The chart below summarizes the required courses for graduating with a Certificate in Environmental and Land Use Law. More details on each of the components may be found below.
| Required Courses | Credit Hours | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law (LAW 7010) |
3 |
|
| Environmental Law (LAW 7200) |
3 |
|
| Land Use Law (LAW 7320) |
2 or 3 |
Credit hours depends upon professor |
|
Urban Fellows Program |
2 |
Students must participate in a fall and spring semester of the seminar series, field trips, and perform community service. Paper must be written on an environmental or land use law topic, and the topic presented to other Urban Fellows. |
| Environmental or Land Use Law Electives |
9 |
Includes externships, summer study abroad in Rio de Janeiro, or graduate courses in non-law departments*. See more details below. |
| TOTAL |
19-20 |
Required Foundational Courses
Students pursuing the Certificate in Environmental and Land Use Law are required to take 3 foundational courses:
Elective Courses
In addition to the required courses, students must select 9 credit hours of related electives. This requirement may be satisfied in several ways:
*Students are limited to one elective course (3 hours max) from a non-law department, including Georgia Tech's School of City and Regional PLanning. Dual degree students may take two courses (6 credit hours) from a non-law department. Non-law courses are subject to the rules of the College of Law. Students must receive pre-approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs before registering for non-law elective courses.
Click here for a list of approved courses.
Participation in the Urban Fellows Program
Students pursuing the certificate are required to participate in a full year (fall and spring semester) of the Urban Fellows Program. The Urban Fellows Program provides students with an opportunity to learn from top decision-makers about important issues facing cities today.
The program consists of a lecture series, field trips, community service, and mentoring opportunities. Students do not receive course credit for their participation in the program; however, the knowledge adn skills that are developed form the basis for successfully completing the Urban Fellows writing requirement.
Click here to learn more about the Urban Fellows Program and how to apply. Students must apply to the Urban Fellows Program the spring semester of their second year to enable a full year of particiaption in the program.
Writing Requirement
The Urban Fellows class (LAW 7494) is a vital component of this certificate. Through this class, students are able to fine tune their legal research adn policy analysis skills, and address a real issue in metro Atlanta or the southeast region.
In this class, students will write a research paper of publishable quality. The paper may be written on any urban, growth management, or environmental law and policy issue. The paper must conform to the guidelines established by the Urban Fellows Program and the College of Law writing requirement.
Students must also present their research to other Urban Fellows students and faculty affiliated with the Center for the Comparative Study of Metropolitan Growth.
