Cmty Dev & Apld Econ: Consumer Law and Policy

Law as an expression of public policy to protect consumers in the marketplace. Emphasis on laws prohibiting deceptive advertising and marketing practices. Prerequisites: ENGS 001, ENGS 057, CDAE 024, or CDAE 061; Sophomore standing.

Dates: July 5 - August 12, 2022

Consumer Law and Policy teaches students how to protect themselves as consumers in today’s marketplace. First, we will discuss the legal process and government’s role in consumer protection. We will learn about some fundamental legal concepts like civil litigation, contracts & warranties, and the law of Unfair & Deceptive Acts and Practices. We will then cover specific consumer protection issues including Auto Sales, Landlord/Tenant Law, Truth in Advertising, Telemarketing, Banking & Credit, Debt, Use of Credit Cards, Personal Finance, Privacy and Data Security. At the end of this course, you will be able to use your understanding of state and federal laws and regulations to analyze common consumer transactions and identify some of the legal issues that can come up in the marketplace. Finally, you will understand the nature of several common scams and how to protect yourself from techniques used to manipulate consumer preference.

There will be a module each weekday of class. Exams will be given on Friday and you will have 48 hours to complete. All quizzes and exams are open notes/open books. Some materials will become available the weekend before each week, so a certain amount of self-pacing will work, but you should be prepared to spend a couple hours each weekday reviewing materials, studying for the quiz, and taking the quiz.

The course may include daily quizzes on each day's module, a midterm exam, and a final exam. There will also be a small number of assignments.