment Law (3 credits);
  • Media Law (3 credits);
  • Seminar: Bioethics: Controversies in Law and Medicine (2 credits);
  • Seminar: Cybersecurity Law & Policy (2 credits);
  • Seminar: First Amendment (2 credits);
  • Seminar: Intellectual Property (2 credits);
  • Seminar: Internet Governance Law & Policy (2 credits);
  • Sports Law (2 credits)

The credits must total 12 or more and can be of any combination of “core” or “additional” courses, so long as at least three (3) are core courses. Courses not listed above may count as well, such as a seminar other than the ones noted above and in which you complete a paper substantially on IP, internet law, or information law. Please contact the Certificate Director for further details.

To apply

For further information and to apply for the certificate, contact Professor Nathenson in person or via email, and sign and send me the form found here. You should submit your application no later than the semester prior to the semester in which you graduate. As a practical matter, you should declare earlier than that so that the Program Director can help you to make sure you meet the certificate requirements.

Revised Nov. 15, 2023