The University of Tennessee College of Law recently launched the Graduate Certificate in Contractual and Legal Affairs in Engineering and Construction, offered in conjunction with the UT College of Engineering.
Students can begin their studies toward the graduate certificate in the fall of 2016.
The 15-credit-hour graduate certificate is designed to give lawyers a background in construction and engineering and to give engineers and construction professionals a background in law, specifically contract law. Both fields overlap substantially, from the planning and contracting stages, through project implementation and contract administration, and sometimes ending in formal dispute resolution proceedings. In such an environment, a broad range of knowledge in both fields is not only desirable, but it may be critical to a firm or project’s success.
“Our graduate certificate program is an invaluable opportunity for interdisciplinary learning and instruction at the College of Law,” said Alex B. Long, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law. “Law students will gain a greater perspective by taking classes with engineering students and individuals currently working in the construction field. Plus, students who acquire the certificate will be able to market themselves more effectively to employers in a society where construction engineering is a powerful force in our economy.”
To participate in the program, a student must be currently enrolled in the College of Law or currently enrolled as a graduate student in the College of Engineering. Others wishing to pursue the graduate certificate must first apply and be admitted to the UT Graduate School. To apply to the Graduate School, visit graduateadmissions.utk.edu.
For more information about the certificate program, visit law.utk.edu/engineering.