Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2008-2009 (archived)

Module LAW53430: European Discrimination Law

Department: Law

LAW53430: European Discrimination Law

Type Open Level 4 Credits 30 Availability Available in 2008/09
Tied to

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • an in-depth study of the development of legal methods of addressing issues of discrimination based on sex, race, religion, sexual orientation and other grounds.

Content

  • introduction, including a historical and theoretical perspective on the problem of discrimination;
  • sex discrimination law in European Community law: Article 141 EC, the equality directives; the role of the reconciliation of work and family life in eliminating discrimination; the problem of positive discrimination;
  • European Community law on discrimination on other grounds; Article 13 EC, the race discrimination directive and the framework discrimination directive;
  • Council of Europe developments: Article 14 ECHR and Protocol 12 of the ECHR: the European Social Charter; other conventions relating to discrimination and minorities;
  • case studies on national approaches to discrimination problems within European states.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • a critical understanding of the theoretical, social, economic and political issues underlying problems of discrimination and the different approaches of supranational and national policy makers to such problems;
  • a critical understanding of the methods of interpretation and application of anti-discrimination law by the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.
Subject-specific Skills:
Key Skills:

    Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

    • Through an in-depth knowledge of the substantive and procedural rules of law relating to anti-discrimination policy and remedies for illegal discrimination in European Community law under the European Convention on Human Rights and its Protocols.
    • Through examination of theoretical and social scientific literature relating to problems of discrimination.
    • Through a comparative examination of the approaches to discrimination of the European Union, the Council of Europe, other European regional organisations and European states.

    Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

    Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
    Seminars 15 Week with a few reading weeks 2 30
    Preparation and Reading 270
    Total 300

    Summative Assessment

    Component: Essay Component Weighting: 40%
    Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
    Essay 4000 word 100%
    Component: Unseen Written Examination Component Weighting: 60%
    Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
    Unseen Written Examination 2 hours 100%

    Formative Assessment:

    One assignment of 2,000 words in Michaelmas Term.


    Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University