Legal Philosophy - Master
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters Spring
- Course code
- JUS3512
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
- Reading list
Course description
Objectives and Content
The course gives an introduction to international legal philosophy. The course provides advanced knowledge about selected perspectives in legal philosophy on the character and objectives of law as a functioning element of a modern democratic society founded on the rule of law. It also gives thorough insight into select debates concerning the character and role of legal argumentation.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
After successful completion of this course, students will have:
- advanced knowledge of key debates in legal philosophy generally, and specialized insight into debate about the rule of law,
- thorough knowledge about critical perspectives on law and about debates concerning reason-giving for legal argumentation,
- knowledge about methodology debates in legal philosophy.
Skills and general competence
Students will also have developed certain skills and general competence, including:
- the ability to analyse, distinguish clearly, and discuss critically, central positions in and texts about legal philosophy, and to use such sources to present arguments in the course,
- the ability to compare and evaluate differences between central positions and texts in international discourse of legal philosophy,
- the ability to identify, discuss, and thoroughly substantiate opinions, about the character and role of legal argumentation in a modern democratic society based on the rule of law,
- the ability to apply their knowledge and skills when thinking about new problems in legal philosophy,
- And beeing able to use such competence and skills both orally and in writing.
ECTS Credits
10 ECTS
Level of Study
Master level
Semester of Instruction
Spring
Place of Instruction
Faculty of Law, University of Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
Three years of law studies
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Good level of English language
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Combined with Legal Philosophy JUS273-2-A or JUS2312 Legal Philosophy this course will generate no new credits.
The course combines well with any of the elective courses offered at the Faculty of Law, but in particular with:
Access to the Course
The course is available for students:
- admitted to the five-year master programme in law
- admitted to the two-year master programme in law
- granted admission to elective courses at the Faculty of Law
- granted additional right to study following completed Master in Law degree at UiB
- exchange students at the Faculty of Law
The pre-requirements may still limit certain students' access to the course
Teaching and learning methods
Discussion-based lectures/seminars.
Essay to prepare for the exam
Essay workshop
Short feedback on the essay
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Participation in both master classes.
Holding a student presentation as part of a master class.
Forms of Assessment
4-hour digital school exam
Grading Scale
A-E for passed, F for fail
Assessment Semester
Spring
Reading List
The reading list will be ready 1 December for the spring semester.
Course Evaluation
According to the administrative arrangements for course evaluation at the Faculty of Law
Examination Support Material
Hjelpemidler til eksamen
Support materials allowed during school exam
See section 3-8 of the Supplementary Regulations for Studies at the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen.
Special regulations about dictionaries
- According to the Regulations for Studies, one dictionary is permitted support material during the examination. Bilingual dictionaries containing for example both Norwegian-English and English-Norwegian are considered as one dictionary.
- Bilingual dictionaries to/from the same two languages - for example Norwegian-English/English-Norwegian - in two different volumes are also considered as one dictionary (irrespective of publisher or edition).
- Dictionaries as described above cannot be combined with any other types of dictionaries.
- Any kind of combination which makes up more than two physical volumes is forbidden.
- In case a student has a special need for any other combination than the above mentioned, such combination has to be clarified with/approved by the course coordinator minimum two weeks before the exam. Students who have not been granted permission to have a special combination minimum two weeks before the exam will be subject to the usual regulations (Section 3-5) about examination support materials.
Programme Committee
The Academic Affairs Committee (Studieutvalget) at the Faculty of Law is responsible for ensuring the material content, structure and quality of the course.
Course Coordinator
Professor Synne Sæther Mæhle and Assistant Professor Martin Mindestrømmen.
Course Administrator
The Faculty of Law’s section for students and academic affairs (Studieseksjonen) is responsible for administering the programme.