Photograph: Eagle statue outside law school.

Certificate in Natural Resources Law

Students who desire to concentrate their elective course of study on the general area of natural resources law can seek a Certificate in Natural Resources Law. The Certificate is an acknowledgment by the Washburn Law Faculty that the student has successfully completed a focused course of study addressing environmental and natural resource issues frequently encountered by attorneys.

Course of Study

Required Courses

  • Environmental Law (LW 744 - 3 hours) and one of the following:
    • Public Land Law (LW 747 - 3 hours)
    • Water Law (LW 742 - 3 hours)

Optional Courses

Nine (9) hours selected from any of the following courses:

  • Administrative Law (LW 780 - 3 hours)
  • Advanced Oil and Gas Law (LW 855 - 3 hours)
  • Agricultural Law (LW 706 - 2-3 hours)
  • Directed Research (LW 763 - 1-3 hours)
  • Energy Regulation (LW 803 - 2 hours)
  • Environmental Regulation of the Oil and Gas Industry (LW 967 - 1 hour)
  • Externship I (LW 921 - 2-4 hours - placement approved by Certificate Advisor)
  • Externship II (LW 922 - 2 hours - placement approved by Certificate Advisor)
  • Federal Indian Law (LW 841 - 3 hours)
  • Independent Readings in Natural Resources Law (LW 826 - 1-2 hours)
  • Mineral Title Examination (LW952 - 1 Hour)
  • Mining Law (LW 977 - 1 Hour)
  • Natural Resources Law and Policy (LW 774 - 2-3 hours)
  • Oil and Gas Law (LW 740 - 3 hours)
  • Public Land Law (LW 747 - 3 hours)
  • Renewable Energy Law: Wind and Solar (LW 985 - 1 hour)
  • Water, Environmental, and Regulatory Law lmpacting Agriculture (LW 988 - 1 hour)
  • Water Law (LW 742 - 3 hours)

Writing Requirement

Complete a pre-approved upper level writing requirement (or equivalent writing project) on a Natural Resources Law topic. The upper level writing requirement may be satisfied by the Natural Resources Law Seminar, Directed Research, or an alternative writing opportunity approved in advance by the student's certificate advisor. If the writing requirement is satisfied through the Natural Resources Law Seminar, Directed Research, or other approved course, the student must receive a grade of "B" or better on any graded paper.

General Requirements

Any student interested in pursuing a Certificate in Natural Resources Law must first meet with a faculty member administering the certificate (Professors Freddy Sourgens or Burke Griggs) to declare their interest and plan their course of study. This must be done prior to completing 40 hours of study. Following the meeting the faculty member and student will complete the "Meeting Summary" (27 KB PDF). This faculty member will also serve as the student's Certificate advisor and will approve any waivers or alternative courses allowed or required by the course of study.

The student must complete 90 hours of total law school credit and achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in courses used to satisfy their Certificate requirements.

Note: Students who declared their intent to pursue a Certificate prior to June 1, 2021, and who obtained a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for courses used to satisfy their Certificate requirements, will be awarded the Certificate in Natural Resources Law (with distinction).

Approved by the faculty: May 2005.
Effictive: January 2006.
Revised: November 29, 2021.

Short URL for this page:
https://washburnlaw.edu/naturalresourcescertificate

Faculty Member
Photograph: Burke Griggs.

Burke W. Griggs
Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Oil and Gas Law Center

Courses offered within the law school curriculum are subject to change at any time.

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Certificates of Concentration

Students at Washburn University School of Law may distinguish themselves in the job market by earning a Certificate of Concentration. The areas of concentration can be completed within the traditional 90 credit hours required for graduation. While students do not declare majors because law school provides a broad foundational education, earning a certificate at Washburn Law allows students to formalize an area of specialization within the traditional law school curriculum.

Certificates may be earned in the following areas: