MO4855 Law and Society in Scotland and its Empire, 1707-1914

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Full Year

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

60

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available only to History, Modern History or Scottish History students (single or joint honours) in their second year of the honours programme.

Planned timetable

Wednesday, time TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr V H Wallace

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Valerie Wallace

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This course examines the history of Scotland’s distinctive law and legal system in Scotland and its empire in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In the first semester students consider: the impact of the Union of 1707, the Enlightenment and empire on the evolution of Scots law and its legal system; the significance of legal literature and education on the development of the legal profession; and the relationship between Scots law and national identity. In addition, through an examination of the laws regarding slavery, marriage, divorce, and crime, we investigate how the law impacted on the lives of Scots. In the second semester we consider the role of Scots law and the Scottish legal system in colonies of Britain’s empire. Utilising court records, law reports, parliamentary debates, newspapers and other sources, students will interrogate the received assumption that Scots law was preserved only for the people of Scotland.

Assessment pattern

60% coursework and 40% examination

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 three-hour seminar (x21 weeks), 1 office hour (x21 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

66

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

534

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • demonstrate knowledge of the main features of Scottish and colonial legal history in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
  • demonstrate the ability to engage critically with Scottish and colonial legal historiography
  • evaluate a range of primary sources, and assess their relevance to historical enquiry
  • demonstrate the ability to construct well-supported historical arguments by way of essays
  • demonstrate the acquisition of certain transferable skills (oral, organisational and interpersonal) through participating in and chairing group discussions