This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module provides students with a solid grounding in law and the humanities, a distinct approach to law that draws upon disciplines like political theory, literature, film studies, history and social theory. The module familiarises students with key questions in the field, provides training in humanities methods in relation to law, and equips students with a clear and rigorous approach to all their present and future academic work. No special knowledge or experience of any particular discipline is required to undertake the module.
Total study hours: 200
Contact hours: 20
Private study hours: 180
All law postgraduate programmes. Available to postgraduate students from other schools at the convenor's discretion.
Main assessment methods
Four posts on the module blog (10%)
Research essay, 4000-5000 words (90%).
Reassessment methods
Reassessment instrument: 100% coursework
Davies, M., 2008. Asking the law question: the dissolution of legal theory. Sydney: Lawbook co.
Douzinas, C. and Gearey, A., 2005. Critical Jurisprudence: the political theory of justice. Oxford: Hart
Sarat, A et al., 2010. Law and the Humanities: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge UP
Thomas, M. and Leiboff, M., 2004. Legal theories; in principle. Lawbook Co.
Thomas, M. and Leiboff, M., Legal theories: Contexts and Practices. Australia: Thomson Reuters.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the specific importance of humanities scholarship and scholarly perspectives to the history,
nature and thought of law.
2. Demonstrate a comprehensive appreciation of the nature and value of humanities research perspectives in the contemporary study of law
and the academy more generally.
3. Critically analyse contemporary understandings of the key parameters of legal scholarship, such as the object of legal scholarship, the end
or purpose of legal scholarship, the notion of a research ethos, the problem of ethics and responsibility, and the nature and status of legal
knowledge.
4. Critically reflect on how humanities research perspectives can inform and shape students' own scholarly engagement with law and legal
inquiry.
5. Develop a research question of contemporary relevance to the law and humanities academy.
6. Synthesise competing theories and critical perspectives relevant to a humanities-based approach to law.
7. Critically evaluate examples of scholarship relevant to a humanities-based approach to law.
8. Participate in an exchange of informed views in a public online forum on topics relevant to the discipline of law and the humanities.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Evaluate and synthesize complex material from across various disciplines (law, philosophy, political theory, history).
2. Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the specificity of textual analysis in humanities methodologies.
3. Make well-constructed and structured arguments.
4. Formulate a viable research question.
5. Deploy critical and self-reflexive modes of thought and analysis.
6. Demonstrate sophisticated independent learning.
7. Undertake independent research on a focused topic.
Stage 1
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