Water Resources Law, Management and Policy Option (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy. Major in Water Resources - Law, Management and Policy Option.
Entry Requirements
A background in government, public policy, or management is required for admission to the Water Resources Ph.D. in the Law, Management, and Policy Option Area. Students without an undergraduate degree in political science, public policy, government, or a related field, or students entering the concurrent J.D. program, may be granted provisional admission, but they are required to complete coursework (in addition to standard program and option area requirements) that demonstrates a minimum level of competency. This should include the following:
- American Government (6 credits at the 400 level)
- Public Policy (6 credits at the 400 level) or
Both requirements above may be met by taking equivalent law courses including:
- Constitutional Law and similar classes as approved by the Major Professor (12 credits at the 500 or 900 level).
- Other relevant completed courses (or professional experience), subject to approval of the Water Resources Program curriculum committee
Common Courses
Students are required to fulfill a set of common courses, applicable to all three Water Resources Option Areas. These include the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WR 501 | Seminar | 1 |
| WR 506 | Interdisciplinary Methods in Water Resources | 2 |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Core Courses
All students in the Water Resources Law, Management & Policy Option Area are required to complete:
- Research or Analytical Methods (3 credits, determined in consultation with committee)
The student and committee select the appropriate mix of Law, Management, and Policy courses from the following list. Law students are encouraged to take non-law courses. Non-law students are encouraged to take courses from at least two disciplines. Students are required to take 9 credits from the following:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 9380 | Intl Environ & Water Law | 3 |
| LAW 9390 | Law, Science, & Environment | 2 |
| LAW 9420 | Water Law of the American West | 3 |
| LAW 9470 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 9480 | Public Lands and Resources Law | 3 |
| NRS 555 | Human Dimensions of Natural Resources | 3 |
| NRS 588 | NEPA in Policy and Practice | 3 |
| WR 552 | Water Economics and Policy Analysis | 3 |
Elective Courses
At least one elective course must be in either the Engineering & Science or Science & Management Option Area. A core course may be considered an elective course once the core requirements are satisfied. A detailed list of elective courses for this option area is provided in the Graduate Handbook on the Water Resources Program web site.
- Students will understand the diverse philosophical bases of different disciplines and work effectively in interdisciplinary teams to solve complex interdisciplinary water resources challenges.
- Students will gain knowledge of fundamental tenets and the interfaces between water resources law, management, and policy.
- Students will independently synthesize key knowledge gaps to conceptualize, develop, and implement a novel disciplinary and/or interdisciplinary water resources research project.
- Students will develop written and oral communication skills to engage professional peers and the public in a concise, factually accurate, mechanically correct, and engaging manner.