LWMTPU-Public International Law

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2016/7

Email: J.A.Green@reading.ac.uk

Summary module description:
Public International Law teaches the basics of international law succinctly, but to an advanced level. The module is designed to provide a starting point for students entering the LLM programme who do not already have a background in international law. The module covers the key features of the international legal system, such as the nature of the international law, treaties and other sources of international law, the subjects of the international legal system, the nature of statehood and state sovereignty, the acquisition of territory and the question of international criminal jurisdiction.

Aims:
The module aims to expose students to the core ‘building blocks’ of international law through a combination of lectures and small group tutorials. It aims to provide both a descriptive account of international law as well as offering scope for high-level analysis and critique of the key features of the system. The module provides a starting point to give students core knowledge applicable to more specialised optional taught postgraduate modules in international law.

Assessable learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students will be expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate a substantive knowledge of international law gained through lectures and tutorials.
• Debate the relative merits of legal claims made by states and other international legal actors.
• Demonstrate an ability to set the substantive law content of the module within a wider context, both legal and non-legal.

Additional outcomes:
Those skills listed in the School's ‘Core Skills Statement’.

Outline content:
The module will cover topics such as:
• The Nature of International Law
• The Subjects of International Law
• The Sources of International Law
• The Law of Treaties
• Territory
• Adjudicative criminal jurisdiction in International Law
• The Nature of Statehood and State Sovereignty
• Theories of International Law

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Teaching in this module is designed to provide students with a range of resources on which they can draw in their learning. The main elements are:

• A programme of lectures (totalling 9 hours). These lectures are also taken by undergraduate students as part of the LW3IL module.
• Three targeted hour-long small group tutorials..

Where there are Faculty seminars relevant to the area, students will be encouraged to attend and will be given the opportunity to discuss any issues relevant to this module with visiting academic presenters.

Other information on summative assessment:
An assessed essay of 8 pages (formatted in accordance with the School of Law’s Assessed Work Rules).

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Length of examination:

Requirements for a pass:
50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
See School of Law PGT Programme Handbook

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 21 December 2016