International Law: Protecting the World's Interests
International law quietly shapes how nations cooperate, resolve disputes, and respond to global challenges. This course introduces international law as it operates in real-world decision-making, examining the legal frameworks that govern relationships among states, institutions, and non-state actors. Through applied analysis, you will evaluate how these systems shape global policy and explore career paths in diplomacy, law, and international organizations. Gain this essential professional perspective and test your interests before you fully commit. Explore your future in the field today.
Program Dates
Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Eligibility
For students ages 18 and up
College Credit Course Fees
$3,995
Enrichment Course Fees
$1,895
What's the Difference Between Our College Credit and Enrichment Courses?
Both enrichment and college credit–bearing options feature engaging online lessons and instructional support. College credit–bearing courses include additional coursework and offer the opportunity to earn academic credit upon successful completion. Some course content overlaps across both options, so students are encouraged to choose the format that best aligns with their academic or professional goals.
College Credit Courses$3,995
Length of Course: Multi-length course options
Instruction & Activities: 128 hours
Grading: Letter grade
On Your Own Schedule: ✔️
Academic Support: ✔️
Final Project: ✔️
College Credit Hours: ✔️
Certificate of Completion: Georgetown Transcript
Enrichment Courses$1,895
Length of Course: 1-, 2-, or 4-weeks
Instruction & Activities: 20-30 hours
Grading: Pass/Fail
On Your Own Schedule: ✔️
Academic Support: ✔️
Final Project: ✔️
College Credit Hours:❌
Certificate of Completion:✔️
Examine How International Law Shapes Global Careers and Institutions
How International Law Is Defined And Created
Define the essential sources and treaties that give international legal systems their authority. Analyze real case studies to see how these rules develop and interact on the global stage.
Who Has Authority: Jurisdiction, Immunity, And Legal Reach
Determine how sovereign states exercise specific jurisdiction across international waters, airspace, and outer space. Evaluate the complexities of legal immunity and extradition through contemporary examples of global law in action.
When Force Is Lawful: Conflict, War, and Legal Limits
Interpret the specific legal rules governing global warfare and the official U.N. Charter. Examine how international courts respond to war crimes and genocide through the analysis of contemporary armed conflicts.
Holding States Accountable: Enforcement in Practice
Compare how international enforcement mechanisms differ from traditional domestic legal systems. Review the specific roles of global tribunals and the U.N. Security Council in holding states accountable for their actions.
How International Law Is Evolving
Assess how international law evolves to address shifting global conditions and emerging modern challenges. Explore the growing influence of non-governmental organizations and private corporations in shaping future legal norms and institutions.
Connecting International Law to Careers and Practice
Synthesize core legal principles by participating in a simulation-based capstone project. Discover how international law informs careers in law, diplomacy, policy, journalism, corporate advising, and work with NGOs and international organizations.
What You Gain From This Experience
- Insight into how international law operates in practice and shapes decision-making across diplomacy, conflict, and global governance.
- An understanding of jurisdiction, enforcement, and the legal limits on state action in international contexts.
- Perspective on how international legal frameworks influence cooperation, accountability, and dispute resolution among states and institutions.
- Experience applying international law concepts through a Final Capstone Project grounded in a real-world legal or geopolitical scenario.
- A Certificate of Completion from Georgetown University upon successful completion of the course.
What Sets This Program Apart
A Capstone Project With Real-World Relevance
- Apply international legal principles to analyze a contemporary global issue, dispute, or institutional challenge.
- Demonstrate applied legal reasoning through research, analysis, and written or presentation-based work.
Instructional Guidance And Mentorship
- Strengthen legal analysis and critical thinking skills through ongoing feedback from course mentors and teaching assistants.
- Apply international law concepts with guidance that mirrors how legal reasoning is developed in academic and professional settings.
Flexible Learning With Clear Expectations
- Learn online through a format designed to support steady progress alongside academic, professional, or personal responsibilities.
- Complete coursework on a predictable schedule while maintaining rigor, depth, and accountability.
Apply Now for the Next Available Course
Course Designed by Georgetown University Faculty
Anthony Clark Arend, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of the Department of Government at Georgetown University
Dr. Arend, a renowned and popular professor at Georgetown University, designed and leads both the international relations and the international law pre-college courses. He earned a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Foreign Affairs from the Department of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia, and he received his B.S.F.S from Georgetown University. He is also the author of Legal Rules and International Society.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How will you be graded? What are assignments like? How much time do you have to turn around a project? When do you find out if you’re admitted? Find answers to your questions here.
Answers to Your Questions HereScholarships
We offer need-based scholarships for participating students who exhibit high potential and an inability to pay the full tuition.
- If you haven’t applied to the program, apply here. After submitting your application, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” on the confirmation page to request a scholarship.
- If you’ve already applied to the program, sign in to your profile to check your scholarship status. If we don’t have a scholarship request on file, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” to request a scholarship.