Curriculum

Core Courses

Agricultural Law

Students will survey legal principles applying to agribusiness firms, legal basics, and how to access legal materials. Through an understanding of common law, case law, statutes and regulations, students will learn how to discern rights and obligations regarding contracts, business instruments, torts, property, and nuisance. The materials should enable students to recognize and avoid legal problems and effectively use legal counsel.

Environmental Law

Introduction to regulatory theory, externalities and market failures, definition of key regulations affecting agribusiness, overview of local government law, and delineation of environmental laws relating to agriculture. Current environmental issues are related to statutory, administrative, and regulatory authorities.

Food Law

Introduce U.S. statutes, regulations, and court cases relating to food safety concerns so students are prepared to handle real-world situations involving food safety. Students will gain an understanding of where and how to locate laws relating to food safety; the relationship between a statute, a regulation, and a court decision; and who has the authority to interpret them. The course also provides an overview of the interaction among federal and state food safety laws, and the expanding role of international food standards.