This course proceeds in three parts. First, we will examine the American philosophical traditions that argue for protecting certain public lands from further human development. Second, we will study the major federal “wilderness protection” statutes: the 1908 Antiquities Act, the 1916 National Park Service Organic Act, and the 1964 Wilderness Act. An important case study here will involve the ongoing litigation involving the designation (and reduction in area) of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Southern Utah. Finally, we will examine the critiques and limitations of the American wilderness tradition and proposals to reorient wilderness protection to a focus on biological diversity.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 2
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: Yes
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: Yes
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Limited Enrollment Number: 16
Final Exam Given: No
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: Take-home final essay
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Teaching Method: Remotely

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.