Summer Program – International Commercial Arbitration
The Economics Law Department opens its doors to all second-year and higher Law students interested in taking this summer course imparted at the American University in Washington, D.C., United States.
Externado de Colombia second, third, fourth, and fifth-year Law students may participate in the International Commercial Arbitration and Investment Arbitration Summer Program at American University Washington College of Law (May 29 to June 14, 2018, in Washington, D.C.)
The course will be equivalent to the third-year Seminar (to be confirmed) or a fifth-year intensification, provided students pass the exams and obtain the diploma, according to the agreement between the two universities.
The International Commercial Arbitration Program is the only one in the region dedicated exclusively to International Commercial Arbitration and Investment Arbitration. It consists of 7 courses in English or three in Spanish. Students may choose four courses, imparted by world-famous arbitrators and professionals from major law firms in the United States and arbitral institutions.
Detailed information can be found at the following links:
The courses are recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA). To complete a Law career in the United States, students must earn a certain number of credits. Each credit is equivalent to 12 class hours. All the courses offered by the Arbitration Program award one credit (12 hours).
Recognition of WCL credits by the Externado University
Externado University students will be considered as WCL academic credit students; that is, they must comply with the minimum attendance and, also, take the exams, anonymously graded, the same as any WCL local student. Recognition of grades obtained and the number of credits or courses granted by the Externado will be decided independently by the University.
Considerations for determining exams and grades equivalency
To recognize the summer courses and grades equivalencies, students must take into account the following considerations:
- The WCL exams modes vary according to the professors. In some cases, it consists of an oral presentation at the end of the course, a written test requiring answers to specific questions, or an analysis of a hypothetical case.
- To facilitate transferring the grades obtained at WCL to the Externado de Colombia University, a grade equivalence of letters and numbers used by the WCL is described below:
A = 50
A- = 4.6
B + = 4.3
B = 4.0
B- = 3.7
C + = 3.5
C = 3.2
D = 30
F or 0 indicates a student has failed the course.
- One credit course comprises 12 hours of direct training (excluding breaks). The ABA also requires 30 hours of additional academic work, consisting of prior and post-class readings, case analysis, and solving hypothetical problems, among others.
Registration is completed directly with the Commercial Arbitration Program, using the form available on the website HERE
Information should be reported in advance to the Economics Law Department to obtain discounts and so that studies will be recognized when students start their third or fifth year. Students who opt for equivalency will continue to pay the usual tuition fee, and discounts will not apply.
An important advantage for visiting students taking courses for credit (final exam) is they enjoy a special rate at WCL, as follows, as stated in the agreements between the two institutions:
1 course US$ 1,950
2 courses US$ 1,950
3 courses US$ 1,950
4 courses US$ 1,950
For registration to be completed so WCL can confirm and send letters of support to the American Embassy in Bogotá, it is necessary to pay a non-refundable deposit of USD 100. The deposit will be applied to the course tuition.
Tuition includes reading materials which will be available on a flash drive. Students will also be given online access to reading materials two weeks before the program initiation, to give them an opportunity to prepare.
Students must pay the deposit first. To pay the balance with a card, they need to wait until a payment link is generated, as the system is configured for those paying full rate. Additionally, and when completing the registration form, after filling in your name, under “Title,” students should indicate “Student, Externado de Colombia University” to apply the agreement.
It is important to mention that due to the special price, grades obtained by students will be sent to the Economics Law Department on formal letterhead but will not appear officially in the WCL Academics Records Office. In other words, the grade and credit do not apply to WCL, as the student is not enrolled at this University.
Accommodations
The International Commercial Arbitration Program does not provide housing. Those participating in the summer program have the option of staying at the American University students “dorms.” For more information view
Visas
Once students have registered and paid the deposit, WCL will send a confirmation letter addressed to the consular office. Since the summer program is not full-time, participants do not need to be formally enrolled at WCL, and will only need a B1/B2 (business or tourist) visa. A student visa is not required. View
Attendance
Participants must attend at least 90% of the classes. Due to the intensive nature of the seminars, absences below this percentage results in a failing grade. Absences must be justified and notified in writing to email arbitration@wcl.american.edu.