Criminal Law

University of Reading

Course Description

  • Course Name

    Criminal Law

  • Host University

    University of Reading

  • Location

    Reading, England

  • Area of Study

    Justice Studies, Legal Studies

  • Language Level

    Taught In English

  • Course Level Recommendations

    Lower

    ISA offers course level recommendations in an effort to facilitate the determination of course levels by credential evaluators.We advice each institution to have their own credentials evaluator make the final decision regrading course levels.

    Hours & Credits

  • ECTS Credits

    10
  • Recommended U.S. Semester Credits
    6
  • Recommended U.S. Quarter Units
    8

  • Overview

    Module Provider: School of Law
    Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
    Level:4
    Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
    Pre-requisites:
    Non-modular pre-requisites: restricted to LLB students
    Co-requisites:
    Modules excluded:
    Module version for: 2014/5
    Module Convenor: Prof Paul Almond
    Email: p.j.almond@reading.ac.uk
    Summary module description:
    To introduce the student to the underlying principles of criminal liability.
    Aims:
    This module will address the application of a range of criminal offences and defences. It will provide the student with an appreciation of the development of the criminal law by precedent and statutory interpretation. The module will outline the difficulties of enforcing the law, the need for reform and the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998.
    Assessable learning outcomes:
    By the end of the module, the students will be able to:
    ? demonstrate an awareness of the principles of English criminal law and the main offences and defences;
    ? engage in critical evaluation of the law and comment on proposals for reform;
    ? apply legal principles with appropriate authorities to the solution of problems;
    ? evaluate legal arguments and engage in critical appraisal of criminal law doctrine;
    ? formulate coherent legal arguments and present them clearly in writing.
    Additional outcomes:
    Students will develop their oral communication skills through participation in tutorial discussions. Development of ICT skills will be encouraged through utilisation of electronic resources including databases and the Internet. Independent learning will be encouraged through the use of a self-study topic.
    Outline content:
    ? Sources of criminal law ? common law, statute, ECHR and Human Rights Act 1998
    ? Principles of criminal law ? actus reus, mens rea, causation, voluntariness, mistake, strict liability
    ? Homicide offences ? murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter
    ? Participation ? accessorial liability
    ? Non-fatal offences against the person and sexual offences
    ? Defences ? self-defence, duress, necessity, intoxication, insanity
    ? Inchoate offences ? conspiracy, encouraging or assisting crime, attempt
    ? Offences against property ? theft, fraud offences, burglary and robbery.
    Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
    The module will be taught by a combination of lectures and tutorials. To encourage independent learning, no lectures will be given on one key topic. A handout will be provided as guidance for this exercise and students will be expected to make their own notes. Students will be required to produce two pieces of written work, the SECOND of which will form part of the summative assessment of the module. A written test will be taken by all students in January to provide practice in working under examination conditions. The scripts will be returned with comments, the marks will NOT form part of the module?s summative assessment.
    Contact hours:
    Autumn Spring Summer
    Lectures 20 20 2
    Tutorials 3 5
    Guided independent study 75 75
    Total hours by term 98.00 100.00 2.00
    Total hours for module 200.00
    Summative Assessment Methods:
    Method Percentage
    Written exam 75
    Written assignment including essay 25
    Other information on summative assessment:
    Students will be expected to submit one piece of written work of not more than 5 pages, formatted in accordance with the rules as set out in the School Guide (Programme Assessment) Assessed Work Rules.
    Relative percentage of coursework : 25%.
    Formative assessment methods:
    Penalties for late submission:
    Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy.
    The following penalties will be applied to coursework which is submitted after the deadline for submission:
    ? where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar week after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for the piece of work will be deducted from the mark;
    ? where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar week after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.
    You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.
    (Please refer to the Undergraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guideUG.aspx)
    The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late, in accordance with the University policy.
    where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar week after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for the piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
    where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.
    The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
    You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.
    Length of examination:
    One two-hour examination (three questions to be answered from a choice of questions) in May/June. Students must answer at least one question from each of two sections (Section A ? essays, Section B ? problem questions).
    Requirements for a pass:
    40% overall.
    Reassessment arrangements:
    Resit any failed element. Hence, submit a piece of
    assessed work on a new topic by August/September
    or resit the examination in August/September (format
    as for original examination) or both.
    Last updated: 8 October 2014

Course Disclaimer

Courses and course hours of instruction are subject to change.

Some courses may require additional fees.

Credits earned vary according to the policies of the students' home institutions. According to ISA policy and possible visa requirements, students must maintain full-time enrollment status, as determined by their home institutions, for the duration of the program.

ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits are converted to semester credits/quarter units differently among U.S. universities. Students should confirm the conversion scale used at their home university when determining credit transfer.

Please reference fall and spring course lists as not all courses are taught during both semesters.

Please note that some courses with locals have recommended prerequisite courses. It is the student's responsibility to consult any recommended prerequisites prior to enrolling in their course.

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