ENVS 2256 Environmental Law and Policy
This is the introductory survey course for undergraduates interested in environmental law and policy, including both pre-law and non-pre-law students. The course is team taught by law students, under the supervision of a BC Law Professor. Several sections of this course are offered each spring term. The course covers the major environmental protection areas, and current issues, such as air and water pollution, climate change, regulation of toxic wastes, cleanup of contaminated sites, environmental justice, and ecosystem and endangered species protections. It also introduces students to the American legal system by covering a range of environmental legal actions, including both common law lawsuits by private persons, and governmental regulation and enforcement under the major environmental statutes.
Course overview
- Department
- Environmental Studies
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Spring
Requirements fulfilled
- Environmental Studies: Concentration — Environmental Justice and Policy: One Introductory Environmental Law and Policy Course (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Environmental Studies: C. Two foundation courses (6 credits) — One in the Social Sciences or Humanities (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.42 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.49 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Ethan Busch | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 20 of 24 |
| Spring 2026 | Michael Tierney | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 86 of 94 |
| Spring 2026 | Mogran Brooks | 3.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | — | 20 of 20 |
| Spring 2026 | Tyler Roderick | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 23 of 25 |
| Spring 2025 | Adam Luban | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 20 of 22 |
| Spring 2025 | Michael Tierney | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 85 of 97 |
| Spring 2025 | Tyler Welsh | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 20 of 23 |
| Spring 2024 | Christopher Berven | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 17 of 23 |
| Spring 2024 | Donald Fagan | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 17 of 23 |
| Spring 2024 | Edwin Ward | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.7 | — | 22 of 25 |
| Spring 2024 | Haley Rowlands | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 22 of 25 |
| Spring 2024 | Jeffry Fowley | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 80 of 95 |
| Spring 2024 | Korinna Garfield | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 22 of 25 |
| Spring 2024 | Samantha Perlman | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 19 of 22 |
| Spring 2023 | Abigail Lafontan | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 24 of 27 |
| Spring 2023 | Benjamin Skillin | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 22 of 26 |
| Spring 2023 | Emy Metzger | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 1–3 hrs/week | 10 of 16 |
| Spring 2023 | Fiona Maguire | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 22 of 26 |
| Spring 2023 | Hannah Jackson | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 1–3 hrs/week | 10 of 16 |
| Spring 2023 | Jarrod Koester | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 24 of 27 |
| Spring 2023 | Katherine Minorini | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 23 of 27 |
| Spring 2023 | Kevin Murphy | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4–6 hrs/week | 21 of 25 |
| Spring 2023 | William Blanchette | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 23 of 27 |
| Spring 2023 | Zygmunt Plater | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 100 of 121 |
| Spring 2022 | Libby Dimenstein | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | — | 13 of 27 |
| Spring 2022 | Zygmunt Plater | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 72 of 132 |
Data freshness
Instructors
- Michael Tierney
- Abigail Lafontan
- Adam Luban
- Benjamin Skillin
- Christopher Berven
- Donald Fagan
- Edwin Ward
- Emy Metzger
- Ethan Busch
- Fiona Maguire
- Haley Rowlands
- Hannah Jackson
- Jarrod Koester
- Jeffry Fowley
- Katherine Minorini
- Kevin Murphy
- Korinna Garfield
- Libby Dimenstein
- Mogran Brooks
- Samantha Perlman
- Tyler Roderick
- Tyler Welsh
- William Blanchette
- Zygmunt Plater
Sections
- Section 01
- Section 02
- Section 03
- Section 04