Course code:

HS4026

Level:

MA - Intermediate/Advanced

Class size limit:

20

Meets the following requirements:

  • HS - Human Studies

Lab fee:

10

Typically offered:

Every other year

This course provides an overview of environmental law and the role of law in shaping environmental policy.

We examine, as background, the nature and scope of environmental, energy, and resource problems and evaluate the various legal mechanisms available to address those problems. The course attempts to have students critically analyze the role of law in setting and implementing environmental policy.

We explore traditional common law remedies, procedural statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act, intricate regulatory schemes, and market-based strategies that have been adopted to control pollution and protect natural resources.

Students are exposed to a wide range of environmental law problems in order to appreciate both the advantages and limitations of law in this context. Special attention is given to policy debates currently underway and the use of the legal process to foster the development of a sustainable society in the United States. Students are required to complete four problem sets in which they apply legal principles to a given fact scenario.

Prerequisites:

Introduction to the Legal Process or Philosophy of the Constitution strongly recommended.

Always visit the Registrar's Office for the official course catalog and schedules.