Thank you for your interest in Catholic University’s International Human Rights Summer Law Program in Rome, Italy! The Program is offered in even years and will take place May 17 - June 5, 2026.

The format and focus of the Program will remain the same, however new courses developed especially for the Program will be announced in the next fall.

This program allows students to earn four credits (two 2-credit courses) focusing on different aspects of human rights law over an intensive three-weeks. In 2026 Summer, the courses include Art, Cultural Property and Human Rights (Professor Susanna F. Fischer); Immigration and Human Rights Seminar (Professor Stacy Brustin and Ashley Feasley); and Human Rights & The Law of Democracy (Professor Natalie Schmidt), which is newly developed especially for the program. Use this link for course descriptions. Formal study will be supplemented with visits to local legal institutions and organizations. Students will also have numerous opportunities to explore the city of Rome and enjoy some of Italy’s religious, cultural, and historic treasures. Because the program is concentrated in three weeks, from mid-May through the first week in June, students can pursue summer employment after the program is over. It also makes the program particularly accessible to evening students who are employed.