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  6. LS4035: Criminal Law

LS4035: CRIMINAL LAW (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:01


Course Overview

The course builds upon the basic understanding of criminal law acquired in LS1020 although it is very important to understand that the topics are approached from a much more theoretical perspective. The course examines in detail selected principles of criminal liability, including the role and limits of the criminal law, the defence of mental disorder, murder, rape, provocation and the limits of excusability. Comparative material from a variety of jurisdictions is included. 

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 25 credits (12.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Graeme Brown

Qualification Prerequisites

  • One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
  • Law (LS) (Studied)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • LS1020 Criminal Law (Passed)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

Yes

One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.


Course Description

The aims of this course are as follows:

  • to introduce candidates to issues of importance and current interest in the modern criminal law.
  • to analyse those issues in terms of Scots law and also in terms of selected foreign systems of law.
  • to encourage personal research into a particular issue of current concern.
  • to encourage critical discussion of aspects of the present criminal law of Scotland.

The intended learning outcomes of the course are as follows:

a) Knowledge

  • awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of Scots criminal law.
  • awareness of the literature (both primary and secondary) relative to criminal law studies.
  • understanding in depth of the particular issues studied.
  • understanding of the variety of available solutions to problem areas within the criminal law.

b) Skills

  • ability to conduct further personal research with a fair degree of confidence (developed through research for essays, presentations and seminars).
  • ability to communicate in writing the results of personal research on issues of criminal law (developed through essay writing).
  • ability to communicate orally about the topics studied (developed through seminar discussions and presentations)
  • ability to listen carefully to and comment relevantly upon the work of others (developed through class discussions and discussion boards.
  • teamwork and cooperation (developed through group presentations and class discussions)

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 45
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided on the feedback form within three weeks from the date of submission.

 Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Class Test - Multiple Choice Questions

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 15
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resit failed element in same format if due to extenuating circumstances

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.
 

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