The Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law is the nation’s leading – and only – ABA Accredited law school that offers a concentration in Air and Space Law. For law students seeking such specialized legal courses, this concentration provides a comprehensive understanding of the legal processes regulating domestic and international aerospace activities. Students enrolled in the concentration program receive the distinctive, interdisciplinary knowledge and expertise for which the Center is world-renowned.

The Center offers a unique curriculum rich in the legal issues that arise from new technologies in space including:

Public international law covering both the aviation and space industries

International and domestic laws governing exploration

National licensing of space activities

Space security and military uses of space

US space policy

Use of remote sensing imagery as legal evidence

Balancing privacy and humanitarian uses for remote sensing technologies

Private international law

Economic regulation of domestic and international air routes

Environmental effects of aviation and space activities

Cybersecurity laws and policies

Aircraft financing and leasing

The concentration program in Air and Space Law consists of four aerospace law courses (12 credit hours), an Independent Study in Aerospace Law and/or possible externship/internship placement (3 credit hours), and three elective courses (12 credit hours), for a total of twenty-seven (27) credits.

Admissions Criteria, Continuation and Exit Requirements for Proposed Concentration in Air and Space Law Program

The Air and Space Law Concentration recognizes a student’s strong emphasis in the air and space law fields. A student may be recognized for a Concentration in Air and Space Law by earning a total of 27 credit hours satisfying the following requirements:

Successful completion of 4 core courses (12 credit hours);

Successful completion of 4 elective courses (12 credit hours); and

Successful completion of 3 intensive credit hours

All credits counted for the Concentration must be graded, and the student must have at least a 3.0 grade point average for all credits counted toward satisfying the Concentration credit hour requirements as set forth above.

Core courses, elective courses and options for Intensive Credit Hours are listed below. Due to scheduling constraints and prerequisites, students must plan carefully in order to complete the Concentration. Each core course is offered at least one term each year. A list of the specific courses offered in any given term that may count toward the Air and Space Law Concentration will be disseminated prior to enrollment for that term.

Core Courses

• Public International Air Law 750
• Private International Air Law 751
• International Space Law 680
• Either US National Aviation Law 723 or United States Domestic Space Law 679

Other Eligible Courses

• Administrative Law 605
• Aerospace Business and Law
• Antitrust Law 621
• Comparative National Space Law 677
• Corporations 601
• Cybersecurity Law
• Environmental Law 581
• European Union Law 530
• Intellectual Property 580
• International Law 620
• International Security Law and Policy 658
• International Telecommunications Law 752
• International Trade 575
• International Aviation Financing and Leasing Law 753
• Internet and Emerging Technologies Law 756
• Journal of Space Law 583
• Labor Law 614
• Law of Armed Conflict 531
• Space Security Law 736
• Remote Sensing Law 655
• US National Aviation Law 723 (if not taken as a core course)
• United States Domestic Space Law 679 (if not taken as a core course)

As appropriate, additional courses and Advanced/Special Legal Topics focusing on air and space law may be included in this category on a case-by-case basis upon approval by the designated faculty member and/or Senior Associate Dean.

Intensive Credit Hours

• Individual Study in air or space law that is approved in advance.
• An externship/internship placement approved in advance and related to air or space law.