Course Objectives:

A significant proportion of the population of the United States is located in a coastal county. As such, it is often challenging to plan and manage competing uses of the coastal zone where protection of beaches, wetlands, water quality, and other natural resources has to be balanced against the needs of economic development and property rights to manage coastal resources in a sustainable manner. This course familiarizes future public and nonprofit leaders about the laws, institutions, and policies that have been adopted in an attempt to balance these competing uses in North Carolina as well as elsewhere in the United States. Emphasis will be placed primarily on the policies and programs contained in the federal coastal zone management and Clean Water Act and their corresponding state laws and programs (e.g., NCCAMA and NCDENR, etc.) so that students can better understand how the implementation of federal laws influences state and local government efforts to manager their coastal resources (e.g., ports, urban waterfronts, declining water quality, habitat protection, beach erosion, hazard mitigation, and public access to the beach and water resources). Similarly, the course will examine how some common law principles (e.g., property rights, riparian rights, public trust doctrine, and navigational servitude) influence the management of coastal resources. In terms of student learning outcomes, the course will focus on developing and demonstrating your ability to:

	Define, frame, and think critically about coastal problems and their societal significance;
	Utilize different theories and decision tools to identify and analyze policy alternatives that address coastal problems;
	Communicate the results of this analysis of coastal problems in a manner that is accurate, clear, concise, and persuasive while also being tailored to the audience’s expertise and needs.

Students will develop these competencies in a variety of ways using a series of readings from a variety of perspectives. The readings are supplemented with a variety of handouts and web-based resources available on the course website. Students will learn how to apply the concepts through in-class exercises, discussion of video clips, simulations, and discussions. Students will develop their critical thinking skills and ability to define and analyst problems through case memo assignments and a final paper. Students will also learn how to communicate (oral and written) their analyses and participate effectively in the policy process by presenting a case and their final policy projects. Ultimately, the overall objective is to help you become a more effective analyst of coastal policy and management issues.

Readings

All of the required readings are placed on blackboard. In addition, the following readings are recommended if you are unfamiliar with coastal and water quality issues and the implementation of the federal coastal zone management act (CZMA) and Clean Water Acts (CWA):

	Kalo, Joseph J, Richard G. Hildreth, Alison Rieser, Donna R. Christie, and Jon L. Jacobson. 2007. Coastal and Ocean Law: Cases and Materials. Third Edition. St Paul, MN: West Group. ISBN 978-031415620-4 (Recommended - Required readings on Blackboard)
	Beatley, Timothy, David J. Brower, and Anna K. Schwab. . An Introduction to Coastal Zone Management. Second Edition. Washington, DC: Island Press. 2002. (Recommended) Can be ordered online.
	Robert W. Adler, Jessica C. Landman, and Diane M. Cameron. 1993. The Clean Water Act 20 Years Later. Washington, DC: Island Press. (Recommended) Can be ordered online.

You should check the course schedule and read all of the readings for each topic found in the corresponding folder in blackboard prior to class. Copies of the lecture notes, handouts, and other resources can be found on the topics pages of the website. Additional recommended readings are also found in folders in blackboard.

Expectations and Approach

This is not a lecture-dominated class where the instructor speaks and the students passively listen. This is a seminar class where students take an active part in their learning through class discussions, group work, and case analysis. Course readings are supplemented with videos, occasional guest speakers, and other information available on the class web site. Part of your learning will be cognitive or factual in nature. However, much of what you learn in this course will involve developing your analytical skills, enhancing your self-awareness of policies and programs affecting coastal issues and problems, and sharing your professional experiences with others in the class. I encourage you to prepare yourself for, and be open to, the variety of ways that you can learn from this course.

Course Requirements

Your grade in this class will be based on your ability to understand and apply the concepts discussed in the course readings. More specifically, your grade will depend on your performance on the following course requirements:

Class Participation

Students are expected to complete the assigned readings and come to class prepared to discuss all readings, handouts, and assignments that are due. Given the small class size, it will be evident to all of those in attendance whether you are prepared to discuss the readings. To ensure that students are prepared to discuss the readings, I will randomly ask students to summarize a reading, case, or one of the notes, questions, or problems contained in the readings. Some of the legal decisions are quite detailed and may require you to read them more than once. Each student should be prepared to share with the class questions that the readings raised and be able to identify the most significant points or contribution that the author makes to the practice of coastal resource management.

While attendance will not be taken on a regular basis, poor classroom attendance and showing up late to class may result in a failing participation grade since you cannot participate if you are not in class. Therefore, you should notify the instructor when you are unable to attend class. If you should miss a session when a video is shown, it may be possible to make arrangements to view the film privately at the library or to borrow the video. Your participation grade will also be lowered if students are not active contributors to discussions, the frequent inability to respond to the instructor’s questions, poor class preparation, lack of enthusiastic participation in class exercises, inability to participate in discussing a case, or the failure to treat others in the classroom with respect (e.g., talking while others are talking, ridiculing other students, etc.). Similarly, while laptops, tablets, and smart phones are allowed in class, their use for non-class-related activities (e.g., texting friends, watching something on the internet, Facebook, etc.) will result in a lowered participation grade. Simply put, in order to receive an “A” in this class you must be a civil, active contributor to class and not merely score well on exams and assignments.

Paper and Mini-Conference

You will be required to prepare a paper on a topic of your choosing. The only requirement is that it should address some sort of legal, policy, or management issue in the field of coastal or environmental management. In certain cases, a project may be accepted in place of a paper. We will then have our own mini-conference near the end of the semester where you will present your paper or we will swap papers and you will present another student's paper. Someone may serve as a discussant to provide feedback to help you revise your paper. Your presentation should be professional and use appropriate audio/visual aids (e.g., PowerPoint). You need to submit and abstract for your paper with at least 15 supporting references by September 25, 2012. The mini-conference is tentatively scheduled for December 11, 2012. Your final paper will be due December 11, 2012 at 5:00 PM. There is no set length requirement but I expect most of the papers will be 20 or more double-spaced pages. They should be well written, be professional in appearance, and be properly referenced in any acceptable style. Additional guidance on this class requirement is provided on the website.

Coastal Management Problem Memos

One of the ways we will examine and apply the concepts discussed in the readings is by analyzing cases contained on the course website. Since case analysis is essentially self-learning through simulated experience, its success depends on the lively exchange of information, ideas, and opinions during case discussions. Students must come prepared to discuss all aspects of the case, apply the concepts in the readings to the case, and be able to answer the questions at the end of each case study or those posed on the class web site or it will adversely affect your class participation grade.

Over the course of the semester you will be required to prepare 5 memos for these assignments that respond to a particular, question, problem, case, or readings. Each assignment generally asks you to analyze the readings and apply the topics and concepts discussed. The problems are designed to heighten your interest and awareness of the significant legal issues and policy problems that coastal managers can face. The memo assignments also help you to develop your communication skills. Accordingly, be sure that the memo is as specific as possible. The decisionmaker should know precisely what you want them to do about the problem/issue and what you plan to do to carry out your recommendations. Additional guidance and directions for each assignment can be found on the website.

Each case memo assignment is targeted at a specific decision maker. Accordingly, each student will present their analysis of 1 case to the class as if they were providing a briefing to the decision maker or a group of decision makers. Accordingly, it should be professional in nature. Accordingly, your presentation should be brief, well organized, and professional. It is limited to 10 minutes.

Exam

There will be one take home exam near the end of the class consisting of a series of questions that require you to apply the theories and concepts discussed over the course of the semester. The exam will be posted on this web site approximately 1 week before the exam.

Grading

All written work will be evaluated based on your analysis, the organization of your ideas, the strength and substance of your arguments, your ability to properly apply the concepts discussed in class, and the quality of your writing (e.g., spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.). Failure to complete an assignment or failing to follow directions will result in a 0 for the assignment. The final course grade will be calculated based upon the following weights:


Class Participation	20% (200 points)
Paper and Mini Conference	30% (300 points)
Problem Memos (5 @ 5% each)	25% (250 points)
Exam	25% (250 points)

Course grades will be calculated based on the following: A (920 – 1000), A- (900 – 919), B+ (880 – 899), B (820 – 879), B- (800 – 819), C+ (780 – 799), C (720 – 779), C- (700 – 719), D+ (680 – 699), D (620 – 679), D- (600 – 619), and F (0 – 599). In the event that an assignment is given a letter grade, points are allocated by using the midpoint of the grade range and multiplying it the number of possible points. For example, an A for a 5% memo would equal 95% of 50 points or 47.5 while a B+ would equal 89% of 50 points or 44.5. There is no rounding up or down.

All members of UNCW’s community are expected to follow the academic Honor Code. Please read the UNCW Honor Code carefully (as covered in the UNCW Student Handbook). Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in this class. Be advised that I have a zero tolerance policy for cheating or plagiarism. Anyone caught cheating or plagiarizing an assignment will receive a failing grade for the course.

Late Assignments/Incompletes

Tentative due dates for course assignments are listed on the attached course schedule and are subject to change based on class progress and student preferences. You should check the course schedule and announcements pages on the course web site periodically for changes in due dates. Students may bring forward requests for changing the dates of major assignments for class approval with a minimum of one-week advance notice to the class.

Unless I have agreed in advance, all assignments are due at the beginning of the class period listed on the course schedule. Informing the instructor of your intention to be absent does not waive your obligation to submit the work that is due on time. Late assignments lose one full letter grade per day they are late. The final exam and policy project lose a full letter grade at a minimum if they are submitted after the posted deadline. They lose an additional letter grade each day they are late. An incomplete will only be granted when there are serious extenuating circumstances that occur after the withdrawal period. Inability to complete the policy project and final exam by the posted deadline is not grounds for an incomplete and may result in a failing grade and dismissal from the MPA program.

Disabilities, Respect, and Harassment

Students with diagnosed disabilities should contact the Office of Disability Services (962-7555). Please give me a copy of the letter you receive from Office of Disability Services detailing class accommodations you may need. If you require accommodation for test-taking please make sure I have the referral letter no less than three days before the test.

UNCW has recently instituted a Respect Compact to affirm our commitment to a civil community, characterized by mutual respect. That Compact will soon be affixed to the wall of each classroom and can be accessed at: http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/pdc/documents/SeahawkRespectCompact.pdf. Students are expected to treat others in this class in accordance with this campus policy.

UNCW practices a zero tolerance policy for any kind of violent or harassing behavior. If you are experiencing an emergency of this type contact the police at 911 or UNCW CARE at 962-2273. Resources for individuals concerned with a violent or harassing situation can be located at http://www.uncw.edu/wsrc/crisis.html.

Other Class Policies

Cell phone use and texting will not be tolerated in this class. Turn off the ringer on your cell phone prior to class. If your phone rings, the Professor reserves the right to answer the call and/or to confiscate the phone.

Laptops, tablets, and smart phones may be used in this class. Users should sit in the back row or at the edge of class to avoid distracting others. Laptops, tablets, and smart phones will be banned from the classroom for the rest of the semester the first time any user is seen engaging in non-classroom related activity (e.g., texting, surfing the web, checking Facebook, monitoring scores of ball games, etc.). The instructor reserves the right to randomly inspect the screen of any user during class.

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