Integrated Study Program of Second Cycle: Master of Science in Law
a. About the program
The Integrated Study Program of Second Cycle: Master of Science in Law provides an education for all those students who are interested in building their professional career in both public and private sector in the field of law. This program offers to the students the opportunity to prepare for active and effective participation as professionals in: legal advice, advocacy and decision-making, as well as in the criminal, public or civil areas. Students are encouraged to study law and legal institutions as an integral part of social and political-economic systems.
b. Mission
The Department of Law mission is to prepare lawyers and future qualified leaders who will contribute to the advancement of justice and the well-being of society; able to take positions and employed in the judiciary system, advocacy, various public and local government and in the private sector. The Department is committed of being an institution in solving legal, social, economic and political problems, domestic and international that are of particular interest to society.
c. Vision
The vision of the Department of Law is to present to the students a program with all the necessary knowledge for a more academic and professional preparation in the field of law, based on professional ethics in order to develop critical thinking in students and to make them understand the importance of their role in society. For this reason, the Integrated Study Program of Second Cycle: Master of Science in Law has the mission to prepare future lawyers, qualified in the civil, criminal, administrative, commercial, procedural area in the national and international aspect, with the interpretive skills needed to solve law enforcement problems that can serve public and business institutions in the country and abroad.
d. The Duration of Studies
As provided in the Regulation of the Program, the normal duration of the Integrated Study Program of Second Cycle: Master of Science in Law is ten semesters. The maximum period of study is twice then normal duration of studies.
e. Number of ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System)
The Integrated Study Program of Second Cycle: Master of Science in Law is realized with 300 ECTS, in accordance with the curriculum proposed by the Department of Law, by decision of the Faculty Council and approved by the decision of the Academic Senate of the University College “Bedër “.
f. Language of Instruction
The language of instruction of the program is the Albanian language. However, taking into account the international developments in the field of law and Albania's aspirations in the European Union, courses of international and European law can also be taught in English.
g. Degree title
The name of the diploma obtained by the student who completes the studies in the Integrated Study Program of Second Cycle: Master of Science in Law is provided in the Program Regulation. At the end of the program, students will be provided with a “Diploma Master of Science in Law”.
h. Employment Opportunities
This program is designed in such a way as to be related to both the private and the public market, in job positions that require specializations in law with knowledge of domestic, international and European law.
The study program aims to train professionals prepared for a diversified labor market, such as domestic, regional, European and international market. Through this program, it is aimed the employment at the following sectors:
• Lawyer in central and local government
• Lawyer / legal consultant in private companies
• Lawyer in international organizations in the country and beyond, as specialists in international law and European law
• Lawyer / legal consultant in public, banking and arbitration services
• Advocacy / notary as well as qualification for participation in the professions exam
• Research / teaching assistant at Higher Education Institutions in Albania and beyond
The integrated second cycle study program qualifies students to participate in the state exams of the liberal professions and for School of Magistrates.
i. Objectives of the Integrated Study Program of Second Cycle: Master of Science in Law
The objectives of this program are to provide a general training in the field of legal sciences, offering disciplines of general basic training and disciplines of specialized training, combined with international and European law development. The study program aims to provide a general training in legal sciences combined between national law and International and European law.
The program aims:
o To provide students with general knowledge based on subjects of basic formation of historical and philosophical characters as well as to realize during other academic years the deepening of knowledge that coincides with the profile of the degree in law, setting specific objectives for the preparation of experts in in the field of justice, capable of operating in this field, in the state or private sector.
o To provide students with the basic knowledge that will be needed to follow other consecutive cycles of study, and at the same time to respond to the demands that students will face while practicing their profession.
o To integrate teaching, research and services in order to enrich the learning experience, conveying the latest innovations in the field of science and jurisprudence.
o To offer students the formation of professional experience through professional practices and special subjects of the legal clinic, through opportunities to participate in resolving legal disputes.
o To enable the development of cooperation with all public and private institutions that are an integral part of the country judiciary system, regional and European.
o To acquire skills to adapt to the labor market in various areas of public and private international law.
o To be competitive at the local, regional, European and wider level through the experience and qualification of guest academic staff, the organization of debates and discussions on various issues in the field of law, as well as the service of students of a rich legal and contemporary literature.
o To familiarize students with international and European law and demonstrate solid skills in recognizing the principles of international law as well as law enforcement under different legal regimes.
j. Curriculum
The curriculum is organized in 5 (five) years, 10 (ten) semesters, with 32 weeks per year, including exam weeks. The program consists of 300 ECTS credits which provide 60 ECTS per year.
The teaching methods, inter alia, includes lectures, seminars and course assignments and at the end of each course is foreseen the development of the respective exam, as well as the diploma thesis after the completion of all exams. The 5-year study program is organized with a total of 35 modules, organized in constituent subjects including internship and diploma thesis.
The teaching schedule is built on the basis of harmonization of learning elements and rational distribution of student workload. This load varies from 20 - 24 hours per week.
Courses are classified into two main groups: compulsory courses and elective courses. The attached curriculum tables are organized as follows:
Year I 12 courses / modules
Year II 12 courses / modules
Year III 12 courses / modules
Year IV 12 courses / modules of which 2 electives
Year V 7 courses / modules of which 3 electives
The total annual load in the auditorium for the years of study is:
Year I 600 hours / year
Year II 670 hours / year
Year III 680 hours / year
Year IV 685 hours / year
Year V 495 hours / year
with a total of 3130 hours in the auditorium and 4,370 hours for independent work.
The off-site load for the years of study is:
Year I 900 hours / year
Year II 830 hours / year
Year III 820 hours / year
Year IV 815 hours / year
Year V 1005 hours / year
with a total of 4,370 hours / year
The curriculum includes the relevant credits for each subject or training activity. The courses are
grouped in the formative activities from A to F, as follows:
General training disciplines: A 51 credits
Characteristic discipline: B 161 credits
Characteristic discipline: C 24 credits
Elective Disciplines: D 20 credits
Other training knowledge: E 14 credits
Diploma Thesis, final exam: F 30 credits
Each course includes its syllabus with the relevant elements: the name of the course / module, the year / semester when the course takes place, the name and qualification of the lecturer who will develop the course, the place that the course occupies in the overall formation of the student, the knowledge and skills students this course, topics that the course will address in theoretical and practical training, loads per hour in the auditorium and outside the auditorium, as well as in ECTS, forms and methods of teaching the course and the relationships between them, student assessment forms and obligations for the subject, as well as the mandatory and auxiliary literature, being in accordance with the legal requirements.