LAW 0631:
Public Health Law (Can be taken concurrently with Empirical Legal Research Methods)
Spring 2022 • Section 22
• CRN 3954
Course Description
This course surveys the broad terrain of law and the public's health. It covers both the "laws on the books" and the problems of actually implementing these laws in the often highly politicized and culturally sensitive context of health and behavior. Topics include the basic powers, duties and limitations of state health authorities in the United States; the epidemiological influence of law on health and health behavior; the global system of health governance; and the application of a human rights framework to health issues. Health topic areas covered include communicable diseases (HIV, SARS, emerging infections), tobacco, substance abuse, chronic diseases and infections. We will also devote considerable time to reading about and discussing how health is "socially constructed" and how stigma, economic self-interest and other cultural responses to disease complicate efforts to promote public health. Students will take an exam at the conclusion of the course. Both Law students and students seeking a Masters in Public Health will participate in the course. The course will be taught in a seven week block in the first half of the Fall. It will be followed by a seven week course in Empirical Legal Research Methods. (This Public Health Law course is a prerequisite for Public Health students enrolling in the Empirical Legal Research Course, but not for Law students.) A "flipped classroom" approach will be used, in which most of the lecture material will be presented in videos and other on-line materials and reading outside of class, and most of class time will be a discussion of public health law policy and issues.
Schedule
| Day/Time | Location | Note |
|---|---|---|
| M 4:00-5:50 PM | Barrack 102 | Meets every other Monday |
Registration Info
Registration Notes
This course is offered as a ""hybrid"" course. Most students take it as an exam course. A limited number of students may take it as a writing seminar. Request course number 631 to take this course as an exam course (this 2 credit version does not count toward the Public Health Law Certificate.) Request course number 954 to take this course as a 3 credit writing seminar. The course will be taught in a seven week block in the first half of Spring 2022. NOTE 1: This course will have ""in person"" class meetings from 4 pm to 5:50 pm on Mondays beginning on January 10, 2022 and ending on March 7, 2022. Students will also be responsible for completing 2 hours per week of online ""asynchronous"" course content, and another 8 hours per week of ""out-of-class"" work in preparing readings, assignments, etc.
Equivalent Courses
You may not register for this course if you are enrolled in or have already taken the following:
- LAW 0954 (Public Health Law (Can be taken concurrently with Empirical Legal Research Methods))