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2020 - 2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Explanation of Course Descriptions
Graduate courses may be taken by persons other than regular or provisional graduate students in Arts and Sciences only with the consent of the chairperson of the department/program committee concerned.
Pairs of numbers (501,502) indicate continuous courses. A hyphen between numbers (501-502) indicates that the courses must be taken in the succession stated.
Courses involving laboratory or studio activity are so labeled. All others are classroom courses.
Semester hour credit for each course is indicated by numbers in parentheses.
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LAW 694 - Legal Aspects of Corporate Finance
Spring Credits: 3 Kevin Haeberle Prerequisite(s): LAW 320 OR LAW 303
This course provides a survey of some of the more prominent advanced-level topics in corporate and securities law as seen through the lens of economics (namely, financial economics). Topics will likely include the efficient capital markets hypothesis, modern portfolio theory, the valuation of rights to future cash flows, the mechanics and economics of financial-instrument markets (with a focus on the stock market), and the role of stock prices in capital allocation and corporate governance. It will also take a finance and economics-based look at issues relating to shareholder voting and corporate takeovers. Notably, Legal Aspects of Corporate Finance involves only very basic mathematical formulas, and emphasizes intuitive and graphical understandings of economics and finance for lawyers rather than math. Students must have completed Business Associations or Corporations before enrolling in this course.
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LAW 697 - Securities Litigation
Spring Credits: 3 Kevin Haeberle
This course examines the federal law and policies governing the purchase and sale of securities, particularly the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as well as the regulations and case law relating to each. More precisely, the course focuses on the litigation devices that help ensure more robust securities disclosure. (Securities-disclosure law forms the heart of the closely related Securities Regulation class, and much securities and corporate transactional work relies on a strong understanding of that law.) Although this course will touch on securities-disclosure law, its primary focus is thus different than the Securities Regulation course. This litigation-focused course will instead primarily study public and private litigation under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. It will also allocate much time to other important provisions under which much securities litigation proceeds today (namely, sections 11, 12, and 17 of the Securities Act of 1933). Lastly, the class will explore insider-trading prosecutions under the federal securities laws in an in-depth manner. Note; students may not enroll in LAW 697 Securities Litigation after successfully completing LAW 423 Securities Regulation, nor enroll for both courses concurrently.
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LAW 700 - Directed Research
Credits: (1-2)
The faculty member will supervise the student in conducting research on specified legal topics and the student will report on the research to the faculty member. The student’s reports may be in written or oral form. Activities such as formatting documents for publication, Bluebooking, and the like do not qualify. The faculty member will provide feedback to the student. The total amount of faculty-student interaction and the student’s independent work must equal at least three hours per week. No more than two credits of Directed Research may count toward graduation. Only full-time faculty may supervise. Permission of the faculty member and the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development is required.
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LAW 701 - Legal Writing and Research
Fall/Spring Credits: (1-2) Jennifer Stevenson
Students will learn essential information about the U.S. legal system and fundamental principles of legal decision making, as well as legal analysis, writing, research, and other practical skills. Students will work with law school legal writing faculty and research librarians to research and write objective office memoranda and other legal documents.
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LAW 703 - Directed Reading
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: 1 Staff
An examination of a specialized subject that generally is not offered as a course within our curriculum on a regular basis. This course is arranged between an individual student or group of students (maximum, 5) through readings selected in agreement by the directing faculty member and students. This course meets for at least 700 minutes over the course of the term. Prior approval by the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development is required. Students are limited to one Directed Reading credit per year. Graded on a pass/fail basis.
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LAW 704 - Independent Legal Research
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-2) Staff
This course requires the completion of a scholarly paper on a subject selected by the student, under the supervision of a faculty member. Does not satisfy the writing requirement. For Law 704-02 or 03, please see term description.
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LAW 705 - Independent Legal Writing
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: 2 Staff
This course requires the completion of a significant research paper on a topic selected by the student, under the supervision of a faculty member. Students may enroll in this course for credit no more than twice and this course satisfies the writing requirement. An important goal of the major paper requirement is to improve students’ writing skills. Faculty supervisors should communicate this goal to students at the beginning of the process and reinforce it throughout the paper-writing process, especially after submission of the first draft. Papers that satisfy the major paper requirement should evolve through four major stages, each of which should occur in consultation with the supervising faculty member: 1. Topic Development: The student should produce a succinct, coherent topic statement that sets out the thesis of the proposed paper. 2. Outline: The student should produce a reasonably comprehensive outline of the paper, including a statement of the basic steps in the argument, the major sources used, and a tentative conclusion or a comparable writing. 3. First Draft: The student should produce a first draft of the paper in time for the supervising faculty member to make comments and for the student to respond to those comments in the form of a second draft. Normally, the first draft should be submitted to the supervising faculty member by the end of the 10th week of classes. 4. Final Draft: The student should turn in the final draft of the paper by noon on the last day of exams for the semester, or as otherwise designated by the professor.
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LAW 711 - Spanish for Lawyers
Spring Credits: 1 Denise Koch
This is a one-credit course that will give students an opportunity to use Spanish language skills in a legal context. This class will begin with a grammar review and an introduction to basic legal vocabulary in Spanish. Each class will then concentrate on one substantive area (i.e., Family Law, Immigration Law, Criminal Law and Business/Employment Law). Students will learn and be able to use in an oral and written context vocabulary related to each area. Oral exercises including discussion and role play will help students to further develop listening and speaking skills. Literature and films appropriate to the topics will be used to stimulate discussion related to the legal issues involved and the realities of Spanish speaking citizens in the U.S. The course will meet once a week for 50 minutes. Materials will include THE ABA LEGAL SPANISH PHRASEBOOK, AL TANTO: CATORCE CUENTOS CONTEMPORANEOS, CINEMA FOR SPANISH CONVERSATION, and various legal documents in the target language. This will be a pass/fail course. Students will be evaluated through vocabulary quizzes, performance on oral role playing exercises, and a final group project or written/oral examination TBD. Students should have intermediate or advanced proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.
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LAW 716 - Power, Influence & Responsible Leadership
Spring Credits: (1-3) Jose de Areilza
This is a course about learning to use power and influence as effective tools for both understanding your surroundings and achieving your goals. It is a course about getting things done in the real world, where politics and personalities can often seem to hinder rather than help you. It is a course for those of you who want to make things happen, despite the obstacles that might stand in your way. Consequently, it is a course about you. Course Objectives: This course presents conceptual models, tactical approaches and self-assessment tools to help you understand political dynamics as they unfold around you and develop your influence style. By focusing on specific expressions of power and influence this course gives you the opportunity to observe their effective and ineffective uses in different contexts and stages of a person’s career. The subject matter will introduce different ethical questions. This course should challenge you to define what will constitute the ethical exercise of power and influence in your life. In this course we will rely on a mix of case studies, exercises, self-assessment tools and readings. Your grade will be based 50% on class participation and 50% on the final paper.
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LAW 720 - Trial Advocacy - Basic Advanced Litigation
Fall/Spring Credits: (1-4) Staff Prerequisite(s): LAW 309 OR LAW 308 OR LAW 309T
An advanced litigation course intended for those students who have a substantial interest in litigation. The course is designed to develop the student’s skills as a trial lawyer for both civil and criminal cases. Trial Advocacy will deal with trial strategy, jury selection, opening statements, presentation of evidence, including the examination of witnesses, closing arguments, and preparation of jury instructions. Evidence presentation and related technologies will be fully integrated into all aspects of the course. A trial will be required. Students who take Trial Advocacy-Basic Advanced Litigation may not take any other Trial Advocacy section (Tech Trial Ad or National Trial Team Trial Ad) for credit. Pre-requisite: satisfactory completion of Evidence, or co-registration in Evidence. This course is open to any upper-level student who satisfies the pre-req or co-req.
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LAW 722 - Mediation
Spring Credits: (2-3) Charles Poston
This course is designed for students who are interested in how to effectively incorporate mediation theory into practice. Different models and approaches to mediation will be discussed and students will learn a broad range of skills and techniques through lectures, discussions, video simulations, exercises and role-plays. The process of mediation including convening and preparing for mediation, opening the mediation session, defining the issues, facilitating communication and creative problem-solving, and structuring a mediation will be covered. Skills that are valuable for mediators and advocates such as developing trust and rapport, active listening, formulating questions, gathering information, reframing, and effective interaction for facilitated decision making will be covered. In addition, we will examine legal, ethical and policy issues that arise in the mediation context. This is a 3 credit, graded course.
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LAW 724 - Negotiation for Lawyers
Spring Credits: (1-4) Cynthia Ward
This course will explore the theoretical and strategic fundamentals of negotiating in a variety of legal situations. The course will be taught in a once-weekly, 2 1/2 hour format and will focus heavily on class exercises and simulations by students working in teams of two, three, or four. The course will cover various issues central to the topic, including the stages of negotiation; psychology of negotiation and related issues such as verbal and non-verbal communication and power and control in the bargaining process; the principal-agent relationship; substantive and strategic differences between unilateral and multilateral negotiations; and the law of settlement. The course grade will be based on (1) student participation in class discussions and exercises; (2) student performance in simulated negotiations; and (3) a final exam which will draw heavily on weekly class discussions of the assigned class materials.
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LAW 727 - Foreign & International Research
Spring Credits: 1 Jennifer Sekula
Foreign and International Research is a 1-credit pass/fail course that introduces students to a variety of foreign and international law sources and research methods over seven class sessions. Students will learn how to efficiently research secondary information, treaties, and other international agreements, foreign and European Union law, and United Nations documents. Classes meet once a week for seven weeks, and students complete in-class and out-of class research assignments. There is no final exam or required textbook.
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LAW 730 - Advanced Brief Writing
Fall Credits: 2 Jennifer Franklin
Jennifer Franklin
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LAW 737 - Planning a Chapter 11 Filing
Fall Credits: 1 Jeffrey Schlerf
This course will provide students with a practical exploration of corporate restructuring and the Chapter 11 process. The course will follow a role-playing, case-study format, in which students will learn about advising a company on restructuring options including preparing for a bankruptcy filing. Grading will be on a pass/fail basis, with assessment based on class participation and some very limited written work product by student teams during the role-playing exercises. Prior knowledge of bankruptcy law is not necessary. 1 credit pass/fail
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LAW 738 - Technology-Augmented Trial Advocacy
Spring Credits: 4 Fredric Lederer Prerequisite(s): LAW 308 OR LAW 309
Technology-Augmented Trial Advocacy combines instruction in traditional trial practice, including basic deposition practice, with contemporary technology-augmented trial practice techniques, including use of a high-tech record at trial, technologically presented evidence, and remote witness testimony. The course will address trial strategy, jury selection, opening statements, presentation of evidence, including the examination of witnesses, closing arguments, and preparation of jury instructions and will encompass both civil and criminal cases. The course requires satisfactory completion of a jury trial using role-played witnesses. This is a 4-credit pass/fail course open to second-year and third-year students. Students may not enroll in or have Basic Advanced Litigation. Students may take or have taken National Trial Team Trial Ad. Prerequisite: satisfactory completion of Evidence or Applied Evidence.
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LAW 741 - Virginia Coastal Policy Practicum I
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 Elizabeth Andrews
Open to 2Ls and 3Ls, the Virginia Coastal Policy Practicum is an experiential class offered by the Virginia Coastal Policy Center (see www.law.wm.edu/vacoastal). The practicum is clinical and interdisciplinary in nature and it focuses on a broad range of policy challenges facing coastal communities and resources. The practicum is taught by Professor Elizabeth Andrews. Graded course.
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LAW 743 - Federal Tax Clinic
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 Craig Bell
Open to 3Ls, the Federal Tax Clinic offers eight students the opportunity to assist in the representation of low income Virginia taxpayers seeking assistance from the nonprofit Community Tax Law Project before the IRS, U.S. Tax Court, and U.S. District Court. Students will find it helpful if they have taken Federal Income Tax, however Tax is not a prerequisite. Taught by Professor Craig Bell. Pass/fail course.
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LAW 745 - Domestic Violence Clinic
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 Darryl Cunningham
The goal of this clinic is to represent victims in our community who may not be able to afford legal services so that they can obtain protective orders, and other needed services arising out of that abuse, as well as to educate the community about domestic violence and safety planning. This clinic offers 8 students who have their third-year practice certificate the opportunity to work with the Williamsburg Legal Aid Office (Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia, aka LASEVA) and local shelters and organizations to provide legal assistance to victims of domestic violence and their families. Students will learn the effects of domestic violence on victims, their families, and the community at-large. Students will learn to interview clients, examine witnesses, and prepare for hearings. Under the supervision of attorneys, students will provide legal representation to victims of domestic violence in protection order hearings, child custody and support hearings, and advocate for clients to obtain other needed services. Students will learn about and advise clients on safety planning strategies. In addition to meetings with Professor Darryl Cunningham, LASEVA’s Senior Attorney in Williamsburg, and the clinic’s resident Fellow, Lindsay Barna, there is a one and a half hour classroom meeting per week and planning sessions to prepare presentations to educate the local community about domestic violence. To receive credit for this course, each student MUST attend the first meeting. Pass/Fail course.
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LAW 746 - Family Law Clinic
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 Darryl Cunningham
Open to 3Ls, the Family Law Clinic offers eight students who have their third-year practice certificate the opportunity to represent and advise clients of limited financial means from the Williamsburg office of the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia (LASEVA), in divorce, custody, support and equitable distribution matters. Taught by Professors Darryl Cunningham and Lindsay Barna. Pass-fail course.
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LAW 747 - Innocence Project Clinic I
Fall Credits: (2-3) Frederick Gerson
This clinic offers eight students the opportunity to engage in the legal investigation and research of inmate claims of actual innocence under Richmond attorney Fred Gerson. Using primary sources including police and forensic reports, court pleadings, transcripts, appellate briefs and opinions, students will research and prepare written summaries of the cases referred to the Clinic by the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP), so that MAIP may determine whether or not to pursue the innocence claim. Students will have the opportunity to conduct interviews of inmates and possible witnesses, as well as other preparatory case work with private investigators, forensics experts and attorneys. The Clinic’s focus will include DNA evidence, investigative activities, post-conviction remedies and procedures, and in-class simulations. Students will gain an understanding of the various ways innocent people are convicted and discuss remedies for exoneration. In-class discussions will systematically prepare students to undertake the investigations necessary to assess prisoner’s claims of factual innocence. Although the investigations are as varied as the cases, they can generally be placed into two categories; (1) cases involving searches for DNA evidence, and (2) cases involving non-biological evidence. In all of the cases, students, supervised by the professor and MAIP staff and volunteers, will work with the prisoner, former attorneys, courts, and police departments to create complete files to determine an investigative strategy. In DNA cases, students contact (and sometimes visit) courthouses, police departments, labs, and hospitals to determine whether any testable physical evidence remains in files or warehouses from cases that are often decades old. In non-DNA cases, students will interview eyewitnesses, alibi witnesses, co-defendants, and, in some cases, alternative suspects, and perform other necessary investigation, again to include travel throughout the Commonwealth. Occasionally cases also require travel to a prison in order to interview a prisoner. Ideally, in instances where MAIP accepts the case and assigns it to an attorney, the Clinic students who worked on the case will remain involved with it, thus preserving continuity and providing students with an even fuller learning experience. Innocence Project II will be offered in the spring semester for those who choose to enroll and have successfully completed Innocence Project Clinic I; ideally the students from IP I will enroll in IP II, for a more in-depth semester of work and skill building on their assigned cases. Prerequisites: Students must be enrolled in or have completed Evidence. Weekly clinic seminar Thursdays 6:00-8:30 pm. To receive credit for this course, each student MUST attend the first meeting. Pass/fail course. Pre or Co-requisite: Evidence Law 309 or Law 309T.
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LAW 749 - Non-Profit Organization Externship
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Robert Kaplan
Eligible placements include U.S. civil legal services/legal aid organizations and U.S. private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations. Private nonprofit organizations with IRS status other than 501(c)(3) are not eligible for externship credit. Organizations outside the U.S. are eligible if they would qualify for 501(c)(3) status if they were U.S. organizations. Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. 1-3 credits. Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 752 - Virginia Attorney General Externship
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Catherine Bellin
Eligible placements include the divisions/sections of the Virginia Attorney General’s office. Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. 1-3 credits. Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 753 - State & Local Government Externship
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Catherine Bellin
Eligible placements include state or local government agencies and offices, such as city/county attorneys, attorneys general, and state legislators. This type of externship covers all William & Mary offices. Placements with prosecutors and public defenders are covered by their respective externships. Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. 1-3 credits. Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 754 - Judicial Externship
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Robert Kaplan
Eligible placements include judges (including administrative law judges), hearing officers, courts, and organizations that provide research, educational, and management services to judges and courts (e.g., the National Center for State Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts). Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. 1-3 credits. Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 756 - US Attorney Externship
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Catherine Bellin
Eligible placements include the civil or criminal divisions of U.S. Attorney offices. Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. 1-3 credits. Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 758 - Federal Government Externship
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Catherine Bellin
Eligible placements include Federal agencies (including JAG Corps). They also include Congressional committees and members of Congress, subject to the prohibition on partisan political activities and lobbying. Federal Public Defenders are covered by the Public Defender Externship; U.S. Attorney offices are covered by the U.S. Attorney Externship. Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. (1-3 credits). Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 759 - Private Practice/In-House Counsel Externship
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Catherine Bellin
Eligible placements include solo practitioners, law firms, and in-house law departments of corporations and trade associations. Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. 1-3 credits. Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 760 - William & Mary Law Review
Fall/Spring Credits: (1-4) Nathan Oman
Preparation and editing of comments and notes for the William and Mary Law Review; editing of professional articles. Limited to the board and staff members of the Review.
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LAW 761 - William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
Fall/Spring Credits: (1-4) Neal Devins
Preparation and editing of student notes for the William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal; and editing of professional articles. Limited to the board and staff members of the Journal.
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LAW 762 - William & Mary Environmental Law & Policy Review
Fall/Spring Credits: (1-4) Ronald Rosenberg
Preparation and editing of student notes for the William and Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review; editing of professional articles. Limited to the board and staff members of the Review.
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LAW 763 - William & Mary Journal of Women & the Law
Fall/Spring Credits: (1-4) Vivian Hamilton
Preparation and editing of student notes for the William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law; editing of professional articles. Limited to the board and staff members of the Journal.
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LAW 764 - William & Mary Business Law Review
Fall/Spring Credits: (1-4) Darian Ibrahim
Preparation and editing of student notes for the William & Mary Business Law Review; editing of professional articles. Limited to the board and staff members of the Review.
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LAW 766 - Advanced Professional Development II for 2Ls and 3Ls (APD II)
Spring Credits: 2 Fredric Lederer Prerequisite(s): LAW 765 OR LAW 765 OR LAW 765 OR LAW 765
Advanced Professional Development is a two semester legal skills course based on simulated (role-played) clients. The course supplies additional experiential lawyering skills and experience to both 2L and 3L students. For purposes of simulated representation, participating students will be divided into two simulated law firms, each with two working groups of four students. Each firm will have a supervising faculty “Senior Partner.” Each working group will represent at least two realistic role-played simulated clients. APD II requires APD I and will deal with more advanced and realistic role-played clients than did APD I, with clients ordinarily coming from outside the law school. Each client will require student counsel to interview, negotiate, conduct legal research, and prepare written memoranda. APD II will require student counsel to use creativity and a range of legal mechanisms and procedures to achieve client goals. Time-keeping and (simulated) billing are required. Clients will present occasional professional responsibility issues for student resolution. When the course is fully implemented, student lawyers will also have to use proficiently a wide selection of legal technology. Client representations will be “open-ended,” meaning that should unforeseen issues develop in a representation, students must cope with them unless the Senior Partners determine that doing so would not be academically advantageous. Dean Ende will contribute his experience, knowledge and the results of his discussions with law firms and other employers to ensure that the course addresses what employers believe to be deficiencies in many law school graduates. The course curriculum will have input from Dean Ende, Professor Killinger, and Professor Roberts. Grading is Honors, pass/fail.
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LAW 769 - Curricular Pratical Training in Law
Summer only Credits: 1 Robert Kaplan
This course is for international JD students in F-1 status who want to engage in paid internships and require Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. Although CPT is not required for unpaid internships, the Reves Center for International Studies strongly recommends credit for unpaid internships. The Law School endorses that recommendation. Prior approval for CPT - for either a paid or unpaid internship - is required from both the University’s Designated School Official (DSO) in the Reves Center and Dean Kaplan. Students cannot complete more than 15 paid CPT hours per week during fall or spring semesters. There is no weekly maximum hour limit for summer paid CPT. To apply for CPT authorization, the student and the student’s supervisor must complete a CPT Objectives and Site Agreement. A written report by the student of at least five pages and a written evaluation by the student’s field supervisor are due by the date in the CPT course syllabus. The syllabus also describes the format and content of the report and the evaluation. Credit earned for this course does not apply toward the total credits required for the JD degree, nor does the credit count toward the total pass/fail credits permitted for graduation. In addition, this course is distinct from credit-bearing externships. Credit earned and hours completed for the CPT course cannot be counted toward an externship, and externship credit and hours completed cannot be counted toward the CPT course. However, a student may earn CPT credit and externship credit for the same internship if the student satisfies the requirement for both courses.
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LAW 770 - Prosecutor Externship
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Catherine Bellin
Eligible placements include state and local prosecutors. Placements with U.S. Attorney offices are covered by the U.S. Attorney Externship. Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. 1-3 credits. Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 771 - Public Defender Externship
Summer/Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Robert Kaplan
Eligible placements include federal, state, and local public defenders. Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. 1-3 credits. Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 772 - Washington, DC Semester Externship (3Ls with minimum 3.0 GPA; fall semester only)
Fall only Credits: 12 Judith Conti
3Ls With Minimum 3.0 GPA; fall semester only. Eligible placements include federal, state, and local government agencies, courts/judges, prosecutors, public defenders, legal aid offices, or 501(c)(3) organizations in Washington, DC, or the Northern Virginia or Maryland suburbs of DC. Finalizing an externship requires 3 steps before the registration deadline: (1) securing an externship; (2) submitting a completed Externship Agreement; and (3) registering for the correct course and the correct number of credits. 12 credits. Externships are graded Pass/Fail.
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LAW 780 - Veterans’ Benefits Clinic I
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 C. Stone, D. Boelzner
Puller Veterans Clinic - Disability Compensation and Appeals (DCA)
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LAW 782 - Special Education Advocacy Clinic I (PELE)
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 Christina Jones
Open to 2Ls and 3Ls, the Special Education Advocacy Clinic (PELE) I offers eight students the opportunity to assist children with special needs and their families in special education matters. Taught by Professor Crystal Shin. Graded course.
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LAW 783 - Puller Veterans Clinic-Separation,Discharges&Leg Adv (SDLA)
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 Aniela Szymanski
This Puller Veterans Clinic - Separations, Discharges and Legislative Advocacy (SDLA) offers students an opportunity to represent veterans in discharge upgrade cases with the Boards of Correction for Military Records and the Administrative Review Boards of the service branches; assist service members in administrative separations when a mischaracterization of service may result; and advocate for legislative policy changes impacting veterans at the state and/or federal level. The clinic will be taught by Professor Aniela Szymanski and Professor Eleyse D’Andrea. There is a required day-long Boot Camp on Friday, August 25th, for those who have not attended previously. Graded course. Open to 2Ls and 3Ls.
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LAW 784 - Elder & Disability Law Clinic I (EDLC I)
Fall/Spring Credits: (1-3) Helena Mock
Open to both 2Ls and 3Ls, this clinic will offer ten students the opportunity to practice substantive legal issues affecting the elderly and members of society with disabilities, including estate planning, probate, elder abuse, and guardianships, emphasizing the challenges of identifying the client when there may be diminished capacity. This clinic will be taught by Professors Helena Mock and Erin Smith. Graded course.
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LAW 785 - Innocence Project Clinic II
Spring only Credits: 3 Frederick Gerson Prerequisite(s): LAW 747 AND LAW 309 OR LAW 309T OR LAW 308 AND LAW 309
Students in the Innocence Project Clinic II will continue to work on cases assigned in the Innocence Project Clinic I, engaging in more in-depth investigative activities, post-conviction remedies and procedures, and in-class simulations relating to inmate claims of actual innocence. Building on the foundation laid in Innocence Project Clinic I, the in-class portion will focus on client and case specific theories of innocence, and will include skills development in interviewing witnesses, handling ethical issues, organizing investigative tasks, and digesting transcripts, among others. The class is designed such that students will act as intake investigators to determine whether representation of a prisoner’s claim of innocence should be undertaken. The work entails understanding core legal concepts relating to criminal trials, reading transcripts, performing legal analysis, and investigating cases in order to determine whether an inmate has a claim worth pursuing. Prerequisites: Innocence Project Clinic I
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LAW 786 - Immigration Clinic
Credits: 3
Students will engage with immigration law matters including assisting noncitizens, participating in community outreach and education, and conducting policy research and advocacy for immigrants. Depending on the availability of cases and the types of cases selected by the professor, students may participate in representing asylum applicants, applicants for relief under the Violence Against Women Act, or U visa applicants. Graded three-credit course.
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LAW 788 - Appellate & Supreme Court Clinic I
Fall Credits: 3 Tillman Breckenridge
This clinic will introduce eight students to appellate practice in the federal Courts of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Students will work as a team to identify cases suitable for the clinic and then work as pairs to prepare appellate briefs in cases involving the First and Fourth Amendments. In Clinic matters, students will prepare briefs on the merits, amicus briefs, petitions for rehearing or certiorari, appendices, and other appellate filings. For cases in the federal courts of appeals, students will present oral argument when the court allows. Classes will meet every week for general instruction on appellate practice and to discuss draft briefs, petitions, and issues that have arisen in the Clinic’s cases. Students will be graded based on the quality of their written product, and when appropriate, oral argument, as well as their level of effort and participation in preparing ancillary appellate materials such as appendices and filing documents. Students will interview for admission into the Clinic with Richmond attorney, Tillman Breckenridge, and there will be a preference for students who have taken Federal Courts or the Appellate Advocacy Track of the Legal Practice Program, though neither is a prerequisite. Graded course. Appellate and Supreme Court Clinic II will be offered in the spring semester for those who choose to enroll and have successfully complete Appellate and Supreme Court Clinic I. Graded course. IMPORTANT!! Participation in this clinic is by application and selection by the professor. To apply, send your resume, transcript and writing sample electronically to Professor Breckenridge at tbreckenridge@baileyglasser.com. Applications will be accepted in early March each year (be on the lookout for the application due date in the Docket Digest), and interviews by Skype or in person will be held in late March. Please note that preference will be given to those students who intend to take Appellate & Supreme Court Clinic II, to be offered in the spring as a three credit graded course, following successful completion of Appellate Clinic I. Clinic is limited to 3Ls and has an enrollment cap of 8 students. To receive credit for this course, each student MUST attend the first meeting.
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LAW 789 - Appellate & Supreme Court Clinic II
Spring Credits: 3 Tillman Breckenridge Prerequisite(s): LAW 788
Appellate Clinic II will continue the work of Appellate Clinic I, introducing eight students to a more in-depth look at appellate practice in the federal Courts of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Students will continue to work as a team to identify cases suitable for the clinic and work as pairs to prepare appellate briefs in cases involving the First and Fourth Amendments. Students will be graded based on the quality of their written product, and when appropriate, oral argument, as well as their level of effort and participation in preparing ancillary appellate materials such as appendices and filing documents. Successful completion of Appellate Clinic I is a prerequisite. Graded course.
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LAW 790 - Special Education Advocacy Clinic II
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 Christina Jones Prerequisite(s): LAW 782
Open to 2Ls and 3Ls, the Special Education Advocacy Clinic (PELE) II is an andvanced clinical experience for up to four students. Students will refine their own advocacy skills by continuing work on their cases, as well as build their leadership, supervision and collaborative skills by mentoring PELE Clinic I students. Taught by Professor Crystal Shin. PELE I is a prerequisite. Graded course. Class time TBD based on student schedules.
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LAW 791 - Virginia Coastal Policy Practicum II
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 Elizabeth Andrews Prerequisite(s): OR LAW 679 OR LAW 424
Open to 2Ls and 3Ls, the Virginia Coastal Policy Practicum II allows up to four students the opportunity to work on advanced projects in support of the Virginia Coastal Policy Center. The advanced practicum will be taught by Professor Elizabeth Andrews. VCPC Practicum I, or Climate Change, or Environmental Law is a pre-requisite. Graded course. Class time will be set according to class members’ schedules at the start of the semester.
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LAW 792 - Corporate Security, Counterintel, Counterespionage, & the Insider Threat
Fall Credits: (1-3) Robert Trono
In an evolving global trade environment, corporate America is becoming an increasingly hot target for economic and industrial espionage. Intelligence collectors come from a variety of sources including foreign nation states, industry competitors, and trusted insiders. This course will illustrate this aggressive threat landscape and thoroughly review how intellectual property has emerged as a coveted target for adversaries and the impact those losses have on economic and national security. One of the most potentially damaging actors to both government and private industry comes from the insider threat. This course will delve into the insider threat phenomenon to understand motivating factors, behavioral indicators, and organizational circumstances which contributed to an insider’s success. The course will examine Edward Snowden as a case study of insider threat activity and lessons learned in the aftermath of his actions. The course will discuss the many challenges faced by counterintelligence, both in government agencies and the private sector. This includes fundamental issues such as information sharing between public and private sectors, growth in offensive technological advancements, and effective employee screening. As theft of U.S. innovation continues to grow at an alarming rate, many companies have implemented counterintelligence and insider threat mitigation measures within their business framework. The course will also examine the vast legal and regulatory requirements associated to these measures, such as program oversight, employee privacy, program transparency, and prosecutorial authorities. The course will analyze Federal statutes covering economic espionage and theft of trade secrets, the Presidential Executive Order on the Insider Threat and the National Industrial Security Program. The grade will be pass/fail based on a final paper.
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LAW 794 - Corporate Counsel - Legal Issues and Practice Difficulties
Spring Credits: (1-3) Sharon Owlett Prerequisite(s): LAW 303 OR LAW 320
The purpose of the course is to provide an introduction to the critical and strategic analysis required to run a successful in-house practice. Students will review problem scenarios in five different areas of corporate operations: management structure, contracts, employment, business integration, and audit. Through analysis and discussion of relevant documents and facts, students will gain an understanding of the multiple and often conflicting considerations that general counsel must weigh and balance in order to provide effective representation. By the end of the course, students should be able to identify stakeholders in corporate interactions and their various interests; be alert to pitfalls impacting counsel’s ability to operate; have a basic understanding of fact-finding within the corporate environment; and gain appreciation of counsel’s role in advising executives, board members and employees as well as in dealing with external parties such as auditors and outside counsel. Students will be evaluated on a legal and business analysis of a contract problem involving multiple tiers. The grade will be pass/fail based on a final paper. Completion of Corporations or Business Associations is a prerequisite.
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LAW 797 - War Powers - The National Security Law Constitution
Spring Credits: 3 Mark Newcomb
This course will examine the distribution of national security powers amongst the three coordinate branches of government and the development of law and policy governing use of force, military operations, homeland security, intelligence collection, protection of national security information, foreign intelligence surveillance, and contemporary issues in the national security arena. The class is lecture and discussion based, with reading from the Dycus, Berney, Banks & Raven-Hansen’s NATIONAL SECURITY LAW; supplemental materials will be assigned and distributed as appropriate. This class will be graded by an examination (80%) and class participation (20%).
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LAW 798 - Puller Veterans Clinic - Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
Fall/Spring Credits: 3 Elizabeth Tarloski
Open to 2Ls and 3Ls, the Puller Veterans Clinic - Military Sexual Trauma (MST) offers students the opportunity to learn veterans’ disability law and procedure and aid military veterans who are survivors of military sexual assault in the filing, adjudication, and appeal of their disability claims with the VA. In addition, legislative and policy issues will be explored, with students proposing systemic change through legislative and regulatory reforms. Students will also be engaged in the study of the psychological impact of trauma. The course will be taught by Professor Liz Tarloski. There is a required day-long Boot Camp on Friday, August 25th. Graded course.
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Mathematics |
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MATH 508 - Advanced Linear Algebra
Fall Credits: 3 Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Eigenvalues, singular values, matrix factorizations, canonical forms, vector and matrix norms; positive definite, hermitian, unitary and nonnegative matrices.
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MATH 510 - Special Topics in Mathematics
Fall and Spring Credits: 1-3
A treatment of topics of interest not routinely covered by existing courses. Material may be chosen from topology, algebra, differential equations and various other areas of pure and applied mathematics. This course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor.
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MATH 513 - Introduction to Numerical Analysis I
Fall Credits: 3 Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
A discussion of the mathematical theory underlying selected numerical methods and the application of those methods to solving problems of practical importance. Computer programs are used to facilitate calculations. The topics covered are: roots of equations, systems of linear equations, interpolation and approximation, and numerical integration. Students planning to take MATH 514 are strongly encouraged to take MATH 513 first.
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MATH 514 - Introduction to Numerical Analysis II
Spring Credits: 3 Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
A discussion of the mathematical theory underlying selected numerical methods and the application of those methods to solving problems of practical importance. Computer programs are used to facilitate calculations. The topics covered are: iterative methods for linear systems, eigenvalue computations and differential equations. Students planning to take MATH 514 are strongly encouraged to take MATH 513 first.
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MATH 524 - Operations Research: Stochastic Models
Spring Credits: 3 Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
A survey of probabilistic operations research models and applications. Topics include stochastic processes, Markov chains, queuing theory and applications, Markovian decision processes, inventory theory and decision analysis.
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MATH 541 - Nonlinear Dynamics
Fall Credits: (3)
Linear systems of ODEs. Nonlinear systems; dynamical systems, existence/uniqueness of solutions; phase plane analysis; bifurcation; Poincare-Bendixson theory. Applications in biology, circuit theory, and mechanics. Discrete dynamical systems. Cross-listed with MATH 441 - Ordinary Differential Equations II
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MATH 551 - Probability
Fall and Spring Credits: 3 Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Topics include: combinational analysis, discrete and continuous probability distributions and characteristics of distributions, sampling distributions.
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MATH 552 - Mathematical Statistics
Spring Credits: 3 Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
The mathematical theory of statistical inference. Possible topics include: maximum likelihood, least squares, linear models, methods for estimation and hypothesis testing.
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MATH 559 - Topics in Statistics
Fall and Spring Credits: 1-3 Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
Statistical topics not covered in other courses. Possible topics include: linear models, nonparametrics, multivariable analysis, computationally intensive methods. This course may be repeated for credit as topics change.
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Marine Science |
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MSCI 501A - Fundamentals of Marine Science, Physical Oceanography
Spring Credits: (2) Gong
This course provides an introduction to the various types and scales of motion in the ocean, the global heat budget, major water masses, and processes controlling distributions of temperature and salinity. Discussions on phenomena associated with water motion will include global circulation, wind-driven circulation in ocean basins, tides, coastal upwelling, storm surge, waves, turbulence, and circulation in estuaries. Underlying dynamics governing water motion will be presented, elucidating the role of the rotation of the earth. The El Nino/La Nina oscillation will be examined as a key example of large-scale ocean-atmosphere interactions.
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MSCI 501B - Fundamentals of Marine Science, Chemical Oceanography
Fall Credits: (2) Smith, J.
This course presents an overview of the chemistry of estuaries and the ocean including chemical processes that occur in marine sediments and at the air/sea interface. Discussion topics will include the chemical properties of seawater, chemical equilibrium and kinetics, the seawater carbonate system and ocean acidification, the global and oceanic carbon and nitrogen cycles, ion speciation, trace metals, and nutrients, sediment diagenesis, and fundamentals of radioisotope and stable isotope biogeochemistry. Interdisciplinary applications are emphasized.
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MSCI 501C - Fundamentals of Marine Geology
Fall, odd years Credits: (2) Hein Note: SMS graduate students with a strong undergraduate geology background can take MSCI 521 instead of MSCI 501C to fulfill a SMS core fundamentals requirement. Contact the instructor for more details.
This course provides an introduction to the major topics of marine geology without expecting the student to have a background in geology. The course addresses the age and internal structure of the earth, the processes of plate tectonics including the formation of oceanic crust, seamounts, hydrothermal vents, the characteristics and classification of sediments and the distribution of sediments in the deep sea. Also addressed are the interrelationships among and importance of paleoceanography, climate change, and sea-level change, and the processes and characteristics of various marine, estuarine, and coastal sedimentary environments. The course includes discussion of various types of field equipment and logistics and of some economic and societal implications.
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MSCI 501D - Fundamentals of Marine Science, Biological Oceanography
Fall Credits: (2) Steinberg
This course examines the biology and ecology of marine organisms and how they interact with their environment. Topics include the organisms and their behavior, distribution, and underlying physiology; effects of biology on elemental and nutrient cycles and visa versa; and ecosystem structure and ecological interactions. An interdisciplinary approach will be taken, as biology both depends on and influences ocean chemistry, physics, geology, and climate. The course will emphasize open ocean, pelagic systems, but will include many examples from coastal and estuarine systems, as well as shallow and deep-sea benthic ecosystems.
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MSCI 501E - Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology and Pathobiology
Fall Credits: (2) Unger, Wargo
This course emphasizes ongoing and emerging environmental concerns in the Chesapeake Bay and world ocean. Lectures will address basic concepts and mechanisms of contaminant chemistry and toxicology, infectious and noninfectious diseases in aquatic organisms. Case histories will be used to illustrate sources, fate and effects of anthropogenic chemical contaminants, and the important role of environmental change on disease in marine and estuarine ecosystems.
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MSCI 501F - Fundamentals of Marine Fisheries Science
Spring Credits: (2) Graves, Scheld
This lecture course will introduce the principles and techniques of fishery science. Lecture topics will include the theory and impacts of fishing, description and status of international, North American and regional fisheries, fisheries oceanography, recruitment processes, single-species and ecosystem-based approaches to stock assessment, and fisheries management, and the goals and problems of sustaining an open-access common pool resource.
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MSCI 503 - Interdisciplinary Research in Estuarine and Coastal Systems
Spring Credits: (2) Brush
This is an interdisciplinary, field-based laboratory course applying concepts from MSCI 501 to a semester-long study of the estuarine and coastal environments of the lower Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The course is designed to expose students to today’s typical interdisciplinary research process from project conception through presentation of results. Students will organize into crossdisciplinary groups around a particular study site and research topic, and develop and implement a scientifically sound, hypothesis-driven research plan through a series of group cruises and instrument deployments. Particular emphasis will be placed on spatial and temporal patterns of biotic and abiotic processes and their interactions, along with sample design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Students will also be exposed to utilizing historical and ongoing databases as well as synthesizing data from each group member to create an interdisciplinary story. The course culminates with oral presentations and a group poster.
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MSCI 504 - Fundamentals of Statistical Methods and Data Analysis
Fall Credits: (4) Chiu
In this course, students are introduced to the fundamental statistical methods commonly used for analysis of biological and ecological data. Topics include describing data, probability distributions, statistical inference, hypothesis testing, elementary experimental design, analysis of variance, and regression and correlation. The introductory aspects of categorical data analysis and multivariate techniques will also be covered. Course content will be integrated with a weekly laboratory session using the statistical computing language R.
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MSCI 506 - Scientific Communication Skills
Spring, even years Credits: (2) Hilton, Steinberg. Graded Pass/Fail
The important elements of oral and written presentation skills for communicating scientific research to diverse audiences will be reviewed in this course. The course addresses topics such as best practices for writing, submitting, and revising scientific papers, proposals, and reports, and developing effective figures and other illustrations. Oral and written presentation skills are emphasized through written exercises and class presentations, with peer review. Other topics include development of effective poster presentations and application materials, such as CVs, cover letters, and research and teaching statements.
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MSCI 507 - Responsible Conduct of Research
Fall Credits: (1) Schaffner
Students will discuss responsible research and scholarly practices and develop an ability to recognize ethical choices for informed decisions based on key principles of research integrity. Class attendance and completion of VIMS CITI RCR modules are required. Grading is pass/fail.
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MSCI 508 - College Science Teaching
Spring, odd years Credits: (1) MacDonald, H.
Course includes discussion of issues in science teaching and learning, course design, lesson design, teaching and assessment strategies, and teaching statements. Focusing on a course of their own, students develop an assignment, lesson outline, and syllabus. Course is valuable for students who are interested in an academic career and/or other positions that involve teaching and/or outreach. Grading is pass/fail.
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MSCI 509 - Communicating Science to Diverse Audiences
Spring, odd years Credits: (2) Rivest
The objectives of this course are to provide (1) a foundation of skills for communicating scientific topics and research results to a variety of audiences, (2) an introduction to different mediums of science communication, and (3) an introduction to difference audiences and how they engage with science. Tools/skills for science communication will include the COMPASS message box, eliminating jargon, humanizing your science, and connecting with what your audience cares about. Students will create a portfolio of their science communication products.
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MSCI 515A - Interdisciplinary Marine Sciences Seminar
Fall and Spring Credits: (1) Staff
The departmental seminar course offers a multidisciplinary review of significant areas of marine science. Guest speakers will present a variety of views, and course participants will organize and present talks related to the seminar theme. Grading is pass/fail. Students may repeat seminar registration as required by their respective departments; however, only two (2) credits will be applicable to an SMS degree.
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MSCI 515B - Aquatic Health Sciences Seminar
Spring Credits: (1) Staff
The departmental seminar course offers a multidisciplinary review of significant areas of marine science. Guest speakers will present a variety of views, and course participants will organize and present talks related to the seminar theme. Grading is pass/fail. Students may repeat seminar registration as required by their respective departments; however, only two (2) credits will be applicable to an SMS degree.
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MSCI 515C - Fisheries Science Seminar
Spring Credits: (1) Staff
The departmental seminar course offers a multidisciplinary review of significant areas of marine science. Guest speakers will present a variety of views, and course participants will organize and present talks related to the seminar theme. Grading is pass/fail. Students may repeat seminar registration as required by their respective departments; however, only two (2) credits will be applicable to an SMS degree.
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MSCI 521 - Advanced Marine Geology
Fall, even years Credits: (3) Hein Prerequisite(s): An undergraduate background in geology. Note: SMS graduate students with a geology background can take this course instead of MSCI 501C to fulfill a SMS core fundamentals requirement. This course will cover similar topics as MSCI 501C but be taught at a higher, more advanced level.
Long Title: Marine Geology: Environments, Processes, and Records. This course is designed as an introduction to the geologic processes which have shaped the world’s oceans and their margins. It is specifically targeted to advanced undergraduates and junior graduate students with a background in geological sciences. It will focus on three key study areas (the Bay of Bengal, the US Atlantic Coast, and the Arctic Ocean), and explore the geology and morphology of each, the key processes responsible for their formation and evolution over timescales ranging from decades to hundreds of millions of years, and the records of past changes in sea level, climate, and physical oceanography contained within their sedimentary deposits.
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MSCI 529 - Fish Physiology
Spring, odd years Credits: (3) Brill
This course is intended for students interested in incorporating physiological principles and techniques into projects addressing questions in ecology, fishery biology and environmental assessment. It will emphasize basic concepts to make physiological jargon and the published literature understandable.
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MSCI 530 - Microbial Processes in a Changing Coastal Environment
Spring, odd years Credits: (2) Anderson, Reece
The course will address current topics and societal concerns in coastal and estuarine systems including microbial responses to eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, nutrient enrichment, and roles of bivalve-dominated systems, marshes, seagrasses, groundwater, and photic sediments on microbial nutrient cycling. Cross-listed with BIOL 404 and MSCI 404
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MSCI 548 - Special Topics in Marine Science
Fall, Spring and Summer Credits: (1-3) Staff
This is the avenue through which subjects not covered in other formal courses are offered. These courses are offered at an introductory or lower level (i.e., below MSCI 550), with content and workload commensurate with other lower level MSCI courses. These courses are offered on an occasional basis as demand warrants. Subjects will be announced prior to registration and after approval by the EPC.
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MSCI 549 - Communicating Ocean Science: Science Education Methods
As Required Credits: (1) Hopper-Brill, Lawrence Note: Instructor permission required.
Effective science teaching methods for communicating ocean sciences in classroom or informal education settings. Prepares marine science graduate students for interpreting their research to lay audiences via lessons, labs, or field activities.
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MSCI 550 - Rivers: Processes and Problems
Spring, even years Credits: (3) Hein, Staff
Rivers form the main link between land and the ocean, discharging more than 35 thousand km3 of water and more than 20 billion tons of suspended and dissolved solids annually to the global ocean. Three central themes are stressed: 1) How do rivers work: the hydrologic cycle and water budget, basin character, physical and chemical erosion; 2) Temporal and spatial variations, ranging from seasonal to millennial, with particular emphasis on catastrophic events; 3) Human interactions: land degradation, river management, future impact of climatic change and anthropogenic activities. Includes a one-week field trip.
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MSCI 553 - Introduction to Benthic Boundary Layers and Sediment Transport
Fall, odd years Credits: (3) Harris
This course addresses the physical and geological aspects of coastal and estuarine benthic boundary layers, their dynamic forcing and the associated suspension and transport of sediments. Principles of waves, tides and currents are introduced with emphasis on shall-water processes. Boundary layer structure and shear stress on the seabed, wave boundary layers and turbulence are considered in relation to the coastal environment. Forces on sediment particles, initiation of sediment movement and principles of sediment transport are treated at an intermediate level.
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MSCI 554 - Principles of Numerical Computing
Spring Credits: (3) Harris, Wang
This course provides students in the marine sciences with the tools needed to pursue study and research using numerical methods. It will enable them to write programs to solve fairly complex problems, to explore and understand the current literature in which numerical methods are used. Topics include principles of floating-point computation, interpolation, linear and non-linear systems of equations, numerical integration, ordinary and partial differential equations, and optimization. Emphasis is placed on finite difference solutions to conservation of mass and momentum equations. The course consists of three lecture hours per week, assigned problems using MATLAB, and a term project in a topic chosen by the student.
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MSCI 555 - Marine Resource Economics
Fall, odd years Credits: (3) Scheld
This course is designed to introduce students to the economic concepts, tools, and arguments that shape policy and management of living marine resources. Lecture will be supplemented with problem sets and a final project which synthesizes course concepts. Cross-listed with PUBP 614
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MSCI 559 - Parasitology
Fall, even years Credits: (3) Shields
This course covers the biology and ecology of protozoan, helminth and crustacean parasites. Focus is on parasites of medical and veterinary importance. Emphasis is placed on life cycles, pathology, control methods and ecological impacts of parasitic infections. Recommended:Invertebrate Zoology or comparable course. Three lecture and three laboratory hours. Cross-listed with (Bio 404 and BIOL 504 )
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MSCI 561 - Statistical & Graphical Analyses in R
Spring Credits: (3) Hoenig
Use of R to manipulate and graph data and perform statistical analyses. Students will write functions, use debugging facilities, and perform advanced graphical and statistical analyses including bootstrapping, nonlinear regression, and generalized linear mode.
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MSCI 562 - Environmental Pollution
Fall Credits: (2-3) Hale
This course will introduce students to processes impacting aquatic environments. Emphasis will be on pollution by man-made chemicals and metals. Additional topics include consequences of excessive nutrients, habitat modification and introduction of exotic or elimination of native species. Students have the option to register for 2 credit hours (lecture only) or 3 credit hours (lecture with an in-class student presentation).
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MSCI 563 - Environmental Chemistry
Spring Credits: (3) Unger
The fundamental physical, chemical and biological processes controlling the fate of major classes of aquatic contaminants are covered in this course. Topics such as photolysis, biodegradation, sorption and redox chemistry are examined to elucidate the mechanisms controlling chemical degradation and transport. Case studies are used to show how these basic research principals can be integrated and applied to solve real word environmental problems.
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MSCI 565 - Principles of Pathobiology
Spring, even years Credits: (3) Vogelbein, Carnegie, Wargo
This course focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathogenesis in important emerging diseases in the medical, veterinary, and aquacultural fields. Students will learn how current molecular and cellular techniques are being applied to the resolution of a variety of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Mammalian models provide a foundation for application to the diseases of fish and shellfish.
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MSCI 568 - Crustacean Health Issues
As required Credits: (1) Shields
Crustaceans support major commercial fisheries and aquaculture production. We will explore current topics in crustacean health such as emerging diseases and their impact on fisheries, disease control and prevention, the influence of environmental factors that contribute to health issues, basic aspects of crustacean biology that are affected by pathogens, aspects of animal husbandry and aquaculture, and advances in understanding crustacean immunology. Emphasis will be placed on commercially important crustaceans and their pathogens and diseases, but comparisons will be made among different systems. Students will present papers in topical areas, develop reviews of subject areas, and participate in class discussions. Different topics will be covered each semester. A student may repeat the course up to four times, provided the instructor determines there is no duplication of subject matter. Up to (4) times
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MSCI 571 - Marine Ecology
Spring Credits: (3) Johnson
The course covers the fundamental processes underlying structure and functioning of marine ecosystems, both pelagic and benthic, and application of those principles to understanding responses of marine ecosystems to anthropogenic and natural global change. Lectures, readings and discussion will emphasize physical processes supporting primary production, planktonic and benthic dynamics, distribution and functional importance of marine biodiversity, biotic interactions structuring communities, and food web structure. The course concludes with a survey of the major marine ecosystem types. A central part of the course involves design, writing, reviewing, and panel discussion of student research proposals.
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MSCI 575 - Aquatic Microbial Ecology
Fall, odd years Credits: (3) Anderson, Song Note: Organic chemistry or biochemistry recommended.
This course provides an introduction to the role that microorganisms play in the biogeochemical cycling and production of dissolved and particulate inorganic and organic matter in freshwater and marine ecosystems. The approach will be ecological, relating environmental physiochemical properties to regulation of microbial processes, distributions, and biodiversity. Topics will include state of the art methods for detecting distributions, biomass, and activities of microorganisms in the natural environment, the energetics regulating microbial processes, microbial biochemical pathways, biodegradation, microbial interactions, and the role that microorganisms play in the food webs of various ecosystems. Although emphasis will be placed on marine systems, processes in lacustrine, riverine, and groundwater ecosystems will also be discussed. Readings will draw heavily on the primary literature.
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MSCI 583 - Molecular Genetic Data Analysis, Bioinformatics
Spring, odd years Credits: (3) Reece, McDowell
This is a lecture and computer-based laboratory course covering the principles and practice of analyzing and interpreting population genetic, phylogenetic and genetic mapping datasets. Molecular data sets including DNA sequences, genotypic profiles and genomic data will be exported and processed for analysis by the appropriate suite of computer software programs. Software to be utilized includes DNA sequence analysis, genotyping, population genetic, sequence alignment and phylogenetic programs, as well as standard pipelines for analysis of next generation sequencing data. Phylogenetic programs will include those based on genetic distance, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Population genetics programs include those such as GenePop to perform standard population genetic statistical analyses, Arlequin for doing AMOVAs, and STRUCTURE for doing assignment testing.
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MSCI 597 - Internship in Marine Science
Fall, Spring, or Summer Credits: (4) MA Program Director
Students will complete an internship with an organization that is engaged in clearly defined marine or environmental science-oriented programs or activities relevant to the student’s preparation, capstone project, and individual development plan.
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MSCI 598 - Capstone Research in Marine Science
Fall, Spring, or Summer Credits: (6) MA Program Director
Students will conduct independent research that translates, integrates and applies marine science knowledge to an issue in management, policy, law, business, or education. Projects are co-advised by a VIMS faculty member and an individual from the relevant professional field.
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MSCI 599 - Thesis
Fall, Spring and Summer Credits: (1-12) Major or Co-Major Advisor(s)
This is the avenue for original research in biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography, environmental science, marine fisheries science and marine resource management. The master’s project is chosen in consultation with the student’s major professor and the Associate Dean of Academic Studies.
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MSCI 610 - Effects of Global Change on Modern Marine Systems
Fall, odd years Credits: (2-3) Canuel, Staff
The course will explore the recent literature highlighting effects of climate and global change on various aspects of marine systems including (but not limited to) biogeochemical cycling, ecosystem structure and function, alterations in ocean chemistry, and physical processes such as polar and glacial ice melting, ocean circulation and sea level rise. The course is designed as a 2-credit course. Students will be evaluated primarily on the basis of the quality and organization of the class discussion they lead (including a short introductory background presentation), as well as participation in all other class discussions. In addition, a short (5 pages) critical writing assignment assessing the effectiveness of one or more recently published papers on impacts of global change in marine systems will be required. A 3-credit option may be made available to students who wish to undertake more detailed independent study of a particular topic in the form of additional readings and a research term paper.
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MSCI 611 - Estuarine Hydrodynamics I
Fall Credits: (3) Wang
This course examines classification of estuaries, time scales of motions, tidal dynamics in estuaries, non-tidal circulation, mechanism of arrested salt wedge, gravitational circulation, diffusion induced circulation and turbulence in stably stratified flows.
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MSCI 615 - Hydrodynamic Modeling of Estuarine and Coastal Waters
Fall, even years as required. Credits: (3) Wang.
This course will survey numerical methods for the solution of partial differential equations describing the estuarine and coastal water motion and transport. Topics include stability, accuracy, consistency and convergence analysis of numerical scheme, formulation of primitive and scalar transport equations, and the pre- and post-processing for numerical computational models. The course will involve classroom lectures, seminar readings, and application of models for operational environmental prediction.
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