Since the second half of the 20th century the world has seen unprecedented breakthroughs in terms of the level of science, technology, and economic growth. These are normally meant to maximize opportunity, welfare, and security and safety to humanity. Unfortunately, however, there have been numerous phenomena that are proven to be major setbacks to the gains of the progress that humanity could have exploited. One of the most important hindrances to human’s achievement is problems posed to the environment. Environmental problems, irrespective of their causes from domestic or global activities, have kept on threatening the wellbeing of human race. Needless to mention the fact that the root-causes for the bulk of ecological problems are traceable to anthropogenic interferences to nature. The economic success witnessed in the development history has been countered by environmental externalities of the development process itself. There has literally been few or no development process that does not put any pressure on the environment. There seems to be a consensus that there are way-outs to significantly reduce the adverse environmental effect of development processes. In doing so, environmental policies and regulations occupy a central place in all spheres of human activities. Equally important in that respect is availability of professionals who are well equipped with the knowledge and expertise on important issues and regulatory regimes concerning the environment. Being cognizant of this fact, the law school strives to carry out its share of responsibility by putting in place this unique master’s program. The school also underscores the important place that land occupies in the socio-economic life of societies such as those in Ethiopia where significant numbers of the people engage in land-based economic and social activities. There is acute need for legal professionals trained in land governance. The law school has been providing this opportunity to current and prospective students to qualify in the two distinctively important field of study-Environmental and Land Law.
Training Objectives
The program is designed to train qualified persons in Environment and Land Law who can act as experts in the field of land law and environmental law. The program is expected to widen the students’ understanding of the rules and principle related to land regulation and environment protection. The program is designed in such a way as to enable students acquire an in-depth understanding of domestic and international environmental law policies and principles and the land law regime in comparative perspective. It is expected to equip them with the requisite knowledge that will enable them to research and find out problems in the field of environment and land law
Courses Offered in the Program
- Advanced Research Methods
- Introduction to Environmental Science
- International Environmental Law
- Ethiopian Environmental Policy and Law
- Environmental Governance
- Law and Sustainable Development
- Environmental Ethic
- Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations of Property
- Comparative Land Policy and Law
- Ethiopian Rural Land Policy and Law
- Ethiopian Urban Land Policy and Law
- International and Nile Water Law (E)
- Ethiopian Water Law and Policy (E)
- LL.M. Thesis
