Unit information: Foundations of Law and Politics in 2021/22

Unit name	Foundations of Law and Politics
Unit code	LANG00045
Credit points	20
Level of study	QCA-3
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Mr. Sarda
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	IELTS 5.5 with a minimum of 5.0 in writing and 5.0 in each part of the test
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Centre for Academic Language and Development
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This is a 20-credit unit within the International Foundation Programme which aims to provide students with the knowledge, skills and intellectual background to prepare them for undergraduate studies in social sciences and law.

Specifically, students will develop an understanding of:

• The UK’s legal system and its relationship with the EU
• Key aspects of constitutional law, the law-making process and court system
• Core political concepts: conservatism, liberalism, socialism; and how these relate to political realities

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the purposes and functions of the UK constitution, its development and key institutions, as well as key institutions in the EU and their relationship with the UK.
2. demonstrate a critical understanding the court system, the roles of judges, lawyers and lay people within the UK legal system, and the law making processes
3. demonstrate an understanding of key political concepts and how these have developed over time
4. analyse and evaluate the relationship between political concepts and political institutions and processes.

Teaching Information

Students will attend 3 hours of study per week. Learning is facilitated in sessions involving a combination of teacher-led input, combined with practical, workshop-style exercises. On-line delivery of materials through Blackboard VLE

Assessment Information

Formative assessment:

• Short answer questions with formative peer and tutor feedback
• Essay (1,500 words) with written formative feedback

Summative assessment:

• Essay (1,500 words) (40%) ILOs 1, 2
• Coursework: 2 essays (1,500 words each) (60%) ILOs 1, 3, 4

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LANG00045).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.