Starting with law
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| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
The law, as well as being a fascinating subject, underpins practically every aspect of modern life. From driving a car, to drinking a cup of coffee in a café, we are interacting with and affected by the law. This introductory course asks you to examine why law matters. It explores the rights and responsibilities of the individual, beginning with childhood, through to adulthood and finally into old age. You will examine how the law affects us at different points in our lives, and how we gain (and sometimes lose) our legal rights and responsibilities.
Course content
This course is suitable if you are a beginner or returning to study. It will also help you to develop your study skills and become a confident learner. Starting with an orientation into the legal system, the course examines why law matters, how laws are made, why we need laws and who the key players are in the legal system. It then moves on to looking at the individual and considers:
- What are our rights as children?
- How do our rights and responsibilities change as we get older?
- Can we sometimes lose our rights as we get old or ill?
Throughout the course, you’ll focus on the members of a fictitious ‘family’ examining these topics from each member’s viewpoint.
Starting with law introduces key legal concepts and develops your knowledge of the way the law works. Whether you are simply interested in finding out about this fascinating and challenging subject or thinking of further study in law, this course has much to offer.
The course materials have been prepared with the needs of new learners in mind. They assume no special knowledge and no experience of studying. Taking examples from everyday life, they enable you to start from your general knowledge and interests, and gradually build up to degree-level study. Learning skills are key to the course, and skills such as time management, note taking, reading for study purposes and reflection on your own learning are explored.
Entry
There are no entry requirements. The course is designed for students who have not studied before or who may have studied a long time ago.
This Openings course would be useful if you are interested in going on to our longer Level 1 course Rules, rights and justice: an introduction to law (W100).
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
This course can count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Alternative questions will be provided for any assignments that depend on visual or aural material. Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific or foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. The course materials are available on audio in DAISY Digital Talking Book format. Large print versions of the printed course materials can be provided on request. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books and a DVD.
You will need
Access to a telephone (preferably a landline) for contact with your tutor; and the equipment to play and watch a video DVD e.g. a television and DVD player or a personal computer with DVD-ROM.
A computer is not essential to study an Openings course. However, if you wish to send and receive emails and use our online service, you will need access to both the internet and a computer.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will keep in touch by telephone. There are no face-to-face tutorials: all tutorials are conducted by telephone. Your tutor will help you to plan your work and to think about the ideas explored in the course. Your tutor will also comment on and help you with your written work. At the end of the course you will discuss your progress with your tutor, and you will work together to produce a review of your study plans.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
You will be asked to submit an end-of-course assessment (ECA) as well as a learning plan and review. If you submit at least one TMA and achieve the appropriate standard in the ECA you will gain 10 credit points at Level 1 that can count towards a degree.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The course starts four times a year, in March, June, September and November. Each course lasts for a maximum of 20 weeks, although you can take less time if you want to.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Law.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
I really enjoyed this course and would recommend it to anyone who wants a basic grounding in law. The course ...
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This was my first academic study for 45 years, and proved to be a great way to find myself back ...
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