Postgraduate Course: Epistemology and Evidence Law (PHIL11195)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences | 
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences | 
 
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) | 
Availability | Available to all students | 
 
| SCQF Credits | 20 | 
ECTS Credits | 10 | 
 
 
| Summary | This course applies theories and ideas from contemporary epistemology to questions and puzzles in the law of evidence - that branch of the law concerned with the proof of facts in legal proceedings. | 
 
| Course description | 
    
    This course applies theories and ideas from contemporary epistemology to questions and puzzles in the law of evidence - that branch of the law concerned with the proof of facts in legal proceedings.  Topics to be covered include the presumption of innocence, the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, sentencing and punishment, character evidence, forensic evidence and eyewitness testimony.  The course may also cover, in any given year, topics of particular contemporary interest - such as the use of biometric evidence in criminal prosecution, and the 'corroboration rule' and 'not proven' verdicts distinctive of Scots law.
    
    
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites | 
 | 
Co-requisites |  | 
 
| Prohibited Combinations |  | 
Other requirements |  None | 
 
 
Information for Visiting Students 
| Pre-requisites | None | 
 
		| High Demand Course? | 
		Yes | 
     
 
Course Delivery Information
 |  
| Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1) 
  
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Quota:  8 | 
 
| Course Start | 
Semester 2 | 
 
Timetable  | 
	
Timetable | 
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) | 
 
 Total Hours:
200
(
 Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
 Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
 | 
 
| Assessment (Further Info) | 
 
  Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
 | 
 
 
| Additional Information (Assessment) | 
Final Essay (2500 words) | 
 
| Feedback | 
Students will have the opportunity to submit a 1500 formative essay. | 
 
| No Exam Information | 
 
Learning Outcomes 
    On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
    
        - demonstrate a detailed understanding of a selection of central topics and theories in epistemology and evidence law
 - critically assess and compare arguments in epistemology and evidence law and deploy these arguments for themselves
 - analyse complex arguments and concepts, and apply these abilities to topics in epistemology and evidence law
 - write and discuss with greater clarity, rigour and structural transparency and develop appropriate research skills in philosophy
 
     
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills | 
Reading, understanding and critically engaging with research; critical thinking; constructive oral engagement; essay writing. | 
 
| Keywords | epistemology,evidence,law | 
 
 
Contacts 
| Course organiser | Dr Martin Smith 
Tel: (0131 6)50 3654 
Email:  | 
Course secretary | Ms Becky Verdon 
Tel: (0131 6)50 3860 
Email:  | 
   
 
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