Presentation
The Doctoral program in Law is designed to train university professors and professional researchers in the field of legal sciences. It aims to prepare research specialists capable of developing scientific research tools and techniques to engage in teaching and research within the specialized branches of law.
The program fosters new approaches to conducting research based on legal methodology through a pedagogical model that promotes the continuous use of emerging technologies, exploring new and innovative academic pathways that encourage legal-scientific creativity to address the challenges arising from the integration of new technologies in the field of law.
Structure
The Doctorate in Law is divided into four phases:
| Phase I: Introductory Courses |
|---|
| The student will take the subjects of Scientific Research and Research Seminar. These subjects enable the student to acquire the necessary knowledge about the main tools of scientific research and the general guidelines on how to write a doctoral thesis. |
| Phase II: Scientific Methodology in Law | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Research Method in Comparative Law |
| 2 | Methodology, Interpretation, and Reasoning for Legal Research |
| 3 | Contemporary Legal Thinking |
| 4 | Legal Logic |
| 5 | Constitutionalism in the 21st century |
| 6 | Judicial Systems and Conflict Resolution |
| 7 | Bioethics and Law |
| 8 | Parliamentary Systems |
| Phase III: Research |
|---|
| In this phase, the student will take the subjects of Research Work I, Research Work II, and Doctoral Thesis Proposal. This stage is carried out under the constant guidance of the thesis director, allowing the student to gather the relevant information needed to efficiently develop the doctoral thesis. |
| Phase IV: Doctoral Thesis |
|---|
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Finally, during the Doctoral Thesis phase, the student will take two subjects: Doctoral Thesis Development I and Doctoral Thesis Dissertation. This phase aims for the candidate to prepare the dissertation and be able to logically and systematically present and explain the research results before an academic panel of three doctors. |
Educational Methodology
The educational model promotes collaboration and cooperation to enrich the development of individuals. This ensures an effective process that delivers meaningful results in relation to the educational investment made and the return in terms of knowledge acquisition and personal and organizational learning. The model incorporates numerous educational and pedagogical innovations that facilitate, enhance, and drive a highly effective learning process. This includes:
- Facilitating contact between students, between teachers, and between both groups.
- Encouraging cooperation and reciprocity: learning as a collective effort.
- Positioning the student as the center of the process in which they actively participate.
- Encouraging continuous communication and interaction between teachers and students.
- Instilling the understanding that education requires time and sustained effort.
- Using motivation as a constant stimulus so that the student recognizes that the expected learning outcomes are within reach.
- Personalizing learning by considering individual differences and diverse learning styles.
Diploma
Successful completion of the program will lead to the degree of DOCTOR OF LAW.
Upon successful completion of the Program, the student will receive the degree issued by the university where they have enrolled.
Curriculum
The Doctoral Program in Law aims to develop research competence through the proficient use of scientific research methodology tools, enabling students to cultivate analytical and critical thinking focused on finding practical, sustainable, and competitive solutions within the legal sciences.
The Doctoral Program in Law has a course load of 90 credits with a duration of five years. The following table is a schedule of academic activities for the Doctorate in Law:
- PHASE I: INTRODUCTORY COURSES
| PHASE I: INTRODUCTORY COURSES | |
|---|---|
| # | COURSES |
| 1 | Methodology of Scientific Research |
| 2 | Research Seminar – Doctoral File |
- PHASE II: SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY IN LAW
| PHASE II: SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY IN LAW | |
|---|---|
| # | COURSES |
| 1 | Research Method in Comparative Law |
| 2 | Methodology, Interpretation, and Reasoning for Legal Research |
| 3 | Contemporary Legal Thinking |
| 4 | Legal Logic |
| 5 | Constitutionalism in the 21st Century |
| 6 | Judicial Systems and Conflict Resolution |
| 7 | Bioethics and Law |
| 8 | Parliamentary Systems |
- PHASE III: RESEARCH PHASE
| PHASE III: RESEARCH PHASE | |
|---|---|
| # | COURSES |
| 1 | Research Work I |
| 2 | Research Work II |
| 3 | Doctoral Thesis Project |
- PHASE IV: DOCTORAL THESIS
| PHASE IV: DOCTORAL THESIS | |
|---|---|
| # | COURSES |
| 1 | Doctoral Thesis Development |
| 2 | Doctoral Thesis Dissertation |
Lines of Research
For the development of the Doctoral Final Project (thesis), students may conduct their research in accordance with their chosen lines of research areas of academic insterest. Among them:
*The creation of new lines of research is considered in accordance with the students' interests.
Faculty Leadership
- Dr. Roberto García Lara. Doctor of Law from the Instituto Nacional de Desarrollo Jurídico, a Master in Constitutional Law and Amparo, and a Bachelor’s degree in Law.
- Dr. Eduardo Silva. Doctor of Projects, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana (International Iberoamerican University). Master's Degree in International Business Management from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. Lawyer and Notary Public, Universidad Rafael Landívar (URL). Lawyer in the Legal Department of the Iberoamerican University Foundation. Executive Director of the Iberoamerican University Foundation, Guatemala.
Professors and Authors
- Dr. Alfonso Estrada Garcia. Doctor of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Universidad Panamericana, Guatemala. Teaching Consultant at the Presidential Commission for the Coordination of the Executive's Policy on Human Rights and professor in master's programs and thesis advisor at the Universidad Rafael Landívar (URL).
- Dr. Irma Rebeca Monzón Rojas de Paredes. Doctor of Law, Universidad Rafael Landívar (URL), Guatemala. Doctor of Democratic Society, State and Law, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV), Spain. Researcher at the Instituto de Investigación y Estudios Superiores en Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales -IIJ- of the Universidad Rafael Landívar (URL).
- Dr. José Miguel Cermeño Castillo. Doctor of Criminal Sciences, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Lawyer and notary. Professor, and practices law on a freelance basis as a litigation lawyer and consultant in commercial law.
- Dr. Vladimir Osman Aguilar Guerra. Doctor of Law. University of Seville, Spain. Twenty-six years of teaching at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, School of Law, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Author of 11 papers on Law.
- Dr. Pablo Eisendecher Bertin. Lawyer, holder of a Doctorate of Economic and Business Law, a Master in Public Law, a Master in Law and International Business, and a Master in Conflict Resolution and Mediation. Currently serves as Director of the Iberoamerican University Foundation in Chile and Paraguay.
- Dr. Tomás Salás Darrocha. Doctor of Law, Universidad de Barcelona and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the same university. With a long and prestigious career in the judiciary, he is a practicing magistrate-judge in the criminal courts of Barcelona and was head of the technical office of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC), among other positions.
- Dr. Cristina Hidalgo González. Professor of the Department of Applied Economics at the Universidad de León.
- Dr. Salvador Rus Rufino. Professor at the Universidad de León.
- Dr. Alina Celi Frugoni. Doctor of Law, Universidad de Alicante, Spain. Professor at the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana.
- Dr. Roberto Ruiz Salces. Vice Rector of International Relations and Secretary General of the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (Spain). Holder of a Doctorate in History and a Doctorate in Education. Professor of History of Law and Institutions and International Relations in International Economic Law.
Scholarships
The Doctoral Scholarship Program for pursuing the Doctorate in Law, sponsored by the Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER), is aimed at individuals with an outstanding academic record. The objective is to prepare doctoral graduates who can meaningfully contribute to the human, scientific, and technological development of society, particularly within their specific line of research.
This Doctoral Scholarship Program, which includes the participation of other foundations, institutions, and universities, is designed for both university faculty, aimed at increasing the proportion of doctoral degree holders in higher education, and professionals in the business and public administration sectors, with the objective of fostering the creation of R&D&I departments and promoting a spirit of innovation.