LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCE PRE-MASTERS

Academic English Skills aims to provide thorough training in the language and related academic skills which will enable international students to best achieve their academic potential at university. Our Academic English programme is validated by UK ENIC, the UK government agency responsible for providing information and expert opinion on qualifications and skills worldwide.

You will develop awareness and competency in a range of language-related academic skills, including the processes of academic writing, effective and extensive reading strategies, effective delivery of presentations, and listening to and recording information effectively from lectures. You will also develop the accuracy and range of written and spoken language required to use language effectively and appropriately, with clarity and confidence in an academic context.

Alongside your classes, your studies will be supported by an online learning platform, providing you with a range of tasks and activities specifically designed to develop and extend your language and academic skills outside the classroom and to give you more control over your own learning.

Students will be assessed in all four skills areas: listening, reading, speaking and writing, this is assessed through examinations, coursework and a presentation.

The recommended text for this module are Academic Writing Skills for International Students by Read and English for Academic Study; Reading Course Book for Slaght.

In this module students concentrate on developing the critical skills specific to the reading and writing that will be required in their taught Masters degree programme. The course focuses on developing student criticality, fostering thorough scholarly skills and independent learning through the development of critical note taking and reading skills; the analysis, evaluation and summary of authentic academic texts.

The module will be assessed by notetaking, critical summary and a literature review.

Recommended text for this module are Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates by Wallace & Wray and Academic Writing; A Handbook for International Students by Bailey.

The aim of the Extended Research Project module is to help students develop the ability to undertake independent research and write extended pieces of academic work, displaying applied understanding of subject matter and an ability to critically analyse materials and concepts. Additionally, students will study research methods for use in a social science and/or a legal research context. Students will choose their research focus based on their pathway choice.

This module is assessed by a research proposal and research project.

Recommended texts include Social Research Methods: Fifth edition Oxford University Press (2015) A Bryman. 

Globalisation aims to introduce students to a conceptual understanding of globalisation and its political, social and cultural implications, through a consideration of the key global institutions and developments.  Students will engage with a variety of topics that constitute some of the core themes in globalisation debates such a cultural imperialism and the role of nation states in a globalised world. There will be a requirement to develop a critical awareness of various perspectives on globalisation from a political, cultural, economic viewpoint.

This module is assessed by a research essay and an exam.

Recommended texts include: Boli, J. and Lechner, F. (2020). The Globalization Reader, 6th Edition. Newark: Wiley Blackwell.

This module provides students with a broad range of research tools and skills required for the social sciences. It aims to equip students with all aspects of the research process and to train them, through active participation, in a wide variety of research techniques.

This module is assessed by a portfolio of tasks.

Recommended texts include Social Research Methods: Fifth edition Oxford University Press (2015) A Bryman.

Anthropology route

• Studying Society with Anthropology
• Human Culture and Diversity

Archaeology route

• Introduction to Archaeological, Museum and Heritage Practice
• Fundamentals of Archaeology 

Data Science route

• Mathematics for Economics
• Studying Society with Anthropology
• Human Culture and Diversity

Geography route

• Studying Society with Anthropology
• Contemporary Issues in Politics/International Relations 

Law route*

• Contemporary Issues in Politics/International Relations
• Legal Skills and Methods
• Fundamentals of Contract Law
• Contemporary Issues in Law

Politics/International Relations route

• Contemporary Issues in Politics/International Relations
• Contemporary Issues in Law

Sociology route

• Studying Society with Anthropology
• Contemporary Issues in Politics/International Relations or Human Culture and Diversity (Elective module)

TESOL route

• Approaches and Methodologies in English Language Teaching
• Studying Society with Anthropology

_{*Only available as a three-term option}

Studying Society with Anthropology

This module will present students with the opportunity to comparatively evaluate material and approaches commonly used in Anthropology studies. Students will explore anthropological research methods and techniques, as well as the interpretation of different cultures, and finally critically analyse the results. Through this module, students will develop the independent research skills needed to succeed in the future.

This module is assessed by a research project.

Recommended texts include Social Research Methods: Fifth edition Oxford University Press (2015) A Bryman. 

Contemporary Issues in Law

In Contemporary Issues in Law, students will gain an overview of contemporary legal issues in a variety of areas of English Law and international law. We study these topics and link them to concepts and theory such as morality, justice and the balancing of competing interests. There will be many opportunities to discuss matters stemming from a range of recent legal issues, while also appreciating some of the long-standing industry arguments which continue to be debated. Students will address issues from varying perspectives, which will allow them to develop their critical thinking skills.

This module is assessed by an essay on a contemporary legal issue of choice, with self-generated evaluative question.

There are no set recommended texts for this module; instead we indicate and encourage students to research wider reading in books and journals on a relevant topic are required. [Using current editions of legal sources is strongly recommended].

Contemporary Issues in Politics

Contemporary Issues in Politics and International Relations exposes students to current events in politics and international relations whilst giving them the space to develop their critical thinking, persuasive argument and evaluative reasoning. This is approached alongside weekly introductions to key materials from the discipline of political science such as the different branches that make up a government, pressure groups and ideologies like feminism and socialism.

This module is assessed by an individual presentation and an essay.

Recommended texts include: Political ideologies an introduction by Andrew Heywood and A glossary of UK government and politics by Duncan Watts.

Fundamentals of Archaeology

The Fundamentals of Archaeology will provide students with base-level knowledge of a range of scientific and historical techniques relevant to both contemporary and historical archaeology. Throughout this module, students will gain a core understanding of the key themes, sources and methods used in the study of archaeology, while developing the critical skills to effectively analyse the methods and techniques studied.

This module is assessed by an individual presentation and open book exam.

Recommended texts include Archaeology: Theories. Methods and Practice’ (2020) by C. Renfrew and P.Bahn. 

Fundamentals of Contract Law

Through this Fundamentals of Contract Law module, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of the key topics in Contract Law. Students will build on their pre-existing understanding of how to use legislation and case law, specifically for key contractual concepts and principles in contract and link these with contractual theory and later to apply this understanding with the developed skill of drafting a contract for a specific purpose.

This module is assessed by (1) a contract theory essay (question pre-determined) and (2) a drafting contract assignment; students are presented with a scenario in which a character requires a contract to be drafted; using the information from the scenario and knowledge of drafting techniques and contract principles, students will draft said contract.

Recommended texts include Anderson, M & Warner, V. Drafting and Negotiating Commercial Contracts (3rd Ed, Bloomsbury, 2015) and Cheshire, G, Fifoot, C and Furmston, M. Law of Contract (17th Ed, Oxford University Press, 2017). [Using current editions of legal textbooks is strongly recommended].

Human Culture and Diversity

In Human Culture and Diversity, students will investigate fundamental concepts of socio-cultural anthropology through concepts such as culture, kinship, sex and gender, race and ethnicity. Critical analysis and evaluation of ethnographic studies will offer the opportunity for students to address issues of ethnocentrism, cultural relativity, and their implications. Additionally, students will develop the independent research skills needed to succeed in the future.

This module is assessed by an essay.

Recommended texts include ‘Small places, large issues: an introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology’ (2105) T.H. Eriksen. 

Introduction to Archaeological, Museum and Heritage Practice

The Introduction to Archaeological, Museum and Heritage Practice module will familiarise students with the key themes in cultural heritage and archaeology and require them to critically analyse the presentation of heritage in the UK. It will enable students to develop the skills to understand and evaluate the way that archaeology is presented using a range of case studies of museums and archaeological sites.

This module is assessed by report.

Recommended texts include Heritage: Critical approaches’ (2012) R Harrison and Understanding Heritage in Practice (2010) S.West.

Legal Skills and Methods

“A good lawyer doesn’t just know and remember the law – the real skill is knowing how to find relevant law and use it effectively!”

Legal Skills and Methods will introduce students to legal sources (primary and secondary, journals, books etc) and the sources of English Law (legislation and case judgments) and develop the skills required in using those sources effectively and appreciate how they operate in the reality of the legal environment. Furthermore, students will learn about the practical application of some of the main sources of law and combine this with the development of skills in order to research these sources effectively in order to complete a research portfolio where they must undertake relevant research of legal sources and use these to advise a client with a specific legal problem.

This module is assessed by portfolio, assessing the development of skills.

Recommended texts include Finch, E and Fafinski, S. Legal Skills (9th Edition, Oxford, 2023) and Slapper, G & Kelly D. The English Legal System (19th Edition, Routledge 2020). [Using current editions of legal textbooks is strongly recommended].

Approaches and Methodologies in English Language Teaching 

The module provides an introduction to different approaches to English language teaching for speakers of other languages. It introduces students to the tools and resources they will use to evaluate current issues and key trends in language learning and teaching methodology in preparation for their postgraduate programme at Durham University.

This module will be assessed by seminars, presentations and essays.

Recommended reading texts for this module are How to Teach English-New Edition and Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching and Learning Teaching Vol.2.

Research Methods for Social Science

This module provides students with a broad range of research tools and skills required for the social sciences. It aims to equip students with all aspects of the research process and to train them, through active participation, in a wide variety of research techniques.

This module is assessed by a portfolio of tasks.

Recommended texts include Social Research Methods: Fifth edition Oxford University Press (2015) A Bryman. 

Mathematics for Economics

Though economics is technically a social science, students pursuing this field require a firm foundation in mathematics. This one-term module is not a study of economics, but rather a review of the relevant mathematical skills required to aid the study of economics. The module content includes algebra and functions, differentiation, integration, differential equations, matrices, and Lagrange's theorem.

This module is assessed by an invigilated examination.

Recommended texts for this module are Maths for Economics 4th Edition and Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis 6th Edition.

MA Museum and Artefact Studies is only available for progression from a September Pre-Masters start.