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Law, Science and Development (LAWS90179)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2022
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
Overview
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To say that a State or region is ‘under-developed’ is simultaneously to claim to know something about it and to imply something about how to respond. Development is both an object of science and of law. This subject invites students to think about the mutually constitutive relations between these three terms. It asks: how do lawmakers know things about the developing world? And, what role does science play in governing it?
The subject pays particular attention to how these questions play out in periods of‘crisis: during disasters like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami or the earthquake that rocked Haiti in 2010; and, more generally, with respect to climate change.
Methodologically, students will learn to unpack the science/law-policy distinction using Critical Legal Studies, Science and Technology Studies, and related methodologies.
Principal topics will include:
- Indicators and Algorithms of Development OR Metrics and Symptoms of (Under)development
- Disaster and Development
- Climate and the State
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- be able to recognize and critically unpack the complex challenges involved in regulating economic, social and environmental development within Australia and on a global scale;
- have learned to ground and frame abstract problems (e.g. ‘climate change’) by situating them in specific (institutional, scholarly, and governmental) controversies, policies, and practices;
- be prepared to analyse and employ legal and scientific tools and concepts that are currently used to create and rationally administer problems such as underdevelopment and ecological degradation;
- have the capacity to view historical, cultural, legal, and scientific trends as continuous and mutually reinforcing, and be able to unpack complex analyses and synthesize new prescriptions; and
- be prepared to confidently undertake writing and presentation assignments and demonstrate their ability to systematically organize legal and non-legal research into coherent narratives and arguments.
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Assessment
Additional details
- Class participation (10%)
- Group assignment: in-class presentation (5%) (during teaching), followed by individual written papers of 1,500 words (15%) (6 January 2021)
- 6,000 word research paper (70%) (17 February 2021) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2022
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a first come, first served basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available from Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
Last updated: 10 November 2023