Course Details

Syllabus

As a BA Politics and Law you will take modules at the Department of Peace Studies as well as at the University's Law School. Our syllabus is strongly informed by the research our staff undertake - the Department of Peace Studies has an excellent international reputation in research across the range of discipline areas in which we offer BA degree awards.

In your first year you will take several core modules, including Introduction to Politics, English Legal Systems, Public Law and Contract Law with several other options available. As a BA Politics and Law student you are expected to take a core module in Year 2 (Political Theory and Peace) and write your Year 3 Dissertation on a topic of Politics.

In addition, you can take any one of the dozens of optional modules available for the BA in Politics and Law at the Department of Peace Studies (examples include Introduction to International Relations, Introduction to Peace Studies, Sociology of Peace and Conflict, Introduction to Development, Concepts and Practices of Peacemaking, Politics and Social Change, International Relations: Theories and Applications, Human Rights, International Terrorism, Development and Democracy, Global Governance among many others) as well as at the School of Law (Land Law, The Substantive Law of the European Union, International Law, Legal Research, Compnay Law, Equity and Trusts, Environment Law, Immigration and Asylum Law, among many others).

Structure

The BA programme follows the university structure of 120 credits for each Stage, with 60 taken in each semester. As a BA Politics and Law student you may take up to 40 credits, over Stages Two and Three, from units offered by all Schools in the University.

In Stage One, students must take 20 core Politics credits and 80 core Law credits. The remaining 20 credits are taken as options in either Politics or Law. In Stages Two and Three, at least 60 credits in Law must be taken, 40 core, and at least 120 credits in Politics, 80 core, including the 60-credit final year dissertation and the 2^nd year Core module PE-0201D Politics and Social Change. The remaining 60 credits are taken as options in either Law or Politics.

Aim

The BA (Hons) in Politics and Law enables students to develop:

• an understanding of the theories and concepts of peace and conflict and their application to global, regional and local contexts;
• an understanding of the main concepts in the fields of Politics and their application to contemporary issues;
• an ability to evaluate and engage effectively in key debates in the field;
• an understanding of the fundamental doctrines and principles which underpin the law of England, Wales and Europe;
• a basic knowledge of the sources of that law and how it is made and developed and of the institutions within which that law is administered and the personnel who practise that law;
• an ability to use knowledge of a wide range of legal framework concepts, principles and rules governing British and European legal institutions and processes;
• an ability to apply that knowledge to contrasting legal perspectives and complexities in order to provide relevant and appropriate conclusions.

Learning Outcome

The BA (Hons) in Politics aims to:

• develop your knowledge and understanding of a coherent, current and intellectually stimulating body of theory and analysis;
• develop an independent, critical and scholarly approach to your field which will enable you to apply your knowledge and develop your understanding;
• enable you to relate academic study to questions of public concern in the peace and conflict field;
• provide you with a curriculum supported by active scholarship, staff development and a research culture that promotes breadth and depth of intellectual enquiry and debate;
• help you to develop a valuable range of key skills and personal attributes for a wide variety of careers;
• provide you with a friendly and supportive learning environment.

When you have completed the BA in Politics and Law you will have acquired:

Discipline Skills

• an independent and critical ability to gather, organise and analyse relevant primary and secondary evidence or data so as to present coherent and clearly reasoned arguments which address specific problems;
• an ability to apply legal skills and principles to practical scenarios in order to inform reasoned judgment and discriminate between the legally relevant and irrelevant.

Personal Transferable Skills

• an ability to communicate effectively and fluently in speech and writing, use communication and information technology for the retrieval and presentation of information, work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management and collaborate with others to achieve common goals;
• an ability to handle and solve legal problems through the analysis and integration of legal knowledge and understanding within rapidly changing legal circumstances.

Teaching Strategy

The teaching strategy takes into consideration the learning outcomes, progression through the levels of study, the nature of the subject and the student intake, and the need for you to take greater responsibility for your own learning as you progress through the course.

Lectures, small group work, simulations, training exercises, seminars and directed study are used to further your understanding of the subject matter, your own skill development and reflective abilities.

Assessment Strategy

Essay writing, group presentations, exams, projects, portfolios and reports are used as assessment methods in different modules. In your final year you will write a 12,000 - 15,000 word dissertation.

You must obtain 40% in the seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge subject areas in order to continue your studies for an exemption towards the Common Professional Examination or the Postgraduate Diploma in Law if you intend to qualify as a Solicitor or Barrister. To satisfy the Law Society's requirements and be eligible for a classified Honours award, in order to pass and proceed from each stage to the next, you must achieve at least 40% in 100 credits including any of the seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge and English Legal Systems, and 35% in the other 20 credits at each Stage.

The maximum number of attempts which is permitted for you to pass the seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge at the minimum pass mark of 40% within a qualifying law degree is normally three. The University's normal regulation allows students to carry 20 credits at 35% and 100 credits at 40% with four attempts to pass a module.

How to Apply

The traditional route for entry onto the degree course is with A-levels, but applications are also welcomed from candidates with qualifications equivalent to or superior to A-levels. In any case, each candidate is considered on his/her merits and we offer all candidates the opportunity to visit the Department and campus and meet staff and students. Overall, students without A-levels account for one third of our intake each year.

The standard admission offer is 280 points overall to include a minimum of two full A-levels. The remaining points can be gained from any combination (and number) of tariff-based qualifications, including Key Skills and General Studies. A-levels in a social science or modern history might help to prepare you for the degree, but the Department does not stipulate any particular subjects. The Department offers an interview to any students who don’t meet our standard requirements, and can therefore be more flexible about entry qualifications. The Department welcomes applications from students who have completed a BTEC National qualifications, or Scottish Framework Qualifications (280 points), or Irish Highers (A, B, B, B, B), or overseas examinations which show an equivalent level of attainment, (please enquire). Mature students, particularly those with Access courses are encouraged; those with experience and motivation should contact the Admissions Tutor for details of how prior learning and experience may be used during the admissions process.

The University requires all applicants to hold an English language qualification such as GCSE English Language grade C or above or an equivalent.

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