Animals, Community, and the Law Certificate

AS OF FALL 2012, THIS PROGRAM IS NO LONGER OFFERED.

Animal issues engage a network of stakeholders including government officials, public health officers, public administrators, advocates, community leaders, public safety, animal control officers, shelter operators, and pet owners. The School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA), in partnership with Lawyers in Defense of Animals, Inc. (LIDA), makes available to all stakeholders knowledge usually reserved for law school students. The instructors use a variety of techniques to ensure that students have access to a broad knowledge base. For example, conference calls between students and faculty members provide access and focused interaction among participants; students are assigned to virtual teams to develop analyses and presentations. The diversity of students encourages exploration of different points of view that might not be shared among students with similar perspectives. Courses are taught by board members of LIDA. Through law, scholarly articles, media reports, and court cases, students examine issues at the intersections of animals' interests, guardians' interests, and community interests. Legal knowledge is not required for these courses. They are designed to be accessible to all.

The online certificate consists of four courses: three knowledge courses and a practicum. The courses are Animal Law in Disasters, Estates, and Litigation, which is scheduled for January to April; Animal Cruelty and the Law, scheduled from May to July; and The Companion Animal and the Law, which is scheduled from September to November. The Animals Certificate Practicum course may be taken during any of the time frames: January to April, May to July, and September to November.

The courses for this certificate may be taken for graduate credit or not for credit. Those wanting academic credit enroll through the graduate admission website by choosing the nondegree option. Those wanting the nonacademic credit option enroll through the Public Performance Measurement and Reporting Network (PPMRN). The link is available at the SPAA website. Click on "Animals, Community, and Law" under Online Certificates.

Courses in the Animals, Community, and the Law Certificate