Curriculum Committee
Minutes

Riley Hall 208
5 October 2009
4:00 p.m.

Present:
Brad Barron, Jerry Cox , Paula Gabbert, Vince Houseman, Betty Kelly, George Lipscomb, Ford Riddle, Dan Sloughter, Jodi Walker

Courses endorsed:

LNG 230                                Language as a Social Phenomenon                            Spring 2011
4 Credits

An introduction to sociolinguistics, the study of the relationship between language and society. Readings, lectures, and discussions will focus on variation at all levels of language and how this variation helps to create and is created by a multitude of factors with possible educational, political, and social repercussions.

PSC 214                       Environmental Law and Conservation Advocacy                   Spring 2010
4 Credits
                                                                                                                                                                       
This course provides an overview of environmental law field and an introduction to conservation advocacy. The class explores how environmental law interplays with the public policy dimensions of science, media and politics. It provides students with an understanding of the breadth of environmental law and the range of tools of conservation advocacy. 

The first session of the course explores the Constitutional foundations of the law; the roles of the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial governmental branches; how environmental law fits into the big picture; and the relevance of conservation advocacy. 

Subsequent sections will consider the common law foundations of environmental law and specific legislation and examples. Students will examine the major federal laws passed primarily in the 1960s and 1970s  –  National Environmental Policy Act, National Clean Air Act, National Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Resource and Conservation Recovery Act (hazardous waste) and CERCLA (Superfund). The background and legislative history of each act will be highlighted followed by examination of the major provisions of the acts. The importance of the regulatory and judiciary interpretations of the laws. 

Throughout the course several key themes will be emphasized. Students will analyze the ramifications of federal agencies designating state regulatory agencies as the implementation arms of the laws. In the class, the constant and ever-changing interplay between the law, politics, media and science leading to public policy in the environmental/conservation/energy field will be a key focus. Emerging interpretations (both domestic and international) of the impact of the law on climate law and policy will be a focus of the course. 

The course will include guest lectures by attorneys and advocates in the field. Students will be given a hands-on opportunity to acquaint themselves with legal teaching techniques through “point-counterpoint” presentations (including wetlands regulation, public trust doctrine, mercury poisoning, mountaintop removal of coal, interstate water allocations and others will be included).This course will be designed to appeal to not only future law school applicants but also students with more of a general interest in environmental policy and conservation. Differing viewpoints will be welcomed and encouraged.