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LX401H: ABORTION LAW HONOURS (2022-2023)

Last modified: 01 Nov 2022 14:11


Course Overview

The course examines abortion law in Scotland, the wider UK, Europe, countries beyond Europe, and international law. It is non-partisan and welcomes students of all viewpoints. Topics will be chosen annually to reflect current legal debates but might include: concepts of ‘rights’ to abortion; roles of fathers; factors which affect access to legal abortion, including poverty and race; regulation of the medical profession; or case-studies on legal systems where abortion law has become topical.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Prof Adelyn Wilson

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4
  • Legal Studies (Ma Honours) (LX)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Course content

This course does not explore the morality or desirability of legal abortion and is entirely non-partisan in this regard. The course examines abortion law, a specialism that draws especially on public law, international public law, criminal law, medical law, jurisprudence, human rights, ethics, and religion and law. The course will examine abortion law in Scotland, the wider UK, Europe, countries beyond Europe, and in international law (e.g. ECHR, the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women).

Topics will be offered annually to reflect current legal debates but might include: concepts of ‘rights’ with respect to abortion; roles of fathers; factors which affect access to legal abortion; regulation of the medical profession; or case-studies on legal systems where abortion law has become contentious or subject to change.  

Course aims

  1. To introduce students to a highly volatile and emotive area of law internationally, and allow them to come to an informed view on a range of relevant legal questions;
  2. To give students the opportunity to explore a single legal topic in the Scottish, wider UK, European and global contexts and understand the interconnectedness of these (e.g. the operation of international law in the national context, the rhetorical power of one nation’s legal reforms in the international context);
  3. To allow students to explore the interconnectedness of legal sub-disciplines (especially public law, international public law, criminal law, medical law, jurisprudence, human rights, ethics, religion and law) and the impact of that interconnectedness on a narrow area of law;
  4. Build students’ transferable and legal skills as well as their sense of responsible citizenship and other graduate attributes.  

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 17 Feedback Weeks 20

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback on School form within three weeks of submission.

Word Count 2250
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateKnow and evaluate abortion law in the Scottish, wider UK, European and global contexts, and the interconnectedness of the traditional sub-disciplines of law with respect to abortion law.
ProceduralCreateDevelop and hone key legal and transferable skills, including communication, organisation, problem solving, critical analysis, and argumentation.
ReflectionCreateLearn the important skill of retaining professional objectivity when dealing with highly emotive questions.

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 12 Feedback Weeks 15

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback on School form within three weeks of submission.

Word Count 2250
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateKnow and evaluate abortion law in the Scottish, wider UK, European and global contexts, and the interconnectedness of the traditional sub-disciplines of law with respect to abortion law.
ProceduralCreateDevelop and hone key legal and transferable skills, including communication, organisation, problem solving, critical analysis, and argumentation.
ReflectionCreateLearn the important skill of retaining professional objectivity when dealing with highly emotive questions.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resubmission of failed elements

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Resit Failed Elements in same format if due to extenuating circumstances

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ReflectionCreateLearn the important skill of retaining professional objectivity when dealing with highly emotive questions.
ProceduralCreateDevelop and hone key legal and transferable skills, including communication, organisation, problem solving, critical analysis, and argumentation.
ConceptualEvaluateKnow and evaluate abortion law in the Scottish, wider UK, European and global contexts, and the interconnectedness of the traditional sub-disciplines of law with respect to abortion law.

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