Environmental Law Certificate
Environmental law is a complex and contested area of the law that will have increasing importance as cities, states, the nation, and the globe cope with persistent environmental challenges and climate impacts. Earn an Environmental Law Certificate and graduate ready to work in government agencies, non-profits, private law firms, and within companies. Practice in a range of areas, from compliance to litigation, and across different fields, including environmental protection, climate law, energy law, natural resources law, animal law, and land use law.
To earn an Environmental Law Certificate, a student must:
- Complete at least nine units of approved course work in the subject area, including Environmental Law and Administrative Law;
- Complete a practicum requirement related to Environmental Law; and
- Complete an upper-level writing requirement related to Environmental Law.
Required Courses
Students must complete 6 units from the list below:
- Administrative Law (3 units)
- Environmental Law (3 units)
Elective Courses
The following law school electives can be applied to the certificate. Not all law school electives are offered every year. Students must complete 3 units from the list below:
- Animal Law (3 units)
- Animals & Justice Seminar (3 units)
- Energy Law (every year) (3 units)
- CA Land Use Practice (1 unit)
- Water & Oil Law (biannual) (2 units)
- Environmental Negotiations Competition (2 units)
Eligible MSEM Courses
With administrative approval, students can apply up to one approved non-law course from USF’s Masters in Environmental Management (MSEM) program toward the certificate. The MSEM program is an interdisciplinary program that serves working professionals, offering environmental, economic, and policy courses evenings and on Saturdays.
- Water Policy (2 units)
- Energy Resources & Environment (2 units)
- Renewable Energy (2 units)
- Climate Change Mitigation (2 units)
- Urban Resilience in Climate Change (2 units)
Practicum Requirement
To earn the certificate, a student must participate in a three unit externship focused on environmental law. Students can extern in federal, state, or local government offices, at public interest organizations, or in private firms.
Writing Requirement
The environmental law certificate requires students to fulfill a certificate-specific writing requirement. Fulfilling the certificate writing requirement will also satisfy the law school’s writing requirement for graduation.
Students can satisfy the certificate writing requirement by completing a substantial research paper or memorandum analyzing an environmental law issue. The paper must identify and explain an environmental law issue, explain and analyze the controversies it raises, and propose and assess a potential solution. The paper must meet the standards for an upper-level research and writing requirement. It may be prepared in a course (such as Animals & Justice Seminar) or through directed research with a professor.
Application
Students may apply during their second-to-last semester of law school. The Environmental Law Certificate will become available beginning fall 2025.