20 Credit Modules

Module title:	Criminal Law
SCQF level:	07:
SCQF credit value:	20.00
ECTS credit value:	10
Module code:	LAW07108
Module leader:	MR DUNCAN SPIERS
School	Accounting Financial Services and Law
Subject area group:	Law

Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

Timetables

Click here to view the trimester 1 teaching timetable

Click here to view the trimester 3 teaching timetable

2013/4, Trimester 1, Face-to-Face, Napier University

Occurrence:	001
Primary mode of delivery:	Face-to-Face
Location of delivery:	NAPIER
Member of staff responsible for delivering module:	MR DUNCAN SPIERS
Module Organiser:

Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:

Lectures are employed to provide a knowledge base for students. Tutorials will include pre-set topics for general discussion, problem-based learning and exercises for students individually and in groups. The coursework will enable students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the principles underlying criminal liability. The examination will test their knowledge and comprehension of the principles and substantive crimes (LOs 1-6) .
Key employability skills/ PDP/ scholarship skills: these are embedded and assessed. As regards research and information retrieval, students are expected to research using a variety of legal resources a selected problematic area of law within the range of topics in the module and to come to a balanced and informed view of that area; as regards communication, written communication skills, promoting accuracy of expression and the importance of drafting, are assessed in both coursework and examination. This will be of paramount importance to later practice within the legal profession (LO 5,6).
Assessment (formative and summative): formative assessment occurs from time to time, throughout the module, where written answers to selected problem questions may be handed in and marked in order to provide feedback to students on their progress. Summative assessment occurs generally in week 8 with a written assignment. There is also a final examination (LO 1-6).
Research/ teaching linkages: students are expected to keep abreast of recent developments and current literature in the law, to refer to it in their work and to discuss it in tutorials. Detailed feedback on formative assessments in particular will develop research skills and skills of analysis (LO1-6).
Supporting equality and diversity: materials are provided in hard and soft (WebCT) formats, to ensure they are available to all students (LO 1-6).
LOs 1-5 Internationalisation: while essentially this is a module on Scots criminal law, cross border aspects of Scots criminal law are considered (LO4).

Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activity	Learning & Teaching Activity	NESH (Study Hours)
FACE TO FACE	Lecture	24
FACE TO FACE	Tutorial / Seminar / Class Groupwork	12
Independent Learning	Individual Learning Activities	162
	Formal Exam	2
	Total Study Hours	200
	Expected Total Study Hours for Module	200

Assessment
Type of Assessment	Weighting %	LOs covered	Week due	Length in Hours/Words
Practical Assessment	50	1 - 6	8	HOURS= WORDS= 2000
Centrally Time Tabled Examination	50	1 - 6	15	HOURS= 2 WORDS=
Component 1 subtotal:	50
Component 2 subtotal:	50
Module subtotal:	100

What you will learn and what this module is about:

This module concerns the theoretical and practical application of criminal law in Scotland. You will study the concept and essential elements of crime, before going on to consider specific individual crimes. Crimes ranging from offences against the person, crimes of dishonesty and crimes against property will be considered, along with defences which may arise. Cross border issues in criminal law will also be considered.

Description of module content:

Sources of criminal law, classification of crimes, principles of actus reus and mens rea; strict liability, inchoate crimes; defences, crimes of dishonesty; crimes against the person; crimes against property and public order; cross border aspects of criminal law

Learning Outcomes for module:

LO1: Identify the sources of the criminal law of Scotland
LO2: Describe and apply the concepts of actus reus and mens rea
LO3: Identify the essential features of a range of substantive crimes.
LO4: Identify cross border aspects of criminal law
LO5: Retrieve up to date information from standard legal information sources
LO6: Develop problem-solving skills and apply relevant legal knowledge in proposing a solution.

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:

(Most recent editions)
T1: Gordon, Criminal Law (W Green)
T2:Jones & Christie, Criminal Law (W Green)
T3: Gane & Stoddart, Casebook on Scottish Criminal Law (W Green)

Click here to view this module's reading list.

Related information

Modules