Curriculum - Online Certificate in Law and Government

Constitutional Law explores the U.S. Constitution and its structure. The United States Constitution has been interpreted and reinterpreted by the Supreme Court on numerous occasions, giving rise to a wide range of guidelines, tests, and rules not contained in the text of the original document. This course therefore will focus heavily on the fundamental doctrines of substantive constitutional law as developed through case law. It covers the delineation of spheres of responsibility between the judiciary and legislature, the nation and the state, and the government and the individual. The course surveys various topics in American constitutional law along with historical and contemporary constitutional issues. Seminal U.S. Supreme Court cases are studied.

This course is designed to study and practice writing in business and legal settings. The premise is to teach students writing structure based on audience, tone, form, and purpose. We will address the fundamentals of business writing, including electronic mail, letters, formal reports, and memos, with an emphasis on clear and concise writing. The course will also feature the fundamentals of legal writing, including IRAC, with an emphasis on legal analysis and consistent writing.

Employment Discrimination Law will examine the regulation of employment discrimination under federal law. Primary attention will be paid to issues of race, sex, age and disability discrimination. The course will provide students a comprehensive overview of the legal doctrines developed to address workplace discrimination. It will address issues of statutory interpretation, litigation strategy and problems of proof. It will also situate this body of law within a set of sociological and theoretical frameworks aimed to enrich students' understandings of the law's foundations and purposes.

Global Regulatory Compliance provides an introduction to regulatory regimes governing business practices that are enforced globally and with which multinational and other companies that are engaged in cross-border transactions must comply; as well as the ways that organizations ensure compliance with such laws and regulations. This course will cover specific regulatory regimes that are enforced globally including, antitrust, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, Anti-Money Laundering, Data Privacy, U.S. Export Controls, and regulatory governance of/restrictions on foreign direct investment.

Health Law and Policy covers laws governing health care services, including liability of physicians and other health care personnel, government regulations for hospitals and other health care organizations, the cost and quality of health care, and other legal aspects of health care in the United States. This course will examine health care laws from the perspective of the administrators and legal professionals who operate hospitals and health care organizations. There will be a focus on how the laws that govern health care are practically applied in the operations of healthcare organizations. Students will learn about a variety of key health care topics including: physician/patient relationships, malpractice issues, physician compensation, health care related contracts, Medicare, fraud and abuse, compliance programs, clinical research, and torts related to current policy.

Introduction to Litigation in U.S. Courts examines rules of civil procedure, taking a "nuts and bolts" approach to litigation in the court system. There will be discussion of the differences between state and federal rules of civil procedure. The course will be taught with a focus on litigation strategy and practical solutions.

This course is designed to: (1) develop your understanding of negotiation, and your awareness of yourself as a negotiator; (2) give you some tools and concepts for preparing for and analyzing negotiations; (3) enhance your negotiating skills through frequent role plays, reflection and feedback; and (4) teach you how to keep learning from your own negotiating experience

Regulatory Compliance provides an overview of regulatory compliance law and the ways that various organizations ensure compliance with governing laws and regulations. Students will understand basics about regulatory compliance law in the United States, and the ways that various organizations ensure compliance with governing laws and regulations. This course provides students with an examination of various areas of law, regulation, and policies, as well as the ways various industries utilize compliance protocols or programs. Central principles, as well as the statutory and regulatory framework that govern this growing field of compliance will be analyzed.

Securities Regulations examines the regulation of the offer and sale of securities under the Securities Act of 1933 and the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Topics to be covered include: the definition of a "security"; the registration of securities for public sale under the Securities Act; the exemptions from such registration requirement; the periodic reporting requirements under the Exchange Act; regulation of secondary market transactions; the anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including Rule 10b-5; civil liability under the Securities Act; and the operation of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The aim of this course is to provide a basic working knowledge of the federal securities laws to students intending to pursue a career in corporate finance or securities litigation, whether in a law firm, securities firm or regulatory agency. It also will be of interest to those interested in the development of the modern regulatory state, as exemplified by the continuing evolution of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.