Environmental and Land Use Certificate Seminar
Purpose: This class is designed specifically and exclusively for students enrolled in the Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate Program. The purpose of the class is to expose program members to an enriched level of critical legal and policy analysis of issues relating to fields relevant to the program subject matter.
Scope: The scope of the class is wide-ranging, covering not only environmental, natural resources, and land use issues, but also such methodological topics as law and economics, cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, and scientific method. Because of the interplay in many settings between environmental, natural resources, and land use issues, the class enhances interdisciplinary awareness.
Expectations: Successful completion of this class is a requirement for graduation with the certificate. To successfully complete the class, students must: (1) demonstrate regular attendance and meaningful participation in the class for two semesters; (2) successfully complete all critical analysis assignments; and (3) deliver a high quality presentation on a topic approved by the Program Director.
Format: The class is conducted in the style of a graduate seminar. Speakers from COL faculty, from faculty in other FSU Departments, and from outside of FSU will make presentations on topics of relevance to the scope of the course. Students in their second semester will also make presentations.
Critical Analysis Assignments: Each presentation, whether by faculty, outside speakers, or students, will have a corresponding critical analysis assignment for all or a selected portion of the class. Critical analysis assignments require the student to examine the presentation in detail to consider and evaluate the depth of the speaker's research, logic of the speaker's legal and policy analysis, and merits of the speaker's proposals, if any. Details of each assignment will be delivered in class.
Meeting Times: Students should keep the official meeting time and day open for the duration of the semester. Meeting times, however, will vary to accommodate speaker and student schedules. Also, the class will most likely not meet weekly.
Attendance: Attendance is required at all sessions unless excused in advance.
Grading: The class may only be taken for a grade. The grade will be awarded in the second semester and shall be based on in-class participation over the full two semesters (20%), performance on the critical analysis assignments (20%), and the second-semester presentation (60%).
Other Details: Students receive no credit in (and thus pay no tuition for) the seminar until the second semester. All tuition is charged, and all three credit hours are awarded, in the second semester.
