Module Descriptors
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
LAWS61606
Key Facts
Health, Education, Policing and Sciences
Level 6
30 credits
Contact
Leader: Aidan Flynn
Email: Aidan.Flynn@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities:
Independent Study Hours:
Total Learning Hours: 300
Sites
- Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology Sri Lanka (Colombo)
- Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology Sri Lanka (Kandy)
Assessment
- Coursework - Portfolio 1: Research Exercise involving poster weighted at 40%
- Coursework - Portfolio 2: Reflective Log weighted at 20%
- Coursework - Portfolio 3: Case Study weighted at 40%
Module Details
Indicative Content
Environmental Law is a specialised area of law which has emerged in response to the many environmental problems faced by society. Global warming and climate change now represent the most challenging environmental problems and legislative initiatives currently being implemented will impact on nearly all areas of legal regulation. Environmental law will examine environmental developments within international and EC law as well as subject specific issues such as access to justice, public participation, human rights, civil liability and environmental crime. Students will explore such themes through the topic areas of:
1. Development of environmental law
2. Climate change
3. Energy policy and law, including renewable energy
4. Biodiversity and conservation
5. Planning law and environmental impact assessment
6. Regulation and enforcement of pollution controls
7. The role of the courts
8. Environmental litigation and human rights
9. Water pollution
10. Integrated pollution and prevention controls
11. Statutory nuisance
12. Waste management law
13. Contaminated land
1. Development of environmental law
2. Climate change
3. Energy policy and law, including renewable energy
4. Biodiversity and conservation
5. Planning law and environmental impact assessment
6. Regulation and enforcement of pollution controls
7. The role of the courts
8. Environmental litigation and human rights
9. Water pollution
10. Integrated pollution and prevention controls
11. Statutory nuisance
12. Waste management law
13. Contaminated land
Learning Strategies
WORKSHOPS:
In this module, large group sessions will take the form of 2 hour workshops where students will have the opportunity to learn from topic overviews, group discussions and activities which will be used to enhance research and a wide range of transferable skills in relation to Environmental Law. Preparation for workshops will be supported by research study plans and activities as well as a range of on-line activities via Blackboard. Skills to be enhanced include:
- problem-solving
- discussion and debating
- research (primary materials)
- research (secondary materials)
- interviewing
- group work and collaborative working
- presentation skills
Workshop Sessions 24 x 2 hours = 48 hours
DIRECTED STUDY AND INDEPENDENT LEARNING:
This will consist of preparation for the work to be undertaken in the workshops and also assessment. Students will be provided with guidance in their module study guide, lecture materials and via Blackboard. A significant amount of on-line guided support will be provided via Blackboard and this will include further reading, research exercises, and on-line collaboration to support workshop preparation. At Level 6, the independent learning activities encourage students to develop a critical understanding of the role of law in the control
and prevention of environmentally hazardous and polluting activities. In particular, the learning activities encourage students to focus upon the issues and skills assessed in the written portfolio.
Directed Study and Independent Learning = 252 hours
TOTAL LEARNING 300 HOURS
In this module, large group sessions will take the form of 2 hour workshops where students will have the opportunity to learn from topic overviews, group discussions and activities which will be used to enhance research and a wide range of transferable skills in relation to Environmental Law. Preparation for workshops will be supported by research study plans and activities as well as a range of on-line activities via Blackboard. Skills to be enhanced include:
- problem-solving
- discussion and debating
- research (primary materials)
- research (secondary materials)
- interviewing
- group work and collaborative working
- presentation skills
Workshop Sessions 24 x 2 hours = 48 hours
DIRECTED STUDY AND INDEPENDENT LEARNING:
This will consist of preparation for the work to be undertaken in the workshops and also assessment. Students will be provided with guidance in their module study guide, lecture materials and via Blackboard. A significant amount of on-line guided support will be provided via Blackboard and this will include further reading, research exercises, and on-line collaboration to support workshop preparation. At Level 6, the independent learning activities encourage students to develop a critical understanding of the role of law in the control
and prevention of environmentally hazardous and polluting activities. In particular, the learning activities encourage students to focus upon the issues and skills assessed in the written portfolio.
Directed Study and Independent Learning = 252 hours
TOTAL LEARNING 300 HOURS
Assessment Details
WRITTEN PORTFOLIO
Students are required to submit a written portfolio which consists of 3 pieces of work:
1. Research Exercise involving poster presentation and student participation at conference (which will assess Learning Outcomes 2, 4 and 5) - 40% weighting
2. Reflective Log which will evaluate student participation in conference (which will assess Learning Outcomes 4 and 5) - 20% weighting
3. Case Study relating to problem based scenario requiring legal advice (which will assess Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4 and 5) - 40% weighting
To pass this module, students must obtain an average mark of at least 40%
Students are required to submit a written portfolio which consists of 3 pieces of work:
1. Research Exercise involving poster presentation and student participation at conference (which will assess Learning Outcomes 2, 4 and 5) - 40% weighting
2. Reflective Log which will evaluate student participation in conference (which will assess Learning Outcomes 4 and 5) - 20% weighting
3. Case Study relating to problem based scenario requiring legal advice (which will assess Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4 and 5) - 40% weighting
To pass this module, students must obtain an average mark of at least 40%
Resources
Module Study Guide
Access to appropriate primary and secondary legal resources
Computing facilities will be needed to access material available via Blackboard and the web
Specialist software (Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw)
Access to appropriate primary and secondary legal resources
Computing facilities will be needed to access material available via Blackboard and the web
Specialist software (Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw)
Texts
Bell, S. & McGillivray, D. Pedersen, O. Environmental Law (8th Ed OUP 2013)
Learning Outcomes
1. DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO CRITICALLY ANALYSE AND EVALUATE THE UNDERLYING POLICY AND PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW.
Knowledge and Understanding
2. COMMUNICATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF LAW IN THE CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS AND POLLUTING ACTIVITIES
Analysis
3. SELECT AND APPLY APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES TO PROBLEM QUESTIONS AND CASE STUDIES.
Enquiry
4. DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND STUDY, INCLUDING THE USE OF ELECTRONIC RESOURCES.
Learning
5. DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY IN WRITING.
Communication
Reflection
Knowledge and Understanding
2. COMMUNICATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF LAW IN THE CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS AND POLLUTING ACTIVITIES
Analysis
3. SELECT AND APPLY APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES TO PROBLEM QUESTIONS AND CASE STUDIES.
Enquiry
4. DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND STUDY, INCLUDING THE USE OF ELECTRONIC RESOURCES.
Learning
5. DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY IN WRITING.
Communication
Reflection