Law and Social Science
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
2021 teaching periods
Hawthorn
| Higher Ed. Semester 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: |
Swinburne Online
| Teaching Period 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: |
Aims and objectives
This unit aims to provide students with basic and foundational knowledge regarding law and the social sciences as well as an understanding of the challenges and opportunities relating to the confluence of the two disciplines, including across areas such as jury decision-making, eyewitness testimony and expert evidence.
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the interaction of legal principles with social science principles
2. Describe and evaluate the considerations that influence decision making by judges and jurors
3. Conduct research and use the results of that research to recommend solutions to impaired perception and decision making in the criminal law
4. Discuss the confluence of law and social science and the implications for the legal system
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the interaction of legal principles with social science principles
2. Describe and evaluate the considerations that influence decision making by judges and jurors
3. Conduct research and use the results of that research to recommend solutions to impaired perception and decision making in the criminal law
4. Discuss the confluence of law and social science and the implications for the legal system
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
Scheduled hours: Lectures ( 12 x 2 hrs), Tutorials (12 x 1 hrs) - 36 hours
Student workload:
For all teaching and learning structures (both face to face and online), students are expected to spend an average of 150 hours per unit in total over the duration of the study period
This includes all:
• Scheduled teaching and learning events and activities (contact hours timetabled in a face-to-face teaching space) and scheduled online learning events (contact hours scheduled in an online teaching space), and
To be successful, students should:
• Read all prescribed materials and/or view videos in preparation for each class
• Attend and engage in all scheduled classes (face to face or online)
• Start assessment tasks well ahead of the due date, and submit assessments promptly
• Read / listen to all feedback carefully, and consider it for future assessment
• Engage with fellow students and teaching staff (don’t hesitate to ask questions)
Student workload:
For all teaching and learning structures (both face to face and online), students are expected to spend an average of 150 hours per unit in total over the duration of the study period
This includes all:
• Scheduled teaching and learning events and activities (contact hours timetabled in a face-to-face teaching space) and scheduled online learning events (contact hours scheduled in an online teaching space), and
• Non-scheduled learning events and activities (including directed online learning activities, assessments, independent study, student group meetings, and research)
• Read all prescribed materials and/or view videos in preparation for each class
• Attend and engage in all scheduled classes (face to face or online)
• Start assessment tasks well ahead of the due date, and submit assessments promptly
• Read / listen to all feedback carefully, and consider it for future assessment
• Engage with fellow students and teaching staff (don’t hesitate to ask questions)
Assessment
Portfolio; Tests, Assignments, Presentations (Individual) 40-50%
Final Examination (Individual) 50-60%
General skills outcomes
• Problem solving skills
• Analysis skills
• Communication skills
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• Ability to work independently
Content
• Understanding crime from a social science perspective
• Understanding crime from a legal perspective
• The considerations that influence decision making by judges and jurors
• The considerations that influence decision making by police and enforcement agencies
• The considerations that influence decision making by correctional agencies
• Integrating law and social sciences to impact criminal activity
• Integrating law and social sciences to improve offender rehabilitation
• Understanding crime from a legal perspective
• The considerations that influence decision making by judges and jurors
• The considerations that influence decision making by police and enforcement agencies
• The considerations that influence decision making by correctional agencies
• Integrating law and social sciences to impact criminal activity
• Integrating law and social sciences to improve offender rehabilitation
Study resources
- Recommended reading.
Recommended reading
Students are advised to check the unit outline in the relevant teaching period for appropriate textbooks and further reading.