Curricular Unit:			Code:
Introduction to Law and Political Science			774IDCP
Year:	Level:	Course:	Credits:
2	Undergraduate	Communication Sciences	6 ects
Learning Period:		Language of Instruction:	Total Hours:
Winter Semester		Portuguese/English	78
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
Objectives of Introduction to Law and Political Science: To provide students with the means to understanding the basics of the scope of Law and Political Science. The aim is also that students acquire knowledge on the essential concepts of law and legal standard. The students are expected to develop instrumental skills of analysis and synthesis; specific knowledge of the scientific field; oral and written communication skills; information management skills(ability to search and analyze information from various sources); interpersonal skills; criticism and self-criticism abilities; and interdisciplinary communication, so that the student can master several key concepts to his/her training.
Syllabus:
1. Introduction to Law: Notion of law. The law and legal certainty. The legal standards and types. The sources of law. The protection of rights. The integration and interpretation of legal norms 2. Political Science: Political Institutions: the State; political systems of government and regimes. Public policies. State-Society relations: party and electoral systems; civil society interest groups. Democracy.
Demonstration of the Syllabus Coherence with the Curricular Unit's Objectives:
Unit Introduction to Law: The discipline is composed of several theoretical-practical units. Description: Presentation of legal phenomena under the rules governing the legal relations of the individual in society. Objectives: This unit aims to introduce students to the discipline of nuclear information on legal relations in their various legal facets. Aims to promote critical reflection on institutional mechanisms and its practical results. Tutorial: optional, for consolidation and learning Description: Custom Monitoring of labor discipline Objectives: This guidance aims to support independent student work, research and information organization. Political Science Unit: The presentation of formal political institutions (notably the state) and of state-society relations (party and electoral systems, interest groups) in a democratic context covers the general conceptual guidelines and topics of the discipline, in order to meet the learning objectives abovementioned.
Teaching Methodologies (Including Evaluation):
Lectures & tutorials aiming at involving the students in the teaching-learning process. The Law unit will have one test. The Political Science unit will have one test. Intermediate tests aim at assessing learning outcomes - the dimension of the class groups and the fact that there is one session a week are the reason for this option.
Demonstration of the Coherence between the Teaching Methodologies and the Learning Outcomes:
Law Unit - Theoretical exposition characterizing the content of this area of operation; Presentation and handling of the legislation; Individual and group discussion of cases for different issues that constitute legal requests; statements; Practical exercises in order to demonstrate knowledge and skills to perform tasks of legal matters exercises. Master key legal techniques to interpret the legal texts; Analysis of some diplomas, including the Civil Code, Penal Code, the Portuguese Constitution, etc. The Political Science unit is based on compact lectures on basic structuring concepts of the discipline with a follow up of tutorial sessions (analysis and discussion of materials, problem solving questions) The methodology adopted aims at fostering the students' interest and involvement with the topic. The tests aim at producing reliable indicators of learning outcomes.
Reading:
Batista Machado, J., Introdução ao Direito e ao Discurso Legitimador, Almedina, Coimbra, 2018 Constituição da República Portuguesa, Ed. Almedina, Outubro 2018 José Batalha, C.: Direito, Noções Fundamentais, 2ª ed, Porto editora, 2017 Lopes Luís, S.:Introdução ao Estudo do Direito, 3ª ed, AAFDL Editora, 2018 Marques, M. M. e outros: Manual de Introdução ao Direito, 2ª ed. Almedina, 2018 Marques da Silva, G.: Introdução ao Estudo do Direito, Universidade Católica Editora, Lisboa, 5ª ed, 2015 Nogueira de Brito, M.: Introdução ao Estudo do Direito, AAFDL Editora, 2018 Oliveira Ascenção, J. : O Direito, Introdução e Teoria Geral, 13 ed., 2017 Teixeira Sousa, M.: Introdução ao Direito, Almedina, 2018