Law and Computing BSc/BA (Hons)

About the course

Law

Develop relevant practical skills to prepare you for a wide range of careers. Our law modules are taught through a participative and interactive environment. You will develop:

• Interpersonal and group skills 
• An ability to solve problems 
• Logical argument and reasoning skills 
• Your interpretation of the written word 
• An understanding of social values and public affairs. 

Whether you are interested in becoming a legal practitioner or simply interested in the law in a more general context, you will develop a core set of skills that will develop your employability and provide valuable insights. Joint Honours students studying the Law field as a major subject will gain a law qualifying degree and will be exempt from the first stage of legal professional examinations. You can progress to the postgraduate solicitors’ (LPC) or barristers (BPTC) course.

Computing

Computing will provide you with an understanding of theoretical foundations, as well as building your knowledge as a designer and developer. You will complete practical work in well-equipped and spacious laboratories and our strong links with commerce ensure you are always working from the most up-to-date study materials.

You don’t need any previous knowledge of computing for this course, your first year will provide you with a solid foundation in the basic principles of the subject. In your second and final years you’ll have an opportunity to tailor your learning to your personal interests by selecting modules from one of three themes:

•  development of information systems
•  programme design
• internal organisation of systems and networks

Why choose this course?

Law

• Study at one of the top five post-1992 university law schools in the UK
• Equip yourself for a broad range of careers in the law industry, commerce and the public sector
• Gain experience through mooting and debating competitions as well as visits to courts and tribunals

Computing

• Study computing in some of the best facilities offered by any university in the UK
• Benefit from excellent industry contacts and gain knowledge and skills valued within the industry
• Gain a practical understanding of a range of computing systems providing excellent preparation for a career in a range of roles

Study routes

• Sandwich, 4 Years
• Part Time, 6 Years
• Full Time, 3 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

This programme gives you flexibility in your studies at university resulting in flexibility in your choice of career at the end of your course. You will acquire a much broader base of knowledge and experience that could really widen your employment opportunities. Graduates have found employment in diverse roles such as computer programmers, design engineers, management development specialists, accountants and project managers. Over 72% of our graduates had entered employment six months after graduation, and a further 17% had gone on to further study or training.

Teaching methods

You will develop your capacity for independent study and interpersonal skills on this programme. There is an emphasis on structured research, well-prepared written and verbal presentations and computer literacy.

You will experience a wide variety of teaching styles on the programme including:

• standard lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• laboratories
• case studies
• individual and group projects

In your final year you will normally have the opportunity to hone your independent study and interpersonal skills by undertaking a major project or dissertation.

Work Placement

You will have the opportunity to take a paid work placement or study abroad for a year between your second and final years, extending your degree from a three year to a four year qualification. You will not be required to pay tuition fees for this year and you will gain excellent experience that sets you apart from the crowd in the graduate jobs market.

Study Abroad

You can study in most European countries, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, South Africa, Russia, China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Australia. You will study a programme of taught modules and/or project work with one of our partner universities, which will complement your studies on the Joint Honours Programme. You may need to study the language of your chosen country in your first and second years. Depending on where you choose to study you may be eligible to apply for certain grants, scholarships and financial support to help finance your study abroad experience.

Work Placement

A work placement provides you with an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience and put your theoretical knowledge and understanding from your studies in to practice.

Our Careers and Placements service will help you to develop your CV and support you through the application process for a wide range of placement opportunities in a variety of sectors and organisations.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Programming Principles

  This module is primarily concerned with developing basic skills necessary to produce computer-based solutions to simple problems in a high level language. The emphasis will be on basic programming principles : the structure and syntax of a program in the given programming language, variables and data types, operations and the evaluation of expressions, control structures (sequence, selection, iteration and subroutine call),modularisation(including procedures/functions). Program code will be expected to perform according to specification, be readable, maintainable and well designed. Although the given problems will be relatively simple, there will also be an appreciation of how simple solutions can be used in the solution of more complex problems. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Internet Technologies

  This module introduces the underlying infrastructure of the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW). In addition, students will examine how the client-server model works and how it is applied to Internet applications. To this end, students will implement straightforward static and dynamic web pages. Dynamic web pages may also include data retrieved from a database. This module includes basic concepts of: Internet Protocol (IP), TCP (Transfer Control Protocol), HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the Domain Name System (DNS), client-server model, mark-up languages, client-side programming and server-side programming. At the end of the course, successful students will be able to solve simple problems in the implementation and maintenance of applications for the Internet environment. Further details on how the learning outcomes of the module will be achieved will be described in the module information for students. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Systems Requirements

  This module focuses on the rationale, processes and outputs of requirements engineering activities. This requires students to focus on how organisations ensure that systems meet the requirements of all their stakeholders by using appropriate software engineering techniques. This approach will be used to cover the various processes such as eliciting, modelling, and validating requirements. At the elicitation stage this could include individual techniques such as bench marking and interviewing. Other techniques such as the use of prototypes or scenarios will be considered in the context of multiple processes, for example both modelling and validating requirements. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Data Driven Systems

  This module provides an introduction to database systems. It takes a practical approach using example applications or case studies. It then builds on this application experience to cover questions of why and how databases are designed and used. This will include practical experience of using a database management system, in particular of using simple SQL to query a database, and thus facilitating the view of the database as part of a larger system. Later in the module underlying formalisms will be studied but from an application-down standpoint -to inform understanding rather than as a subject for study in its own right. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Law of Contract

  The module will cover:- Formation of a contract: offer, acceptance, consideration, privity. Contents of the contract: conditions, warranties, express and implied terms, standard form contracts, exclusion clauses. Vitiating factors: misrepresentation, mistake, undue influence, duress; unconscionable bargains and inequality of bargaining power. Discharge of contractual obligations; performance, agreement, frustration, breach. Remedies for breach of contract: damages, specific performance, rescission, injunctions. An outline of the law of restitution.

• Legal Procedures, Ethics and Skills

  The module is designed to introduce students to research skills concepts, aspects and structure of the civil and criminal branches of the English legal system and the professional ethics of the legal profession.

Optional

Year 2

Core Modules

• Information Technology Development Exercise

  This module provides students with the opportunity to create a system in a professional manner, using and developing an appropriate range of skills and knowledge. The system to be developed will typically be a data driven system and the development approach will be based on the use of structured analysis methods although reference will be made to exploratory design, technical feasibility and agile methods. Personal aspects covered will include communication and group working, while the technical skills will focus on systems analysis and design, building upon those gained in level 1. Successful completion of this module should equip a student with sufficient skills and knowledge to enable them to successfully apply for and complete an industrial placement. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Data Management and Applications

  This module provides an in-depth study of the design and implementation of relational databases. The module views database systems from two perspectives, one being the architecture and functionality of the database management system, the other being the representation of the data managed by the database management system. The module provides the principles and techniques needed to develop relational database systems, together with the database theory on which these principles and techniques are founded. There is a large practical element that allows students to gain experience of using a shared multi-user system in the various roles of a database designer, database administrator and end user. The module also raises an awareness of areas where new types of database are emerging. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• European Union Law

  The module examines the EU institutions, the decision-making process as well as the key principles underpinning the EU legal order. The general principles of EU law are also examined, including the principles regarding the protection of fundamental rights. Enforcement procedures are examined. Students will also be introduced to substantive areas of EU law such as free movement of persons, free movement of goods and competition.

• Commercial Law

  This module introduces students to aspects of English commercial law with substantial reference to the laws relating to sale of goods contracts including the legal issues surrounding implied terms, exemption clauses, the passing of property and risk, nemo dat and exceptions to that rule, and remedies of the seller and buyer, including consumer protection mechanisms. Students will examine the wider implications of English commercial law with particular reference to the areas of codification and an introduction to agency and international commercial law.

Optional

Year 3

Core Modules

Optional

• Professional Work Placement in Computer Science

  Supervised work experience provides students with the opportunity to set their academic studies in a broader context, to gain practical experience in specific technical areas and to strengthen their communication and time-management skills. It greatly assists them in developing as independent learners, so that they will be able to gain maximum benefit from the learning opportunities afforded by the study programme at level 3. It gives them opportunities, according to the nature of the placement experience, to acquire the basis of technical expertise in specialist areas, which they may be able to enhance through study at level 3, especially in the final project.

Year 4

Core Modules

• Company Law

  The module will examine the structure of the modern day company in both the public and private form. It will consider the constitution of the company, the rights and duties of directors and shareholders and the interests of employees and creditors. The financing of companies will also be considered, as will the key areas of corporate governance, minority protection and the current reform issues in Company Law as a whole.

Optional

• Advanced Databases B

  The focus of this module is on advanced issues related to distributed databases, and will include: * XML, distributed database theory and practice, transaction management and mobile databases.

• Advanced Databases A

  The focus of the content of this module is on advanced issues related to localized databases, and will include relational algebra, database security and data warehousing.

• Web Application Development B (enhancement)

  This module aims to give students the opportunity to utilize a variety of technology and knowledge of best practice to enhance their web applications. In particular, it looks at utilizing graphics or time based media into the application, modelling the interface behaviour more effectively and realising designs using the document object model.

• Web Application Development A (Design)

  This module aims to give students the opportunity to think about how they would go about developing a simple web application, what they need to take into account when developing it, and some of the available technology to support the process. It will emphasize effective web site design, and the importance of separating content from style, and keeping sites accessible.

• Strategic Information Systems Planning & Management B

  This module enables students to investigate current thinking and issues regarding the effect of development & implementation of management of information, systems and technology, have on framework of organisations. It provides ideas on how to manage the change.

• Strategic Information Systems Planning & Management A

  This module enables students to investigate current thinking and issues regarding the effective development, implementation and management of information, systems and technology within the strategic framework of organisations.

• Professional Issues in Computing B

  This module will open up current issues relating to what it means to be a professional in the computer industry, with the intention of enabling the student to participate effectively in the ongoing debates concerning computing and the uses to which is it or should be put, including: * consideration and critique of the legal, professional and ethical framework with which the developers, operators and users of these systems have to operate; and * issues relating to computers and society, such as the effect of computers on society in terms of power relationships between members of that society. It will build on the learning outcomes specified for Professional Issues in Computing, which is therefore a prerequisite for this module.

• Professional Issues in Computing A

  Typically the module content will include: * Data Protection Act; * Computer Misuse Act; * copyright; * ethical issues in the use of computers and data; * good practice in systems design; * interrelationship between computers, their use in society. The basis of the legal elements of this module will be English Law, but no prior knowledge of this legal system is expected of students.

• Law of Tort

  The module considers the law relating to Torts including the tort of negligence, with consideration of 'special duty' topics such as psychiatric injury and economic loss. Statutory torts such as the Occupier's Liability 1957, 1984; Animals Act 1971 and Consumer Protection Act 1987 are also examined. The module also considers intentional torts of assault, battery, false imprisonment and the rule in Wilkinson v Downton. Nuisance and Rylands v Fletcher, together with employer's liability - vicarious and primary non-delegable duty are also covered in the module.

• Land Law

  The module will contain a brief introduction to the meaning of land, the historical development of land law and the formalities for the creation of legal and equitable third party interests in land. A more in-depth study will be made of the registered system (with emphasis on the Land Registration Act 2002), trusts of land (including disputes), resulting and constructive trusts of the family home, proprietary estoppel, co-ownership, leases (with emphasis on enforceability of leasehold covenants), easements, freehold covenants, mortgages and adverse possession.

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £8,500 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Full time: £9,500 for the 2013 academic year

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Scholarships

• National Scholarship Programme

Find out more about scholarships for UK/EU and international students

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply