Courses

  • ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - 1000)

    3 credits

    This course covers the effective legal responses to current environmental problems, including air and water quality, noise, toxic substances, solid and hazardous waste and nuclear hazards. It also focuses on environmental considerations in the use of land, protection of parks, wetlands and historic buildings, and energy conservation in electricity, heating and transportation. Common law, administrative and statutory remedies, federal and state, are discussed. Grades are based upon a final examination.

  • ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SEMINAR (ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - 1040)

    2 credits

    The Seminar will address contemporary developments in Environmental Law. The course considers some new developments in environmental studies, such as complexity and ecology, new developmental toxicology, the economics of commons and ecosystem valuation, cost-benefit analysis and precautionary regulation, and technology assessment. The readings then address themost recent science on climate change and institutional responses to it. The rest of the seminar considers issues in energy law, corporate law, chemicals regulation, and urban development. Students will work with the professor to choose topics for research and writing projects. Research papers may consider aspects of the topics covered in the syllabus and may also draw from a list of other suggested topics, including food and agriculture, public health, and new technologies, such as genetically modified organisms and nanotechnology. Grades are based on the following allocation: one 20/30 page paper or two 10-page papers (80%); presentation to the class (10%); and class participation (10%).

  • INTERNAT'L ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - 1030)

    2 credits

    This course surveys the leading legal instruments and approaches to dealing with regional and global environmental problems. It will address transboundary air and water pollution, mass catastrophes, protection and allocation of freshwater supplies, stewardship of ocean resources such as fisheries, protection of the atmosphere (including the ozone layer and climate change), transport and trade in hazardous chemicals and waste, and biodiversity. The course will explore the environmental side of new approaches to economic regulation, including the world trade regime, and emerging ideas about sustainable development. Grades are based upon a final examination.

  • TORTS (TORTS - 1040)

    4 credits

    The basic Torts course is an introduction to civil liability arising from breach of duties imposed by law, as distinguished from duties imposed by contract. The course will cover representative doctrines and theories of liability, including intentional torts, negligence and strict liability. Topics may include assault, battery, negligence, strict liability, products liability, misrepresentation, defamation and privacy. Grades are based upon a final examination.