Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3024: Public International Law

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

This module is designed to give you the opportunity to explore the nature and role of international law, to question your assumptions about the nature and character of international law in a global society as shaped by international affairs, and to develop some critical perspectives on international law in particular socio-political and historical contexts. The module aims to introduce you to the necessary theoretical and practical application as well as contextual background of foundations of international law.

Focusing on the development of independent student research skills and critical thinking, the module aims to give you the opportunity to develop these capacities that are particularly valued by employers in international community. The module also aims to draw on the research specialisation of the lecturers by introducing you to the contemporary challenges currently explored in international law. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the range of legal concepts, frameworks and principles governing international law as well as institutions and mechanisms relevant to international law and the ability to explain the relationships between them;
2. Demonstrate awareness and understanding of current developments in international law and practice;
3. Demonstrate a deep understanding of the role of the key actors of international law including States, international organisations and non-state actors;
4. Demonstrate a detailed understanding and where necessary apply the standards and processes for regulating international activities, also in the social, economic, political, historical, philosophical, ethical and cultural contexts.
Discipline-Specific Skills5. Make independent and effective critical judgement about the merits and relevance of particular information and make reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments
6. Communicate technical legal information and argument effectively, concisely and reflectively, orally and in writing, in an appropriate manner and in task-specific ways;
7. Apply knowledge to real and hypothetical situations to a problem or case study.
Personal and Key Skills8. Identify, retrieve and use, independently and efficiently, a range of library-based and electronic resources with minimum guidance
9. Research a legal question independently and demonstrate competence in applying relevant theories selectively and critically in order to formulate and evaluate a response to it
10. Manage time independently and efficiently in preparing for learning activities, to be proactive in developing your own learning, and work independently within a limited time frame to complete a specified task