Course Schedule

This course will begin with an introduction to pollution control, the common law antecedents, and early statutory developments. The remainder of the course will be devoted to an intensive study of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. The student will become familiar with the substantive provisions of those statutes and will gain a knowledge of how the statutes are implemented by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the relevant state agencies. In addition, the course will expose the student to scientific and engineering concepts relevant to regulating the "conventional" air and water pollutants.  Finally, the course will examine ongoing regulatory attempts to address climate change under the Clean Air Act and the prospect for climate change legislation.

This course will begin with an introduction to pollution control, the common law antecedents, and early statutory developments. The remainder of the course will be devoted to an intensive study of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. The student will become familiar with the substantive provisions of those statutes and will gain a knowledge of how the statutes are implemented by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the relevant state agencies. In addition, the course will expose the student to scientific and engineering concepts relevant to regulating the "conventional" air and water pollutants.  Finally, the course will examine ongoing regulatory attempts to address climate change under the Clean Air Act and the prospect for climate change legislation.

This 3-credit course examines the regulation of toxic substances in both the common law and federal regulations.  The course begins with an examination of statute-based regulatory programs governing toxic risks.  These include a study of regulations governing toxins in workplaces (the Occupational Safety and Health Act), wastes (the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act), and in products, broadly defined (Safe Drinking Water Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act), as well as in right-to-know laws.  The course will then shift to an exploration of how the legal system enforces these laws, including through citizen suits and environmental justice claims, but also by holding wrongful actors accountable through the common law and toxic torts.  The course will conclude by reflecting on the complementary roles that the common law and regulatory law play in endeavoring to better control the indiscriminate release of toxic substances and considers reforms for the future.  The basis of evaluation will be a 24 hour, open book examination. Prerequisite: None

This 3 credit course examines the regulation of toxic substances in both the common law and federal regulations. The course focuses on the federal regulatory programs governing different types of toxics problems. These programs include: a) statutes regulating toxic products (the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; and the Consumer Protection Act); b) statutes regulating the continuous release of pollutants through normal operations (the Occupational Safety and Health Act; and the Clean Air and Water Acts); and c) statutes regulating waste disposal (the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund)). The course then explores the enforcement of these regulatory programs, including the use of citizen suits and environmental justice claims. The course concludes with an examination of the vital role that state law and tort litigation play in the shadow of these extensive federal regulatory programs. The basis of evaluation will be a 24 hour, open book examination. Prerequisite: None

This 3 credit course examines the regulation of toxic substances in both the common law and federal regulations. The course focuses on the federal regulatory programs governing different types of toxics problems. These programs include: a) statutes regulating toxic products (the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; and the Consumer Protection Act); b) statutes regulating the continuous release of pollutants through normal operations (the Occupational Safety and Health Act; and the Clean Air and Water Acts); and c) statutes regulating waste disposal (the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund)). The course then explores the enforcement of these regulatory programs, including the use of citizen suits and environmental justice claims. The course concludes with an examination of the vital role that state law and tort litigation play in the shadow of these extensive federal regulatory programs. The basis of evaluation will be a 24 hour, open book examination. Prerequisite: None

In this course, we focus on foundational and current issues related to research-based knowledge on equity and diversity in higher education. This course is organized into three major areas and levels of analysis: (1) an understanding of inequality and the framing of equity in research and practice; (2) the diversity frame in research and practice; and (3) research-based strategies for transformation. We will explore the concept of equity from different theoretical perspectives and an understanding of inequality from a structural, organizational, and individual level. In the second part, we will explore what the diversity frame is in research and practice, what its limitations are, and its relation to legal developments and affirmative action. The third part will focus on action, with specific research-based strategies for transformational change toward greater equity and meaningful diversity in higher education. We will consider various types of equity and diversity, but will give special attention to the complexity of race because the educational system in the U.S., including institutions of higher education, have played and continue to play a central role in creating racial segregation and inequities in U. S. society. Students who successfully complete this class will be equipped to engage in their work (research, practice, etc.) with professional competence around issues of diversity and equity. 

Learning Objectives

• (1) Understand and critically analyze frameworks for considering equity and diversity in higher education;
• (2) Identify your own assumptions about equity and diversity in higher education;
• (3) Assess proposed and emerging research-based solutions for transformational change in higher education;
• (4) Build skills in active listening, developing persuasive arguments, and critical thinking;
• (5) Build skills in developing and designing an original and compelling research study;
• (6) Critically analyze social science research related to the topics of the class.

 As a doctoral seminar, we will read intensively, engage in candid and structured discussions, and both critique and design research studies of our own. I expect a high level of reflection and analysis.

This course will explore the rules and principles governing the proof of facts in the courtroom, with special focus upon the Federal Rules of Evidence. Planned topics include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and objections practice.

A course on the Federal Rules of Evidence, with an emphasis on the application of the rules in court. 

4 hour course covering both the Federal and Texas rules of Evidence with emphasis on application of the rules in litigation. Topics include include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and privileges.

This course will explore the rules and principles governing the proof of facts in the courtroom, with special focus upon the Federal Rules of Evidence. Planned topics include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and objections practice.

4 hour course covering both the Federal and Texas rules of Evidence with emphasis on application of the rules in litigation. Topics include include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and privileges.

This course will explore the rules and principles governing the proof of facts in the courtroom, with special focus upon the Federal Rules of Evidence. Planned topics include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and objections practice.

A course on the Federal Rules of Evidence, with an emphasis on the application of the rules in court. 

4 hour course covering both the Federal and Texas rules of Evidence with emphasis on application of the rules in litigation. Topics include include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and privileges.

This course will explore the rules and principles governing the proof of facts in the courtroom, with special focus upon the Federal Rules of Evidence. Planned topics include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and objections practice.

4 hour course covering both the Federal and Texas rules of Evidence with emphasis on application of the rules in litigation. Topics include include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and privileges.

This course will explore the rules and principles governing the proof of facts in the courtroom, with special focus upon the Federal Rules of Evidence. Planned topics include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and objections practice.

A course on the Federal Rules of Evidence, with an emphasis on the application of the rules in court. 

This course will explore the rules and principles governing the proof of facts in the courtroom, with special focus upon the Federal Rules of Evidence. Planned topics include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and objections practice.

A course on the Federal Rules of Evidence, with an emphasis on the application of the rules in court. 

4 hour course covering both the Federal and Texas rules of Evidence with emphasis on application of the rules in litigation. Topics include include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and privileges.

This course will explore the rules and principles governing the proof of facts in the courtroom, with special focus upon the Federal Rules of Evidence. Planned topics include relevance, hearsay, the Confrontation Clause, character evidence, impeachment and rehabilitation of witnesses, the best evidence rule, lay and expert opinion, and objections practice.

This course combines all the traditional knowledge and theory of a traditional evidence class but adds the layer of applying the rules in practice. Students practice arguing evidentiary motions, have weekly application exercises and explore issues of memory, false confessions, digital evidence and the future of evidence and technology. This course is for students who intend to practice civil or criminal litigation and want a deeper understanding of how judges interpret the rules and how lawyers use the rules to their advantage. Students who have taken Evidence may not take Evidence for Litigators.

This course combines all the traditional knowledge and theory of a traditional evidence class but adds the layer of applying the rules in practice. Students practice arguing evidentiary motions, have weekly application exercises and explore issues of memory, false confessions, digital evidence and the future of evidence and technology. This course is for students who intend to practice civil or criminal litigation and want a deeper understanding of how judges interpret the rules and how lawyers use the rules to their advantage. 

Students who have taken Evidence may not take Evidence for Litigators.