Curricular Unit:Code:
Introduction to Law and Political Science774IDCP
Year:Level:Course:Credits:
2UndergraduateCommunication Sciences6 ects
Learning Period:Language of Instruction:Total Hours:
Portuguese/English78
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
The student should be able to:
a) Acquire knowledge and capacity for understanding Law and Political Science at a level that, going beyond basic knowledge, develops and deepens it, with reference to te advanced level learning materials on the concepts of law, political institutions of government and political regimes;
b) Apply knowledge professionally, in the theoretical, ethical and applied dimensions specific to law and political science;
c) Solve problems in Law and Political Science, through argumented analysis and synthesis;
d) Be able to search for and manage sources of information and documentation;
e) Develop oral and written communication skills, to present ideas to audiences with different levels of expertise;
f) Acquire interpersonal and self-critical skills, enabling her/his autonomous lifelong learning.
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
Lopes Luís, S.: Introdução ao Estudo do Direito, AAFDL Ed., Lisboa, 2018
Marques, M. et al., Manual de Introdução ao Direito, Almedina, Coimbra, 2018
Nogueira de Brito, M., Introdução ao Estudo do Direito, AAFDL Ed., Lisboa, 2018
Fernandes, AJ., Introdução à Ciência Política, Porto Ed., Porto, 2015
Garner, R., Ferdinand, P. & Lawson, S., Introduction to Politics, OUP, Oxford, 2016
Heywood, A., Political Ideologies: an Introduction, Palgrave, London, 2017
Pasquino, G., Curso de Ciência Política, Principia, 2010
Political Studies (B-On)