LLM Legal and Political Theory Programme Specification 2023-24

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2023-24
3	Revised August 2023
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6	Programme Title			LLM Legal and Political Theory
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8	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			September 2023		Award type			LLM
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10	What level is this qualification?			7		Length of programme			1 year
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12	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full Time
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14	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes		For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			Yes
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16	Awarding institution			University of York		Board of Studies for the programme			Law Graduate School Board
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18	Lead department			Law		Other contributing departments			Philosophy Politics SPSW CWS
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20	Language of study and assessment			English		Language(s) of assessment			English
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22	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus
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24	Partner organisations
25	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
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29	Reference points
30	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
31	The modular design of this programme meets the Framework for PGT programmes as set out in the Unversity's Framesworks for Programme Design. The the latest (Nov 2019) QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Law https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/subject-benchmark-statements/subject-benchmark-statement-law.pdf?sfvrsn=b939c881_18 is currently under QAA review and consultation. As with the current version, the latest draft QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Law only deals with undegraduate law degrees(https://www.qaa.ac.uk//en/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/consultation-on-revised-subject-benchmark-statements). However the draft guidance on: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Accessibility; Sustainability; and Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Education have been considered in the design of this programme. The programme is compliant with the QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks.
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34	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
35	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
36	No.
37	No.
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39	Exceptions to Regulations
40	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
41	None.
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44	Internal Transfers
45	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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47		Transfers in:	Yes.			Transfers out:	Yes.
48			Yes.				Yes.
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50	Statement of Purpose
51	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
52	Political theory concerns the questions of “who gets what and who says?”. In modern pluralistic societies an additional question arises: how can we live together peacefully in circumstances in which we disagree about how best to live (for example, with respect to religion, sexuality, abortion, and so on)? These issues are both political and legal. States, and increasingly the international domain, regulate citizens’ lives through law. The purpose of the LLM in Legal and Political Theory is to provide you with the opportunity to study the core issues and approaches of political and legal theory and to consider the relations between them. The study of legal and political theory is both a matter of abstract and applied theory. You will have the opportunity to engage in both through a range of Core and Option modules, including opportunities to specialise in current controversial areas of law such as counter-terrorism and migration and asylum. By doing this, you will further develop your analytical skills and expand your understanding of controversial legal and political questions. This subject area is important for arts and humanities, and social science, students who wish to understand better the normative foundations of legal and political arrangements. Those who undertake the LLM will have an excellent grounding, both in terms of knowledge and skills, for further research and for any career in which theoretical analysis and applied thinking are key (these careers run from business and consultancy, to the civil service, to the third sector). You will engage in a variety of learning activities including lectures, seminars, and a supervised dissertation on a topic inspired by one or more of your chosen modules. This will allow you to develop further your research and project planning and implementation skills.
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63	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
64	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?			Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
65	PG Diploma in Legal and Political Theory			Exit award only.	Demonstrate those skills and knowledge set out in PLOs 1 to 6 below. These students will have covered a significant amount of PLO7 in that they will have developed skills in using computer databases and search strategies during their other modules and will have engaged in critical evaluation of normative research questions and determination of research methodologies which can be used to successfully address such questions. However, in not taking the Dissertation Module, they will not satisfy fully PLO7. Students exiting with the Postgraduate Diploma will have completed 120 credits. They will not apply the skills and knowledge developed on the Research Skills for Dissertation Writing module to a selected problem, and plan, project manage and implement a substantial project with minimal guidance. Accordingly, those students would have progressed to meeting PLOs 1 to 6 but not the entirety of PLO 7. Students exiting with the Postgraduate Diploma will have completed 120 credits.			120 credits of non-dissertation modules offered on the LLM Legal and Political Theory.
66	PG Cert in Legal and Political Theory			Exit award only.	Demonstrate to an extent those skills and knowledge set out in PLOs 1 to 6 below. These students will have covered a certain amount of PLO7 in that they will have developed skills in using computer databases and search strategies and engaged in a certain amount critical evaluation of normative research questions. However in being unable to satisfactorily complete all taught modules they will have been unable to achieve PLO 7 in full. Students exiting with the Postgraduate Certificate will have completed 60 credits which must include Foundational Issues in Legal Theory, Advanced Topics in Political Philosophy and one 20 credit option module.			60 credits of non-dissertation modules offered on the LLM Legal and Political Theory.
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68	Programme Learning Outcomes
69	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
70	1	Critically evaluate the central questions of legal and political theory and the works of the great legal and political theorists both past and present who have examined these questions.
71	2	Discuss and critically evaluate the fundamental principles and theories of common, civil and international law systems and apply a comprehensive understanding of the operation of such principles to the analysis of legal and commercial problems.
72	3	Apply and adapt problem-solving skills working efficiently and effectively to develop effective solutions to diverse, complex and integrated legal, practical or societal problems.
73	4	Influence debate in chosen areas of specialisation and interest by developing well-reasoned, critical and creative arguments, theories and solutions to broader legal issues within society, supported by researched evidence, with the capacity to draw on these to produce original responses.
74	5	Evaluate propositions and solve complex problems by reflexively drawing upon and applying a broad awareness of perspectives and interests in their work, capable of taking into account key considerations (such as: ethical, social, political, professional, commercial, financial, business, international, policy, human rights, ethnic, gender and client interest considerations).
75	6	Record, reflect on, and evaluate the strengths, weaknesses and progress in their own personal learning and professional development.
76	7	Develop legal research skills including: the use of computer databases and search strategies; critical evaluation of normative research questions, determine research methodologies which can be used to successfully address such questions, apply the skills and knowledge developed on the programme to a selected problem, and plan, project manage and implement a substantial project with minimal guidance.
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78	Diverse entry routes
79	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
80	All students on this programme will in the first semester take a Core module (Legal Systems & Research Methods) in which they will examine the main sources of the law, be those sources the common law, international law or civilian (civil code derived) systems. Students coming from civilian legal systems (predominanently non-Commonwealth nations) will be introduced to the origin, principles and working of the common law, whereas those trained in common-law jurisdictions (predominanently Commonwealth nations, the United States and Rebublic of Ireland) will be introduced to the origin, principles and working of systems which use a codified system. All students will be introduced to the sources and workings of international legal systems. The similarities and contrasts between these systems will compared and contrasted. In this way students from diverse entry routes (particularly international students) will be given a foundation upon which the other modules will build. Within this training students are given guidance as to team work, problem analysis and information handling. Students are given guidance as to how to arrive at problem-specific learning outcomes and how to find answers to these LO's through research using the library and on-line resources. Within first semester modules students are given an opportunity to further practice their PBL analyis and independent research skills and develop their academic reading and writing. Students with English as a second language may access sessions run by the Writing Centre to develop their skills in academic English. During the Core Legal Systems & Research Methods module students will focus on on how one should approach answering a substantial normative legal question. This will be further developed during the Semester two modules (whether PBL- or seminar- focussed) which will enable students to practice and deepen their analytical and independent research skills. The independent study module serves to further embed these skills and allows students to gain further confidence in their academic voice.
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89	Inclusion
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91	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.
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93	Employability
94	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
95	Experience and data suggest that employers value analytical reasoning skills and the capacity for independent thinking. The programme will support and enhance the development of these, and other, skills.
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99	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
100	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?