School of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences

Course Syllabus

General aims for second cycle education

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall
- further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
- develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
- develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9)

Knowledge and comprehension
At the end of the course the student should be able to
- promote knowledge and understanding of international criminal law, especially in terms of concepts, international crimes, mechanisms for and alternatives to prosecution.

Ability and capacity
At the end of the course the student should be able to show a
- deeper ability to apply and interpret legal norms within the course's various subject areas,
- in-depth ability to systematically, critically and independently identify, formulate and analyse, in writing and orally, questions and conclusions regarding the subject area.

Valuation and perspective
After completing the course, the student should be able to independently reflect on the international criminal justice system. In addition, the student will have a deeper understanding of the importance of the legal area in society and the ability to take into account and reflect on scientific extrajudicial and social factors that contributed to the formation of the legal norms discussed in the course.

The course introduces international criminal law through the development of international criminal law, important concepts, genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, the crime of aggression, universal jurisdiction, individual international criminal liability. The course also deals with the international criminal justice system, its nature, origin and the International Criminal Court (ICC). International case law, international criminal prosecutions, rules re. crime victims are analysed, child soldiers are reflected upon and the value of alternative responses such as truth commissions, amnesties are discussed.

The course is given in English. Web-based course. The teaching is based on case-oriented tasks aimed at stimulating students' own knowledge seeking, critical reflection, analytical ability and skills development.

The course is conducted with some comprehensive lectures, some scheduled and several unscheduled group work online as well as oral online seminars. The course requires a high degree of self-study.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

According to regulations on grading systems for first- and second-cycle education (vice-chancellor's decision 2010-10-19, reg. no. CF 12-540/2010), one of the following grades is to be used: fail, pass, or pass with distinction. The vice-chancellor or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special reasons.

Grades used on course are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

The results from the different assignments are added together for the final course grade. Grades used for the course are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG).
Max. points for the course are 100 points. Each seminar is compulsory and demands participation. To gain grade G, 50 points are required. For grade VG, 75 points are required.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

This course is taught in English. It is a web-based course, mainly conducted online but with one compulsory physical meeting, towards the end of the course.
The course is problem-based, whereby the teaching is based on case-oriented assignments with the purpose of stimulating students own knowledgebased search, critical reflection, analytical ability and capacity development.
The course is conducted with the help of a few lectures, online meetings and seminars. Compulsory attendance applies to all grade-based assignments, and at any additional moment as ascribed in the course schedule.


Reading List and Other Teaching Materials

Required Reading

Tillägg på artiklar och rättsfall omfattande ca 300 sidor kan tillkomma och anges i början av kursen på Blackboard. Additional articles and case law of approx. 300 pages may be added at the beginning of the course on Blackboard.
Additional articles and case law of approx. 300 pages may be added at the beginning of the course on Blackboard

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