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Legal Studies Minor
間眅埶AV Requirements
The school limits upper division admission to its minor program. Students are eligible to apply for entry to the minor program after successful completion of 60 units including CRIM 101, 131 and 135. Students should make application to the school immediately after they have completed the above requirements.
Appeal Procedure
Applicants denied admission to a criminology minor program may appeal in writing to the school’s director. If that appeal results in a negative decision, a written appeal to the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences may be submitted. Appeals will be granted only in very exceptional circumstances.
Enrolment Priority
Enrolment priority for limited enrolment upper division seminar courses in the school will be established on the basis of cumulative GPA.
Transfer Students
Students transferring to 間眅埶AV from a two-year college that has articulated the first 60 units of study in criminology with the School of Criminology will be considered on the basis of their college cumulative GPA (recalculated on the basis of grades received in courses transferable to the University), as well as other relevant materials.
Continuation in Minor
To continue in the minor program, students must maintain a 2.25 CGPA. Students whose CGPA falls below 2.25 cannot enrol in any upper division CRIM courses including those offered through distance education. When it is restored to 2.25, students will be readmitted after review and approval of the director of undergraduate program.
Lower Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum of nine lower division units including both
A general introduction to the fundamental and competing principles of jurisprudence and to the basic legal institutions of Canada. Prepares students for those law and law related courses offered within the School of Criminology and will consider the history of Canadian law, the development of the Canadian constitution, the system of Canadian courts and the roles and responsibilities of members of the legal profession. In addition, the course will consider the nature of legal reasoning, the doctrine of precedent, principles of statutory interpretation and will also introduce the fields of contract, torts, administrative law, and family law. Also examines the process of law reform in Canada. Breadth-Social Sciences.
The development of laws and their application to the citizen and social groups. Special consideration will be given to civil liberties. Breadth-Social Sciences.
and at least one of
An analysis of the definition and control of youthful misconduct in an historical and contemporary context. Attention is focused upon: the social construction of 'juvenile delinquency', the decline of the concept, and the emergence of the concept of the 'young offender'; the Young Offenders Act and related legislation; the growth of the welfare state and the role of social workers in 'policing' youth and families; explanations for the criminal behavior of young persons; state and private sector programs designed to deal with such behavior. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and CRIM 131.
Nature, purpose, scope, sources and basic principles of the criminal law. Study of certain fundamental legal concepts such as mens rea, negligence and strict liability. Analysis of the concept of criminal responsibility in Canada. Critical examination of the legislative policies expressed in the Criminal Code. Study of the basic elements of a criminal offence. Examination of the legal principles relating to certain specific crimes and to certain major defences. Impact of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the criminal law. Prerequisite: CRIM 135.
A critical examination and evaluation of the judicial process. An introduction to the criminal courts and the legal profession. The structure and functions of the criminal court system and its relationship to other branches of government. The role of the criminal court judge, prosecutor, lawyer, jury, witness, expert, etc. Appointment, tenure, removal of judges; the social psychology of the courts; the jury system; plea bargaining; judicial behavior of the courts; the courts and the community; public opinion, attitudes and images of the courts; the mass media and the courts. Prerequisite: CRIM 131. Recommended: CRIM 135.
PHIL 120 is strongly recommended.
Upper Division Requirements
Note that same upper division course may not be used for formal credit in both the criminology major and the legal studies minor.
Students complete one of
Introduction to the theory of sociology of law. Law and social structure. Law as a product of a social system and as an instrument of social change. Social functions of the law. Relationship between law and the structure and function of various other social institutions. The process of law-making. Process by which various interests become translated into legal rules. The social reality of the law; the law in action. Social sciences findings into the operation and practice of the law. Critical and feminist perspectives on law. Public knowledge, awareness, opinions and attitudes to the law, sanctions and the criminal justice system. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and 135.
Introduction to the philosophy of law. Concepts of law, constitution and sovereignty. The nature and sources of the law. Examination of natural law, legal positivism, Kelsen's pure theory of law, legal realism, modern normative and analytical theories, critical legal theory and feminist theory. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and 135.
Students must select additional courses totalling at least 15 units from the upper division courses listed from those listed below. Students must be careful to ensure they have necessary lower division prerequisites.
Note: Students who have completed both CRIM 332 and 338 need only complete 12 units from the list below.
Criminology majors who wish to complete this minor must complete six of the upper division units in a discipline outside of their major.
An in depth examination of the application of economic reasoning to the law. The course considers how legal relationships influence behavior and how economic models can explain the structure of the law. A selected number of topics will be covered, and may include the economic approach to common law; property rights; contracts; torts; criminal behavior; family law; and corporate bankruptcy law. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or 301, and BUEC 333 or ECON 302. Students with credit for BUEC 427 or BUEC 495 cannot take this course for further credit. Writing.
Common law, equity, and statute law; contracts, agency, and negotiable instruments; partnership and corporation law; international commercial law. Prerequisite: 60 units. BUEC 391 is not to be taken concurrently with BUS 393. Students with credit for COMM 393 may not take this course for further credit.
Examines some of the more complex contemporary issues relating to young offenders and justice. For any given term, the content of the course will reflect current controversies as well as faculty and student interests. Topics may include social control theory and juvenile justice; an assessment of theories of rehabilitation; the legal philosophy of the young offenders legislation and its Impact on juvenile justice; and an evaluation of diversion, deinstitutionalization and de-legalization in Canada and the United States. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and CRIM 210.
Critical examination of the impact of psychiatry and related clinical professions on the criminal justice system. Relationship between institutions of mental health and legal control. The relevance of psychiatric theory and decision-making for the processing of mentally disordered offenders. The role of forensic clinicians in the courts, prisons, mental hospitals and related agencies. Specific issues addressed in this course will include psychiatric assessment, criminal responsibility, fitness to stand trial, prediction of dangerousness, treatment of mentally ill criminals and the penal and therapeutic commitment of the insane. Prerequisite: CRIM 101. Recommended: CRIM 131.
The course will contrast restorative justice with the dominant adversarial/retributive/punitive model of justice through a critical analysis of these two paradigms of justice. Several key principles, assumptions, and concepts necessary for understanding the foundation and practice of restorative justice will be introduced and explored. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Examines the history of prostitution; research on sex sellers, sex buyers, and managers; theories of prostitution; models of prostitution law; the history of prostitution law and its enforcement; the findings and recommendations of various Committees, Commissions and Task Forces examining prostitution in Canada. Prerequisite: CRIM 101. Students with credit for CRIM 313 (Specific Types of Crime) prior to Summer 2007 may not take this course for further credit.
Critical examination of selected topics in criminal procedure and evidence, including jurisdiction, police powers of search and seizure, the right to counsel and pre-trial and trial procedures. Brief survey of the system of rules and standards by means of which the admissibility of evidence is determined. Close examination of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its impact on criminal procedure and evidence. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and 230.
An extension of CRIM 230, this course will examine Canadian criminal law in greater depth as well as in comparison with other jurisdictions. Each term several substantive areas will be analysed closely. The areas to be examined will be determined by student interest but may include sexual offences, public order offences, mental disorder and the criminal process, property offences, etc. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and 230.
Provides an in-depth consideration of feminist perspectives on the relationship of women to the state and the law. The nature of the contribution of criminal and family law to the reproduction of gender relations will be analyzed. The implications of legal intervention and non-intervention in family relations, sex-specific and sex-related legislation will be examined. Theoretical concepts and issues such as patriarchal relations, sexuality and reproduction, and formal and informal control will be addressed. Prerequisite: CRIM 101; 135. Recommended: CRIM 213.
A study of the relationship between the government and the individual. Focus upon the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its interpretation by the judiciary. Examination of the issues of equality before the law, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of expression. A study of human rights at the international, federal and provincial levels. Prerequisite: CRIM 330.
An examination and analysis of the nature, scope and impact of corporate crime, the principal organizational, social, political and economic factors involved in the definition and commission of such crime, and the ways in which governments and organizations respond to the problem. Particular types of corporate crime will be used as vehicles for exploring the legal and administrative framework that defines and regulates corporate wrongdoing. Prerequisite: CRIM 101; 135. Recommended: CNS 280 or ECON 101.
A critical analysis of certain 'hot' issues in criminology and criminal justice. The topics covered change from term to term. Prerequisite: CRIM 101.
A critical analysis of certain 'hot' issues in criminology and criminal justice. The topics covered change from term to term. Prerequisite: CRIM 101.
A critical analysis of certain 'hot' issues in criminology and criminal justice. The topics covered change from term to term. Prerequisite: CRIM 101.
The gendered nature of law will be addressed through an examination of its underlying factual assumptions, and the use of social science research as evidence in equality litigation. The use of the charter, human rights legislation, and other legal means to achieve gender equality through the legal system in the areas of work, employment and pay equity, and compensatory schemes for personal injuries will also be examined. This course will also examine women's struggles to gain admittance to the legal profession, and the barriers which may still prevent them from participating equally in the profession today. Prerequisite: CRIM 330.
A detailed examination and analysis of particular types of corporate wrongdoing and the nature and impact of the relevant legal and administrative framework. The topics will be selected by the particular course instructor and will, therefore, vary according to the instructor's interests as well as topicality. The areas of corporate crime which are chosen may include one or more of the following: 'economic crimes' such as violations of statutes which regulate competition, protect intellectual property, and safeguard stock market investors; crimes against the environment such as air and water pollution; and, crimes against consumers including the marketing of hazardous products, contaminated food, or dangerous drugs and devices. Prerequisite: CRIM 101. Recommended: CRIM 336.
Examines the use of self regulation by professional organizations (e.g. law societies, colleges of physicians and surgeons, stock exchanges) and the increasing demand by other occupational groups and social and economic entities to be governed by these internal controls in addition to, or in lieu of, the criminal and other state law. It will specifically examine how the criminal law is used in the context of self-regulation and how professionals can bypass the criminal law through self-regulating organizations. The professions will be examined in the context of administrative, civil and criminal law. Implications for self regulation in other areas and the future of self-regulation will also be considered. Prerequisite: CRIM 330.
Designed to provide education students, teachers, counsellors and school administrators with a comprehensive understanding of the legal issues and potential legal liabilities encountered in the BC public school system. Special attention is devoted to the legal dimensions and consequences of routine classroom and administrative activity. Topics include: sexual abuse by school board employees; negligence and supervision; private lifestyles and community standards; discipline and corporal punishment; sexual harassment in the workplace; responsibility for curriculum fulfillment; liability outside school hours; and the AIDS controversy. Prerequisite: 60 units.
Provides a fundamental knowledge of law to teach law-related content in the BC curriculum: social studies, science, personal planning, language arts, P.E., social responsibility, and business. Topics: Canadian legal system, legal history, legal reasoning, dispute resolution strategies, the role of the courts, and family, environmental, property and contract laws. Prerequisite: 60 units.
The justification and practise of law-related education in the K-12 curriculum are the subjects of this methodology course. Students will examine the place of law in the curriculum, existing resources and appropriate teaching strategies and will have the opportunity to develop unit plans and curriculum materials. Emphasis is on developing and implementing law-related programs in the classroom. Prerequisite: 60 units including six in education courses. Teaching experience is recommended.
Traces the development of legal doctrine pertaining to Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the United States, including its shared roots in British colonial law and policy. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Students with credit for FNST 443, or HIST 485 or 486 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
Traces the development of legal doctrine pertaining to Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the United States, including its shared roots in British colonial law and policy. Prerequisite: 45 units including FNST 101, 201 and one other FNST course; or permission of the instructor. Students with credit for HIST 443, or HIST 485 or 486 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
An examination of an issue or selection of issues in social and political philosophy. Contemporary or historical readings or a mixture of these will be used. Possible topics include: justice, the law and legal systems, sovereignty, power and authority, democracy, liberty and equality. Sometimes the course will focus on the views of historically important political philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Bentham, Mill and Marx. Prerequisite: one of PHIL 120W, 220, or ENV 320.
An advanced investigation of central issues and theories in moral philosophy. In any given term, the course may focus on a general theory or concept or concern, for example meta-ethics, utilitarianism, or theories of rights. Sometimes it will focus on a particular problem or problems, such as medical ethics, moral personhood, or free will and moral responsibility. Prerequisite: one of PHIL 120W, 220, or ENV 320.
An analysis of the Canadian constitution from a theoretical and comparative perspective. Amendment, entrenchment, civil rights. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Sovereignty, nationality, jurisdiction, arbitration. Examination of selected cases exemplifying present trends in the international legal order. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
An examination of the structures and processes and the main substantive decisions of the United Nations and related international organizations. Based upon in-depth study of the UN Charter, the Security Council, General Assembly, Secretary-general and Secretariat and their constitutional and political interactions since 1945, with special attention to the theory and practice of international organization advanced by the principal Western countries, the Soviet Union and Soviet bloc, the People's Republic of China and leading Third World countries. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
This course introduces students to the problems involved in the assertion of universal moral standards across political and cultural divides. These issues will be explored at a theoretical level, and in the context of specific human rights controversies. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department. Recommended: PHIL 220 or 320.
Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
The roles of experimental developmental, cognitive, and social psychology in the understanding of behavior and perceptions of individuals in legal contexts. Topics include eyewitness testimony, autobiographical memory, interviewing, deception detection, and juror decision-making. Prerequisite: PSYC 201W and PSYC 268. Recommended: PSYC 210. Students who have taken PSYC 368 may not take this course for further credit.
Clinical approaches to the understanding of behavior in criminal and civil forensic settings. Topics related to the assessment, treatment, and management of people suffering from mental disorder. Prerequisite: PSYC 201 and 268. PSYC 241 is recommended.
Prerequisite: PSYC 201, 210, 268, 376, 60 units, and a CGPA of 3.0. Students with credit for PSYC 468 may not take this course for further credit.
Prerequisite: PSYC 201, 210, 268, 379, 60 units, and a CGPA of 3.0. Students with credit for PSYC 468 may not complete this course for further credit.
A specific topic within the field of women's studies, not otherwise covered in depth in regularly scheduled courses, will be dealt with as occasion and demand warrant. Prerequisite: 45 units, including six units in GSWS.
Check with the school for additional relevant courses.
* when offered as a legal topic
** when offered as the topic Women and the Law
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