Seton Hall's Fall 2026 Public International Law syllabus teaches doctrine, actors, and substantive fields through critical perspectives while banning generative AI outright

The course frames public international law as a dynamic and contested field, teaching not only doctrine but also 'the power of law and law's uses of power' from multiple critical perspectives. The syllabus shifts emphasis from doctrine alone to tensions between law and power, universalism and particularism, and hierarchy in international society, incorporating legacies of colonialism and imperialism. Based on the opening course description, which lists core questions such as 'whether international law is actually law,' 'why states comply,' and 'legacies of colonialism and imperialism.'

The course is organized in five parts: introduction, sources of international law, international actors and global governance, substantive areas, and conclusion, covering treaties, custom, soft law, statehood, the UN, international courts and tribunals, law of the sea, environmental law, human rights, law of armed conflict, international criminal law, and domestic court application. The syllabus grounds abstract topics in specific cases and texts through weekly reading lists and discussion cases such as S.S. Lotus, Western Sahara, Nicaragua, and Medellín v. Texas. Based on the 'Class Topics and Reading' weekly schedule on pages 5-9, including assigned textbook page ranges and supplemental readings.

Assessment comprises participation (20%), a mid-term essay of up to 1,500 words (30%), and a comprehensive final with two of three essay prompts, each up to 1,500 words (50%), with missing two class periods reducing the final grade by one-third and four or more reducing it by a full grade. The syllabus treats attendance as a predicate to participation rather than a directly graded item, and allows late submissions only with an approved extension ahead of the deadline. Based on the 'Assignments and evaluation' section and the attendance penalty note.

The course prohibits generative AI entirely: it may not be used for brainstorming, drafting, analysis, editing, or generating figures or images, and suspected violations may lead to oral or paper re-examination, a reflective memo, an interview component, and referral to the Center for Student Conduct. The syllabus defines presenting AI tool content as one's own as a new form of academic dishonesty and lists specific verification techniques. Based on the 'GenAI policy – no GenAI' and 'Academic Integrity & Dishonesty' sections.

This syllabus applies to DIPL 3104 AA in Fall 2026 at Seton Hall University's School of Diplomacy and International Relations, for students enrolled in the course; its reading list, cases, and assessment arrangements can inform designers of similar international law courses, and its AI ban and academic integrity clauses apply to that course's class and assignment settings.

This reading is incomplete in scope and does not include supplemental materials, Canvas content, or full case texts beyond the syllabus; some readings mentioned (such as the New York Times and Foreign Policy articles) appear only by title, so their specific arguments cannot be assessed from this text.