New LLB Curriculum: Optional Program

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New LLB Curriculum Optional Program

• Staff Seminar
• 19 July 2005

2
Objectives

• To summarise key recommendations of Optional
  Subjects Working Group
• To elicit further feedback and discussion from
  staff

3
Topics

• Structure
• Scheduling
• Skills and cross-cutting influences
• Administrative implications
• Next steps
• R denotes proposed recommendation

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Structure

• R Optional program be organised into structure
  comprising broad subject suites
• Features
• Not rigidly defined or mutually exclusive
• Subject to annual review
• Not prescriptive in any way
• Advantages
• Curriculum planning
• Course planning
• External marketing

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Structure, cont

• Proposed suites

6
Structure, cont

• Proposed suites, cont
• Issues
• Broad vs specific model
• Subject classifications (see Appendix B)
• Primary / secondary relevance
• Legal Theory suite
• Removal of subjects not offered for 3 consecutive
  years

7
Scheduling

• R Optional subjects be scheduled on a two-year
  planning cycle
• Advantages
• Course planning
• Resource planning

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Scheduling, cont

• R Optional program allow for scheduling in
  summer semester, provided large enrolment
  subjects be offered again the next year in the
  usual teaching period
• R As a general rule, optional program not allow
  for scheduling in winter break

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Skills Cross-cutting influences

• Skills and cross-cutting influences have already
  been formalised in optional subject design
• R There be horizontal (within optional suites)
  and vertical (between compulsory and optional
  programs) co-ordination in relation to skills,
  cross-cutting influences and related aspects of
  optional subject design

10
Administrative implications

• R Information about subject suites,
  classifications and scheduling in the optional
  program be available on UGS web-site and in
  subject descriptions in user-friendly format

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Administrative implications, cont

• R Subject suite representatives be appointed
  with role of facilitating discussions between
  optional subject teachers within each suite and
  with related compulsory subject teachers
  regarding subjects to be offered scheduling
  skills co-ordination teaching methods
  assessment, etc

12
Administrative implications, cont

• R UGS sub-committee to be appointed with role of
  monitoring ongoing implementation and development
  of new curriculum, including the optional program

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Next steps

• Working group to finalise recommendations and
  submit to Dean
• Subject to Deans approval, implementation to be
  commenced
• Student briefings to be held