SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
S.06-3
• ?
Senate Committee on University Priorities
Memorandum
TO:
Senate ?
FROM: ?
John Waterhou
Chair, SCUP
Vice President, ?
ademic
RE: Proposal for a Minor in Legal Studies
?
DATE: ?
December 15, 2005
and a Post Baccalaureate Diploma in
Legal Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (SCUP 05-067)
At its November 23, 2005 meeting SCUP reviewed and approved the proposal from the
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences for a Minor in Legal Studies, and a Post
Baccalaureate Diploma in Legal Studies.
Motion One
That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors, the proposal for a
Minor in Legal Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Motion Two
is
That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors, the proposal for a
Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Legal Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
end.
c: G. Anderson
D. MacAlister
0
SIMON
FRASER
UNIVERSITY
•
?
Office of the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
MEMORANDUM
To: ?
on
Secretary,
Jo Hinchjjffe
Und
ergraduate
Senate
?
CommitteeStudies
??
From:
?
and
Chair,
Mary
S
Ann
ocial
Faculty
Gilhies
Sciences
of Arts
Subject: S
?
chool of Criminology
Curriculum Committee
in
New
Legal
Minor
Studies
and PBD Programs Date:
?
May 13, 2005
The Faculty
of
Arts and Social Sciences Curriculum
Committee,
at its
meeting of May 12, 2005, approved the attached new proposal for a Minor and
PBD Program in Legal Studies, submitted by the School of Criminology.
• new Minor Program in Legal Studies (FPP)
• new Post
Bacc
'
alaur'eate
Program in Legal Studies
Would you please put these items on the agenda of the next meeting of
S.C.U.S.?
.
?
Thank you.
?
\c
c
Mary Ann Gilhies, Chair
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
MAG:dgg
?
Curriculum Committee
end.
-
?
c---
.
PROPOSAL:
LEGAL STUDIES MINOR PROGRAM
?
AND A POST-BACCALAUREA
TE
DIPLOMA CREDENTIAL
?
IN LEGAL STUDIES AT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
May 16, 2005
1
EXECUTIVE
SUM1\IARY
• ?
This is a proposal to create a Minor in Legal Studies and a Post Baccalaureate Diploma
(PBD) in Legal Studies at Sin-ion Fraser University. There are no comparable programs in
British Columbia. The proposal creates the Minor and PBD out of existing course offered
by a variety of Schools and Departments in the universit
y
. The aim of these programs is
to apply a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of law and legal institutions, placing
law into its social, philosophical, and economic context, resulting in an invaluable
contribution to citizenship.
Minor Program -
Students must complete lower level credits in criminology and
political science, plus an upper level perspectives course in law offered by the School of
Criminology (Sociology of Law or Philosophy of Law). In addition, students must select
additional courses from a broad menu of law-based upper division course offerings. The
credit requirements for the minor are in accord with other minor pro
g
rams offered within
the university.
Post Baccalaureate Diploma -
This program is for those with a bachelor's degree.
Students must complete an approved program comprised of 30 credit hours of third and
fourth year courses Students must complete the two perspective courses: CRIM 3
332-33
Sociology of Law and CRIM 338-3 Philosophy of Law. In addition, students must select
courses pertaining to one of the following concentrations: Criminal Law, Women and
Law, Psychology and the Law; Education and Law, Business, Economics and the Law,
and Fundamental Rights and Law.
General Considerations
It is anticipated that these programs will meet with widespread initial interest that will be
sustained over time. Students will be able to complete the minor concurrent with their
major degree and PBD students will be able to complete their requirements in one year of
full-time study.
The programs will offer an excellent foundation for students planning on attending law
school and those ultimately pursuing graduate work in law and social policy, public
administration, or allied programs. For those students seeking employment immediately
after graduation, the legal studies minor should be useful for those pursuing careers in a
broad variety of areas including lifelong learners who have already entered the workforce
and have come to realize the importance of legal knowledge to their employment.
The School of Criminology will establish a yearly quota for admission into the minor
program. Once the program is available, it is anticipated that many students transferring
from lower level programs at colleges and university colleges will be attracted to the
legal studies minor.
Since no additional resources will be required to offer this program, administration and
Instructional costs will be met from existing operating funds. It is intended that the
program will begin in Se
p tember 2006.
PROPOSAL FOR A LEGAL STUDIES MINOR PROG
RAM
?
AND A POST BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA CREDENTIAL
?
IN LEGAL STUDIES
AT
SIMON FRASER
UNIVERSITY
1. In
s
i
?
and Program Identification
(a) Institution cni'arding the degree
The pfograms will be offered by Simon Fraser University.
(b) The title of the program
The pograms will be a Minor in Legal Studies and a Post Baccalaureate Diploma in
Legal Studies.
(c) The credential that will be awarded to
graduates
Graduates of the Minor program will be awarded a Minor in Legal Studies. Graduates
seekinthe Diploma will be awarded a Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Legal Studies.
(d) For new credentials:
(i)
What is the rationale for choosing this particular degree name?
The teçm "Legal Studies" was selected from a range of options that included "Socio-
Legal Studies" and "Law and Society Studies". The term "Legal Studies" appears to have
receiv
e
d fairly wide-spread acceptance among programs of this nature elsewhere in
Canad a
, as well as in Britain, the United States and Australia.
(ii)
Is there a comparable acadeniicprograin in the province which uses a
different credential? If
y
es, why has a new degree name been requested?
At the present time, there are no comparable programs in British Columbia.
^
(iii) Were professional associations or other groups outside the institution
consulted on the name of the degree. Ifyes, who? If not, why not? Does
this degree require accreditation by an external organization?
Since neither the Minor in Legal Studies, nor the Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Legal
Studies, are prerequisites for membership in any professional society, accreditation is not
a live i
s
sue. While there are no professional associations directly impacted b
y
the Minor
or the liiploma, the concept of a Legal Studies degree has been discussed with
represelitatives from other criminology and criminal justice programs in Western Canada
at annual articulation meetings. Amongst this group, support for a credential in this area
has bee fairly high.
(e)
Facilty or School offering the ne degree program
?
0
rV
n
The programs will be administered by the School of Criminology in the Faculty of Arts
and Social Sciences.
(1) Name, title and phone number of the institutional contact person in case more
information is required.
David MacAlister
Assistant Professor
School of Criminology
Phone: 604-291-3019
Email: drnacalis'2isfu.ca
Or
Dr.
Gail Anderson
Associate Director, Undergraduate Program
Associate Professor
School of Criminology
Phone: 604-291-3589
Email: gandersosfu.ca
2. Program Description
2.1
Brief description of the program and how it will contribute to the mandate and
strategic plan of the institution. Define the aims, goals or objectives of the new degree
program.
The aim of the Minor and Post Baccalaureate programs is to apply a multi-disciplinary
approach to the study of law and legal institutions by placing law into its social,
philosophical, and economic context. Courses in the legal studies programs adopt a social
problems/issues perspective rather than engaging in the training of students for a career
practicing law. It is believed that the study of law in this manner is an invaluable
component of citizenship and should be useful for many chosen career paths.
Minor Program Requirements:
Students must complete a minimum of 9 lower level credits in accordance with the
following requirements:
Lower Division
Students must complete the following courses:
CRIM
135-3
Introduction to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions
POL 151-3 The Administration of Justice
4
Students must select at least one from the following:
CRTh'L 2 l0-3 Law, Youth and Young Offenders
CRIM 230-3 Criminal Law
CRIM
2:3
1-3 Introduction to the Judicial Process
Note: PHIL 120 Introduction to Moral Philosophy is also strongly recommended for
Legal Studies Minor students. It is a prerequisite for PHIL 320 and PHIL 321.
Upper Division
Student must select at least one from the following:
CRIM 332-3 Sociology of Law
CRIM 338-3 Philosophy of Law
In addition, students must select additional courses totaling at least 15 credit hours from
the upper division courses listed above, or. from those listed below. Students must be
careful tb ensure they have necessary lower level prerequisites:
BUS
39-3
Commercial Law(subject to space availability)
BUEC 391-3 Law in the Economic Society
BUEC
4 ; 953
Legal Aspects of Economic Relationships
(In the process of being changed to: Seminar in Law and Economics)
CRIM 31 0-3Young Offenders and Criminal Justice: Advanced Topics
GRIM 314-3 Mental Disorder, Criminality and the Law
CRIM 330-3 Criminal Procedure and Evidence
CRIM 331-3 Advanced Criminal Law
CRIM
333-3
Women, Law and the State
CRIM
35-3
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
CRIM 33
)6-3 Corporate Crime and Corporate Regulation
CRII\4-416/41 7/418-3 Current Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice (on legal topic)
CRIM
430-3
Judicial Administration and Planning
CRIM 42-3 Gender in the Courts and the Legal Profession
CRIM 45-3/GERO 435-3 Adult Guardianship Law
GRIM-436-3
Corporate Crime and Corporate Regulation: Advanced Topics
GRIM 437-3 Crime and Misconduct in the Professions
ECON 3 88-3 Introduction to Law and Economics
EDUC 445-4 Legal Context of Teaching
EDUC
4j6-4
Law for the Classroom Teacher
EDTJC 448-4 Law in the Curriculum
HIST 312-4 Povert
y
, Crime and Madness: Society and the Outcast
PHIL 329-3 Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 32 1-3 Moral Issues and Theories
POL 3244 The Canadian Constitution
POL
344-4
Public International Law
POL
346-4
International Organizations
POL 35 1-4 The Public Policy Process
POL
355-4
Governing Instruments
POL 417-4 Human Rights Theories
POL 459-4 Selected Topics in Governance
PSYC 3
69-3
Law and Psychology
PSYC 469-4 Selected Topics in Psycholegal Issues
WS 3
0
3 3-4
Special Topics in Women's Studies (as Women and the Law)
Additional relevant courses may be added to the list of optional courses as they become
available.
Post Baccalaureate Diploma Requirements
This program is for those with a bachelor's degree. Students must complete an approved
program comprised of 30 credit hours of third and fourth year courses (students must
ensure they have the necessary lower level prerequisites for all courses in which they
enroll). Students must complete the following two perspective courses:
CRIM 332-3 Sociology of Law
CRIM.338-3 Philosophy of Law
In addition, students must select one of the following concentrations and complete all of
Is
the courses listed under their chosen concentration:
Criminal Law
CRIM 310-3Young Offenders and Criminal Justice: Advanced Topics
CRIM 314-' Mental Disorder, Criminality and the Law
CRIM 330-3 Criminal Procedure and Evidence
CRIM 33 1-3 Advanced Criminal Law
CRIM 335-3 Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Women and Law
CRIM 333-3 Women, Law and the State
CRIM 33
5-3
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
CRIM 432-3 Gender in the Courts and the Legal Profession
W.S. 303-4 Special Topics in Women's Studies (as Women and the Law)
Psychology and the Law
PSYC 369-3 Law and Psychology
PSYC 469-4 Selected To
p
ics in Ps chole g al Issues
CRIM 314-3 Mental Disorder, Criminality
and the Law
CRIM ?
Adult Guardianship Law
and Law
EDUC 145-4 Legal Context of Teaching
EDUC'p48-4 Law in the Curriculum
EDUC 446-4 Law for the Classroom Teacher
Busines, Economics and the Law
BUEC 391-3 Law in the Economic Society
BUEC 45-3 Legal Aspects of Economic Relationships (Seminar in Law and Economics)
BUS
393-3
Commercial Law (subject to space availability)
ECON
3
3$8-31
Introduction to Law and Economics
Fundamental Rights and Law
CRIM
35-3
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
PHIL 320-3 Social and Political Philosophy or PHIL
32
1-3 Moral Issues and Theories
1
3 0L ?
Canadian Constitution
POL 4174 Human Rights Theories
The balance of the required credits will be fulfilled by students taking courses from those
listed under the list of electives for the Legal Studies Minor Program above. Exemptions
and replacement courses for those required in the program may be granted by the
Associate Director responsible for Undergraduate Programs in the School of
Criminology.
2.2 Discusion of the target student audience for this program.
(a)
IdenqIcation of the student audience(s) that this program is intended to serve.
It is anticipated that the programs will draw on two groups of students. The minor
program 'i11 attract students who wish to supplement their selected major program with a
concentration on law. Accordingly, students majoring in criminology who wish to
increase tFeir emphasis on the study of public law will be able to develop a concentration
in that area. Similarly, Business students seeking to develop a concentration in their
studies tha't pertains to private law can take courses pertaining to this interest. Students
interested
I
in the popular area of psychology and law will be able to supplement their
major in Pychologv with a minor in legal studies. Students in virtuall
y
any major
program at the university are envisioned as being attracted to a minor program in legal
studies. While the minor program will initially draw students already at the university
who are inerested in law and legal studies, the program mi
g
ht ultimatel
y
draw students
to the uniersity who are interested in the ability to supplement their desired major with a
concentration in legal studies.
S
S
S
1
The post-baccalaureate diploma program is targeted towards students who already
. ?
possess a bachelor's degree but desire a post-graduate qualification in the legal studies
area. This group will include students desiring to boost their qualifications with the intent
of eventually doing graduate work in the legal studies area. It will also include those
individuals with undergraduate degrees from a broad variety of disciplines who find
themselves employed in an area where a further understanding of legal issues is
important, such as those who are working as a notary public, a paralegal, a court clerk, a
police officer, a forensic scientist, or any other line of work requiring skills and
knowledge pertaining to law.
(b)
Anticipated enrolments in the program.
It is anticipated that these programs will meet with widespread initial interest that will be
sustained over time. Since many of the students enrolling in the minor pro
g
ram will
already be declared majors in criminology, the program can accommodate many students
without adversely affecting criminology's already high course full turn away rate.
However, resource limitations mandate that enrolments will have to be restricted. It is
anticipated that the program will initially attract 40-50 current SFU students and a further
30-40 new students annually. The post-baccalaureate diploma program will probably
attract a narrower audience of perhaps 10-15 students per year.
(c)
Any evidence that this student audience is not currently being served with existing
offerings in the British Columbia post-secondary system.
Faculty members who are presently teaching in Criminology and Psychology have found
widespread interest in legal studies. Additionally, considerable interest has been
identified in the Faculty of Education and in the Faculty of Business Administration. At
present, no other university or university college in the province offers the opportunity to
specialize in this area. Formal law degree programs are offered at the University of
British Columbia and the University of Victoria. However, they do not provide programs
for students undertaking their initial BA degree, or students who have completed a BA
degree and wish to supplement their knowledge with an array of legal courses falling
short of a full LL.B. degree. Additionally, the law schools' programs are, to a large
degree, practitioner-oriented programs, designed to prepare graduates for a career
practicing law. They also have limited enrollments and high turn-away rates, significantly
limiting the opportunity for post secondary and post baccalaureate students to study the
law.
(d)
A list ofprograms that exist at other British Columbia institutions which may contain
similar content, or have similar objectives, and
if similar,
what is the rationale for
duplication.
There are no similar programs in BC at this time. The BA major in Criminology program
at SFU and the BA in Criminal Justice at the University College of the Fraser Valley both
provide students with the o
pp
ortunit y
to take a si
g
nificant number of courses
conceitrating in law, however neither program offers recognition for a student who has
chosen to concentrate on such courses.
.
(e)
Outhne the expected normal time requiredfor students to complete the program (in
years or scm esters,)
Cornp1tion of the minor will depend upon the student's point of entry into SFU and their
major program. Students entering from high school or transferring from a
colleg/university college program in criminology in BC will be able to complete the
minor
¶
oncurrent with their major degree. Students enrolled in another discipline or
transferring from a non-criminology program may be required to complete up to an
additional two years of studies.
Studens will be able to complete the Post Baccalaureate Diploma in one year of full-time
study jI they already possess the necessary prerequisite courses.
2.3 Evidence of labour market and strident demand is required. Include a discussion
regarding the anticipated employment destination for graduates from the proposed
prograii. Attach this information as an appendix.
The programs aim to provide knowledge, skills and abilities that will be considered
important in graduates aiming for employment or further education in a broad variety of
areas. I
S
The programs will offer an excellent foundation for students planning on subsequently
attendink law school. For those pursuing graduate work in law and social policy, public
administration, or allied programs, they will also provide an excellent foundation.
For thosp students seeking employment immediately after graduation, the legal studies
minor should be important for those seeking careers in a broad variety of areas. All legal
studiesgraduates will benefit from a better understanding of the law and its place in our
society,s well as its role in shaping relationships among individuals and between
citizens and the state. For example, Communications graduates seeking positions as
producers and television station managers need to know about Canadian content
regulation, the law governing freedom of expression, and media liability. All employees
in any conceivable position will benefit from knowledge pertaining to civil liability and
laws governing privacy. Educators require knowledge of sexual abuse, negligent
supervision, sexual harassment, youth justice, copyright regulation, and privacy issues.
Intellectual property rights, licensing, and electronic commerce are concerns of those
seeking careers in business and industry. Those working in banks or other financial
institutions need a thorough understanding of commercial law subjects. Practicing
p sy
chologists and counselors require knowledge about privilege, the duty to warn
potential victims, and the potential role that mental health professionals may play as
expert witnesses. Government workers, as well as industry leaders and environmentalists,
need kno\vledge of environmental law and regulation. Scientists working in the
increasindy regulated areas of pharmaceutical manufacturing and testing, genetic
.
0
modification, and related research and development areas must have an awareness of
legal and ethical issues affecting their work. In short, the current climate of risk
avoidance makes legal knowledge essential in all potential employees. The Post
Baccalaureate Diploma should be particularly attractive to lifelong learners who have
already entered the workforce and have come to realize the importance of legal
knowledge to their employment.
The traditional employment goals of criminology students are areas in which legal
knowledge has been required in the past. It will continue to do so in the future. Policing,
corrections, court administration, paralegal work, criminal justice policy development
and analysis, counseling and youth care work, to name only a few of the employment
areas in which criminology graduates have traditionally gone, all require sound
knowledge of the law. Many of our students already take the necessary courses for the
proposed minor in legal studies, however they are not presently recognized for having
done so.
3. Admission and Transfer
Describe the admission and residency requirements for this program, including a plan
for transferability. If applicable, please include a brief discussion on how the following
apply to the proposed new degree program.
With the approval of the Office of the Dean of Arts and Social Sciences, the School of
•
Criminology will establish a yearly quota - the number of students to be admitted into the
minor program: This quota will be established on the basis of projected available space
and school resources. In advance of each competition, the school will announce the
minimum cumulative grade point average below which students will not be considered
for admission. The school will receive and review all applications from those eligible for
consideration, and in its screening decisions will consider all relevant materials, including
cumulative grade point, practical experience, letters of recommendation and other
material the student wishes to submit in support of the application. The school will also
review and assess applications to the post baccalaureate diploma program.
(a)
Prior Learning Assessment
This will be carried out in accordance with existing policy
(h)
Transferabilit
y
, both into and out of the program.
Students should be able to transfer into the minor program seamlessly. The program uses
courses for which transfer arrangements already exist between SFU and the various
colleges and universit
y
colleges in the province. Since no new courses are required for
the program outside of those already offered at the university, there are no impediments
to implementation of the program arising out of transfer issues. Students may transfer
their courses taken in the legal studies minor to other institutions the same as they may at
p
resent, on a course-b
y
-course basis, Post-baccalaureate students \vill come with a variety
10
of undergraduate degrees from a variety of institutions. Limited transfer opportunities
exist since that program is entirely composed of upper division courses for which transfer
arrangments are relatively rare.
(c) Articulation arrangements that exist (or are planned) at.'
(i) y
our institution; and
(ii)
other institutions that will allow the students to ladder or transfer into this
program
Once the program is available, it is anticipated that many students transferring from lower
level programs at colleges and university colleges will be attracted to the legal studies
minor. The lower level required courses are already taken by all students hoping to
transfer to SFU or UCFV to complete a BA degree in Criminology (SFU) or Criminal
Justice (UCFV). For those taking a lower level program in another discipline, the lower
level requirements may be made up upon transfer to SFU and are not onerous. The vast
bulk ofthe courses required for the minor are offered at the upper level, and accordingly
will not affect the typical transfer student.
Beyond the .existing course-by-course transfer arrangements, there are no other existing
or planned articulation agreements with other programs or institutions.
4.
Program Resources and Timelines
4.1
De4ribe the resources that will be required to mount this program including:
(a) Existing and shared resources at your institution or at other institutions that will be
used toffer the program (facilities, library resources, faculty, etc.); and
Sufficiet
baccalaureate
course offerings are currently available to complete a minor or a post
diploma in legal studies. The library also has adequate legal resources to
support this
I
program. Faculty with knowledge about the law, many of whom have law
be
degrees,
can ?
found in various departments and schools in the university including
concentration
Criminolo
1 ?
-7
g
y, Political
of faculty
Science,
with law
Business
degrees
Administration,
is found in criminology
and Psychology.
(currentlThe
y
five
largest
full time
regular çaculty members). Many faculty in S.F.U. departments and schools hold expertise
in various aspects of legal studies with credentials other than those coming from law
faculti es ! L
(b) Additional resources that will be required to offer this program (facilities, library,
resource, faculty, etc.)
No additonal resources wi
l
l be required to offer this program. Program administration
and instructional
costs can be met from existing operating funds.
4.2 Wha/, ?
(aizj; 0112cr programs will he reduced or el ininated in order to initiate the
neit' pro,ram?
No other programs will be reduced or eliminated.
4.3 What is the intended implementation schedule of the degree program?
It
is
intended that the program will begin in September
2006
.
.
12
