Public Health Law

(3 Credits)

Many of public health's greatest successes have been based on the successful use of the law. Therefore, an understanding of the fundamentals of public health law and the legal foundations of public health is essential to appreciating the tools available to government to address public health threats. This class will examine the government’s authorities and also the legal limitations on government enacting law to improve population health at the federal, state, and local levels and by the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. We will additionally analyze core public health issues in the context of this legal framework.