1.1. Overview:

The School of Law’s Water Law Concentration is designed for law students who are interested in topics related to legal issues in water law.

1.2 Concentration Requirements, In General:

To complete the Water Concentration, a law student must:

1. Submit the Intent to Complete form attached to this document to the Concentration Director before the beginning of the student’s final academic year at the Law School;
2. Earn at least 15 credit hours by completing the required and elective courses stated below (see 1.3 below) and achieve at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in the required and elective concentration courses;
3. Complete a scholarly research paper on a topic related to water law (see 1.4 below);
4. Complete experiential requirement (see 1.5 below); and
5. Submit a completed Requirements Summary form to the Concentration Director at least two weeks prior to graduation.

1.3  Required & Elective Concentration Courses:

1. Every law student completing this concentration must complete the following required courses:
   
   Water Law (2-3 credits)
2. Every law student completing this concentration must earn 12-13 credit hours from the elective courses listed below.
   
   Administrative Law (3-4 credits)
   Admiralty and Maritime Law (3 credits)
   Agricultural Law (2 credits)
   Energy Law (3 credits)
   Environmental Law (3 credits)
   Independent Study (1-2 credits)
   International Water Law and Human Rights (2 credits)
   Introduction to Emerging Technologies Law (3 credits)
   Land Use Law (3 credits)
   Oil and Gas Law I (3 credits)
   Oil & Gas Law II (3 credits)
   Texas Administrative Practice (2 credits)
   Vineyard and Winery Law (2-3 credits)
   Other elective approved by the Concentration Director

1.4  Scholarly Research Paper:

Every student completing this concentration must write a scholarly research paper in the subject area. The scholarly paper must be:

1. At least 5,000 words, including footnotes (citations must follow Bluebook and any other applicable citation rules);
2. Sources should include both law and science primary or secondary source publications; and
3. On a topic significantly related to water law approved by the Concentration Director.

If the above requirements are met, the scholarly research paper may be (a) a paper used to satisfy the Law School’s upper-level writing requirement, (b) a paper prepared for an independent research project, or (c) an article selected for publication in a TTU or a non-TTU law journal. The student must have received a grade of at least B on the paper (or in the course if the paper was not separately graded).  If the paper was not prepared for a course or a graded independent research project, the Concentration Director must review the paper and determine that it would have received a grade of at least a B had it been submitted in a course.

1.5 Event Attendance Requirement:

After submitting the Intent to Complete Concentration form and obtaining approval by the Concentration Director, every student completing this concentration must complete at least five experiential activities. Options include the following:

1. Attend a public event, presentation, or meeting that focuses on water. For each event, the student mustsubmit a written description and reflection of at least 500 words. Reflections must be submitted to the Concentration Director no later than three weeks after attending the public event.
2. Make a water-related presentation at a TTU law sponsored symposium.
3. Serve for an academic year in one of the top four officer positions in an approved student organization focused on water, energy, or agricultural law.
4. Complete an internship, externship, or other practicum in the specialization area approved by the Concentration Director. 

1.6 Concentration Completion:

Each student is responsible for submitting a Requirements Summary form to the Concentration Director at least two weeks before graduation. Once the Concentration Director certifies to the Office of the Registrar that all concentration requirements have been met, a “completion of concentration” notation will be included on the student’s law school transcript.

Concentration Contacts

Amy Hardberger
George W. McCleskey Professor of Water Law;
Director, Center for Water Law and Policy
amy.hardberger@ttu.edu

Intent To Complete Concentration