Environmental & Natural Resources Law

Graduate Certificate Requirements:
Students wishing to pursue any certificate must submit an Intent Form by the end of the first week of their final semester. This is a non-negotiable deadline so that IU McKinney School of Law is in compliance with Indiana University policy. Students are encouraged to sign an Intent Form as soon as they find interest in a topic area; there is no penalty for not satisfying the requirements.
J.D. students may earn a maximum of two graduate certificates. ONLY CORE COURSES MAY BE COUNTED TOWARD BOTH CERTIFICATES. Students must inform the advisors of both certificates of their intent to seek two certificates. Contact the your advisor in Student Affairs or at osalaw@iu.edu with any questions or to schedule a progress review meeting. Please note: ALL students pursuing a Graduate Certificate are required to have a final graduation check appointment with your advisor in Student Affairs or at osalaw@iu.edu at least one month prior to graduation.

Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate Certificate

A Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resource Law will be awarded to enrolled JD candidates who complete at least 6 approved courses totaling at least 15 credit hours in Environmental and Natural Resource Law and closely-related subjects while maintaining a cumulative 3.2 GPA in all required core and upper level courses applied toward the Certificate. The 6 approved courses include two required core courses (Environmental Law; Administrative Law), at least three upper level courses from the list below, and one capstone writing, practical, or skills course.

Learning Outcomes:

The Graduate Certificate in Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Law prepares graduates to work as environmental or natural resource lawyers or leaders, representing the government, private business, nonprofits organizations, or individuals.

Required Core Courses:

Environmental Law (3 cr.)
Administrative Law (3-4 cr.)

Upper Level Courses (Must take at least three of the following):

Not all courses will be available every year.

Agricultural Law and the Environment (2 cr.)
Animals and the Law (2 cr.)
Clean Air Law (2 cr.)
Climate Change: Law and Policy (2 cr.)
Environmental and Toxic Tort Law (2-3 cr.)
Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (2 cr.)
Environmental Justice (3 cr.)
Food and Drug Law (2-3 cr.)
International Environmental Law (3 cr.)
Land Use (2 or 3 cr.)
Natural Resources Law (3 cr.)
Oil and Gas Law (2 or 3 cr.)
Seminar in Developing Topics in Energy Regulation and Policy (2 cr.)
Energy, Economics, and the Environment (2 cr.)
Water Law (2 or 3 cr.)

Capstone (Must take at least one writing or experiential courses with an environmental or natural resource topic. Topic must be approved by Program in Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Law faculty to qualify for the certificate):

(AFR) Advanced Field Research (1-3 cr.)
ACrE (Advanced Course Related Experience) (1-2 cr.)
Environmental Advocacy Practicum (1-2 cr.)
Supervised Research in Environmental Law (1-2 cr.)
National Environmental Moot Court (1 cr.)
Law Review Note (1 cr.)
Law and State Government Externship Placement [w/ environmental or natural resource agency] (2 cr.)

» Intent Form

*GPA note: In the case of a student who takes more than the minimum number of qualifying courses, the student's best grades in those courses will be used to calculate his or her ENR Law GPA.

More info available at the Program Site