1. How does the School of Law claim to convey global knowledge?

Keywords: Curriculum structure, Year abroad programmes, international student and staff body

The School of Law claims to convey global knowledge or an international perspective to its undergraduate study using its curriculum structure, international students and staff and its year abroad programs.

Curriculum Structure:

The three year and four year LLB degrees claim to convey global knowledge by the list of international and mostly European law options and half modules provided especially in the second year. This list includes modules such as French Law; German Law; International Law; Foundations of European Union Law; Law and Policies of the European Union; Introduction to the Law and Culture of Japan; International Issues in Child Law; International Criminal Law.

In addition to the international law modules above, second year students also have the opportunity to select a language optional module.

Three Year LLB Degree: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/ug/prospective/degrees/3yrllb/

Year Abroad Programs:

• 4-Year LLB with year abroad in English:

This is a four year law programme where students spend a year at a university abroad being taught in the English language. The school of Law claims it is an ideal opportunity for students to live and study at a university in another jurisdiction without the need to be fluent in another language.

The programme is administered under the Socrates/Erasmus links the department has with European universities in Norway, Finland, The Netherlands, Poland and Hungary. It is also has opportunities for students to study at universities outside Europe such as the University of Hong Kong.

4-Year LLB with Year Abroad in English: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/ug/prospective/degrees/yearabroad/english/

• European Law (four-year course):

This degree is for those who have a good knowledge of French, German or both languages and who want to combine an English law degree at Warwick with studying another European legal system for an academic year abroad in the relevant country and language.

European Law (Four-Year Course): http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/ug/prospective/degrees/european_law/

International Students and Staff:

The School of Law claims that its students enjoy a distinctly international environment. It claims that the student and staff body is drawn from over 50 countries worldwide and most lecturers on undergraduate courses have first-hand experience of teaching or practicing law in non-UK jurisdictions.

Welcome to undergraduate studies at the University of Warwick: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/ug/

Conclusions:

From the above, the school of Law claims to convey global knowledge in its curriculum by offering optional and half modules in languages and law modules focused on international law perspectives e.g. European Law and International Criminal Law. The department also claims to convey global knowledge by offering degrees with study abroad programs. Examples of this include the European Law (4-year) and the 4-year LLB degree where students study in a foreign university for a year.

Finally, the department also claims to convey global knowledge by providing an international environment through its diverse and global student and staff body.

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DISCOURSE ANALYSIS:

Reference: How does the School of Law claim to convey global knowledge?

The discourse used on the law website is aimed at illustrating the international perspective of the department’s undergraduate curriculum by listing international law optional modules that students can take in their second year. The list that includes French Law, German Law, International Law, Contemporary France and a language module is clearly aimed at showing prospective students the international knowledge that is conveyed within the course.

Three Year LLB Degree: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/ug/prospective/degrees/3yrllb/

It is clear also that the department places heavy emphasis on its year abroad programs as mechanisms of conveying global knowledge and an international curriculum to its students. It lists the Erasmus and overseas universities on the website to show the range of these opportunities. The department also uses student testimonials to convey this message further.

'I chose the 4-year LLB as I felt it was the best of both worlds: I could still experience studying abroad but be taught in English. The LLB programme at Warwick allows the student to decide in which country they want to study from a list of European institutions as well as a Canadian university… The courses were diverse and challenging enough to keep my interest and offered the opportunity to study modules that are not available at Warwick including comparative legal studies. On a personal level, the year has improved my self-confidence and I now have an MSN contact list that spans the globe!'

Hannah Jackson, 4 Year LLB with year abroad in English

From the discourse above it is clear that the university tries to convey the year abroad program as one that exposes its students to a diverse and challenging curriculum with opportunities to interact with the global community.

4-Year LLB with Year Abroad in English: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/ug/prospective/degrees/yearabroad/english/

A Student’s Choice: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/ug/prospective/degrees/yearabroad/english/sc/

'We are also concerned to understand law in its international and comparative context. A law student at Warwick will enjoy a distinctly international environment. The student and staff body is drawn from over 50 countries worldwide and most lecturers on undergraduate courses have first-hand experience of teaching or practicing law in non-UK jurisdictions.'

The department uses phrases such as the above in its website discourse as a way of showing the international nature of its student and staff body and the global influence this has on the department.

Welcome to undergraduate studies at the University of Warwick: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/ug/