Public Health Law

SPH LW 850

Graduate Prerequisites: SPH PH719 or consent of instructor. - Traditional public health is rapidly transforming itself from state programs to prevent disease in populations (e.g., vaccinations and newborn screening) to federal and international efforts to more broadly promote the "right to health." This problem-oriented seminar enables students to analyze and answer questions about health risks and public health policies as they typically arise in practice -- in all their complexity and without preassigned doctrinal labels. It covers contemporary examples of the seven deadly sins -- anger, gluttony, lust, sloth -- plus drugs, alcohol, tobacco, food, firearms, biobanks, epidemics, and surveillance. The seminar offers a systematic framework for identifying and controlling health risks, drawing on theories of risk perception, cognitive reasoning and empirical evidence. Students analyze and compare the applicability and effectiveness of different legal strategies to control risks, such as criminal and civil prohibitions, mandatory product standards, tort liability, mandatory data collection, biometric testing, conditions of employment, marketing restrictions, quarantine, and taxation. Emphasis is on the different scope of laws (state, federal and international) regulating personal behavior and laws regulating products and commercial activities. A writing project to develop a legal strategy to address a contemporary risk to health is required.

FALL 2024 Schedule

Section Instructor Location Schedule Notes
A1 McCuskey HOU R110 W 2:00 pm-4:50 pm This course is full and has an active waitlist. New waitlist entries are no longer accepted as of 8/24/24. Any seats that open up will go to students on the waitlist.

SPRG 2025 Schedule

Section Instructor Location Schedule Notes
A1 Cannella INS 213 F 10:00 am-12:50 pm First class meeting has occurred, instructor consent required to add prior to second class meeting. If you obtain instructor consent, please submit a SPH Add/Drop Form with the instructor's written permission to the SPH Reg Office.

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.