(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Philosophy and Law
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Philosophy
Law
BA MVC5
11/04/2013
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A-levels: ABB-BBB
IB: 32-30 points
Entry requirements for students studying BTEC qualifications are dependent on units studied. Advice can be provided on an individual basis. The standard required is generally at Distinction level.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall. (Different requirements apply for second year entry.)
If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels required. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
The aims of this programme are to:
1. provide a sound academic grounding in the disciplines of philosophy and law;
2. develop an awareness of the interactions of these disciplines;
3. equip students with a range of subject-specific and general intellectual skills fostered by the study of philosophy and law, preparing them either for a wide variety of careers or for postgraduate study;
4. develop students' capacities for independent thought and critical reflection The outcomes listed below represent the minimum that might be expected of a graduate of the Departments of Philosophy and Law of the University of Essex.
It is the intention of the Departments that the vast majority of graduates will achieve significantly more.
Details of the different standards expected for the various classes of degree can be found in the Student Handbook produced annually by the Departments.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Knowledge and understanding of some philosophical texts and some major issues in philosophy, and/or those at the interface between philosophy and law.
A2: Knowledge and understanding of the fundamental doctrines and principles of the law, and some substantive areas of the law in depth.
A3: Knowledge and understanding of the techniques of reasoning appropriate to the discipline in question.
Learning methods
A1-3 are acquired through lectures, classes which involve discussion, and in law through tutorials which allow students to work in small groups.
Where relevant and as the basis for an argument, students should use, present and evaluate relevant numerical or statistical information as appropriate.
Additionally A1-3 are acquired by means of the directed reading that students are required to undertake, and by means of writing coursework and preparing for exams.
Assessment methods
Outcomes A1-3 are assessed through continuous coursework and unseen written examinations.
Coursework in philosophy consists of essays: in law it consists of essays, problem analysis, oral presentations and group projects.
Coursework tests the ability to research a topic using, for example, library and internet resources, expound specified texts and enter into detailed argumentation with them.
Unseen exams test the ability to rehearse and assess arguments in relation to specific questions posed within a limited time frame.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Capacity to follow complex arguments, and to present one's own evaluation of them.
B2: Capacity to summarise complex and demanding texts, and to assess critically their strengths and weaknesses.
B3: Capacity to argue coherently and persuasively.
B4: Ability to gather and evaluate large amounts of information and data.
B5: Capacity to analyse legal problems.
Learning methods
Skills B1-5 are obtained and developed through the teaching and learning methods described above under A (Knowledge and Understanding).
Assessment methods
Outcomes B1-5 are assessed by the assessment methods described above under A (Knowledge and Understanding).
C: Practical skills
C1: Ability to abstract and synthesise relevant information, from a range of sources, using books, journal articles, cases and internet resources.
C2: Ability to use and apply legal terminology and legal concepts.
C3: Ability to plan and undertake tasks in areas of law already studied, and to undertake independent research in areas of law not previously studied, starting from standard legal information sources.
Learning methods
Skill C1 is acquired and developed primarily by the preparation for and the writing of coursework, and the feedback given on it.
Skills C2 and 3 are developed through tutorials by way of the medium of problem solving and group discussion.
Assessment methods
Outcomes C1 and 2 are assessed through coursework and unseen written examinations.
C3 is assessed through coursework.
D: Key skills
D1: Ability to produce fluent and effective communication.
D2: Use of relevant information technology to research and present written work.
D3: Not applicable.
D4: Ability to identify the problem to be solved, to analyse it carefully, to distinguish relevant from irrelevant detail, to compare and assess different solutions to it, to provide argument and evidence for one's preferred solution.
D5: Not applicable.
D6: Ability to organize one's reading and thinking in relation to specific topics, to work to a deadline, and to learn from comments on coursework and oral communication from teachers.
Learning methods
Skills D1, 2, 4 and 6 are acquired and developed through the teaching and learning methods described above.
Assessment methods
Outcomes D1, 2, 4 and 6 are assessed through coursework and unseen written examinations.