Curriculum

The Seton Hall Law School Program in European and Global Law offers compressed courses lasting either one or two weeks. Students have the option of taking all of the courses, for the full five-week program, or designing their own program of one, two, three, or four weeks.

Courses will combine classroom lectures and discussion with a series of study visits to European Union institutions and international organizations, where students will have the opportunity to interact with high-level lawyers and organizational representatives.

All courses will meet on Mondays through Thursdays, for three hours per day. Enrollment in each course includes housing from the Sunday before the course begins to the Saturday after it ends.

The Institutional Framework of the European Union (2 credits)
Professor Carl Coleman
Leuven, Belgium
Weeks of May 28 and June 4

This course will introduce students to the world's foremost experiment in supranational government: the European Union, which brings together 27 sovereign nations in a single federal structure. The course will explore similarities and differences between the EU and other federal systems, especially the United States of America, with particular attention to the role of the European Court of Justice. As part of this course, students will visit the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, as well as the main EU institutions in Brussels, including the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Intellectual Property and International Health Policy (1 credit)
Professor David Opderbeck
Geneva, Switzerland
Week of June 11

Intellectual property rights are the most valuable assets held by pharmaceutical, medical device, and scientific publishing companies. These companies argue that strong intellectual property protection is necessary to protect their investments in research and development. But intellectual property increases costs to end users. This means that some people who might otherwise have access to patented technologies, including life-saving drugs, will not be able to afford them. It also means that some scientists and technologists in poorer countries will lack access to copyrighted journals and textbooks. Is the social bargain inherent in strong intellectual property rights necessary and just? This course will explore the nature of and justifications for intellectual property protection in health-related industries. No prior background in intellectual property law is required.

Individuals and Communities in International Health Research (1 credit)
Professor Carl Coleman
Geneva, Switzerland
Week of June 18

Research on drugs, medical devices, and public health interventions increasingly takes place on an international scale, with a rapidly growing proportion of such research occurring in developing countries. Conducting research with human participants raises profound ethical and legal questions for individuals and communities. Using a case study approach, this course will critically explore issues such as the duty of care to study participants, the use of placebos, informed consent, community harms and benefits, research during epidemic outbreaks and other public health emergencies, and conflicts of interest. A general theme of the course will be how ethical and legal norms are developed and enforced at the international level. No prior background in health or health law is required.

The Right to Health in Comparative Perspective (1 credit)
Professor John Jacobi
Geneva, Switzerland
Week of June 25

The Constitution of the World Health Organization states that "[t]he enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being." This statement raises legal questions that have been answered very differently in different nations, often by reference to their constitutions or national health coverage laws. This course will discuss the process by which disputes over access to care are resolved, the use of rationing to control the cost of care, whether persons with disabilities have access to specialized care that would assist them in achieving full integration in society, and the extent to which individual or societal interest control in the designation of available care. No prior background in health care or health law is required.

Class Attendance Policy, ABA Residency, and Grades

Classroom attendance is mandatory. Students must attend a minimum of 80% of class session in order to receive credit, unless they have a documented medical excuse. The Seton Hall University School of Law Honor Code applies to the program. In order to comply with ABA residency requirements, students seeking to accelerate graduation should consult with their registrar before enrolling. Non- Seton Hall students participating in the program should note that acceptance of any credit or grade for any course taken in the program is subject to determination by the student's home school. Students will be graded in accordance with current standards of the ABA, AALS, and the faculty of Seton Hall Law School. Courses may not be taken on a Pass-Fail basis.

SETON HALL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | One Newark Center | Newark, New Jersey | 07102 | 973-642-8500