| Unit name | Criminal Law |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWD10014 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Jennifer Collins |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The criminal law is a powerful and coercive tool. The consequences of an individual infringing the criminal law may lead to imprisonment or a fine. This unit enables you to understand what sorts of actions may attract criminal prohibition and censure, and to consider key principles which may guide development of the criminal law. The unit is concerned with substantive criminal law (as opposed to rules relating to criminal procedure) of England and Wales. It introduces you to general principles of criminal liability alongside study of a range of offences (such as murder, manslaughter, theft, fraud and offences against the person).
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This is a core area of legal knowledge that builds foundations in understanding legal principles and doctrine, including in how courts and other relevant bodies make, develop, enforce, and interpret the law. Within this unit you will be able to engage with the views of others, working collaboratively with your peers and responding constructively to your tutors.
An overview of content
This unit enables you to understand what sorts of actions may attract criminal prohibition and censure and to consider key principles which may guide development of the criminal law. The unit is concerned with substantive criminal law (as opposed to rules relating to criminal procedure) of England and Wales. It introduces you to general principles of criminal liability alongside study of a range of offences (such as murder, manslaughter, theft, fraud and offences against the person).
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
You will be able to develop cogent, persuasive, and well-structured arguments in written form. You will also develop problem-solving skills, applying your knowledge of the law to hypothetical examples. Through engaging with this unit, you be able to work more independently, as well as growing in intellectual curiosity in trying out new arguments and ideas. You will be able to bring your study of criminal law to your engagement with current affairs, enabling you to speak intelligently to issues of importance in society.
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
The unit consists of a weekly mix of tutorials, large group sessions, lectures and guided independent activities. These activities combine teacher delivery to students, asynchronous activities such as recorded talks and other teaching materials, student discussion, student group work and student independent activities including structured reading, engaging with audio-visual resources and reflective tasks on primary and secondary source materials.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative assessment is built into every aspect of this unit. Large group sessions and tutorials will provide opportunities for interactive learning towards the unit’s learning outcomes. A formal formative assessment will be set midway through the unit. This includes choice in answering a problem or an essay question (1,000 words maximum), which are linked up with the unit’s summative assessment. Individual written feedback and cohort-wide feedback, usually in the form of a lecture, will be provided.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Summative assessment with be through Timed Assessment (3,000 words maximum; 100%). This Timed Assessment will include one compulsory problem question (1,500 words) and a choice of two essays questions from which students must answer one question (1,500 words). This assessment covers all intended learning outcomes for this unit.
When assessment does not go to plan:
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, the unit will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessment required for credit in the usual way.
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. LAWD10014).
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 University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
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. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
