The Center for Real Estate Law
JD Certificate in Sustainability
Our JD Certificate in Sustainability offers degree candidates competitive specialization in the emerging, interdisciplinary area of sustainability and its increasing importance in real estate, environmental, and regulatory legal work.
The certificate curriculum, developed with input from our Real Estate Law Advisory Board and the faculty, consists of fundamental, required courses in energy law, environmental law, local government law, real estate transactions, and sustainability in modern real estate transactions. JD candidates will further tailor their specialization by taking electives in a broad range of interdisciplinary areas.
For further information, contact Professor Celeste M. Hammond, director of the Center for Real Estate Law.
Requirements
Degree candidates interested in enhancing their career opportunities with the JD Certificate in Sustainability must complete a minimum of 16 sustainability credit hours, including 9 required credits, and must graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.25 in sustainability coursework.
JD candidates are allowed to apply up to six LLM credits toward the JD with the permission of the appropriate center director. (IBT-identified courses may have additional prerequisites.) Joint JD/LLM in Real Estate Law candidates may apply up to 10 LLM credits towards both degrees. These credits may also count towards the JD Certificate in Sustainability.
Center Resources
Proposed Schedule
Due to the diversity of courses offered, degree candidates interested in pursuing the JD Certificate in Sustainability should consult with the Center to plan a specific degree program tailored to their needs.
Curriculum
- » Energy Law (RE 624/JD 624, 2 credits)
- » Natural Resources Law (RE 621/JD 111, 2 credits)
- » Real Estate Transactions (JD 243, 3 credits)**
- » Environmental Law (JD 260, 3 credits)*
- » Environmental Controls & Concerns Affecting Real Estate (RE 609/JD 609, 2 credits)*
*Certificate candidates must take either JD 260 or RE 609
**Prerequisite to LLM in Real Estate Law courses
- » Administrative Law (JD 250, 3 credits)
- » Commercial Real Estate Transactions (RE 602/JD 602, 2 credits)
- » Construction Law (RE 612, 2 credits)
- » Historic Preservation Law (RE 632/JD 132, 2 credits)
- » Independent Research (JD 041/RE 698, 2 credits)
- » International Business & Trade in Agriculture (IBT 799L, 1 credit)
- » International Trade & Development Law (IBT 799Y, 1 credit)
- » Land Use Control (JD 266, 2 credits)
- » Land Use Control & Zoning (RE 604/JD 604, 2 credits)
- » Public Finance (RE 614/JD 614, 2 credits)
- » Seminar: Selected Topics in Local Government Law and Policy (RE 627, 1–2 credits)
- » Seminar: Selected Topics in Sustainability (RE 626, 1–2 credits)
- » Sustainable International Economic Development Law (IBT 799B/JD 287, 1 credit)
Please review each course description to determine what prerequisites apply.
JD & LLM Practice-Oriented Electives- » Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition (JD 012, 2 credits)
- » Sustainability Externship (RE 623/JD 623, 2 credits)
Candidates may select only one of the two practice classes listed above.

