LAW120 Introduction to Law II
LAW120 Introduction to Law II
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Law
Harun Halilović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course is the continuation of Introduction to Law I. This semester we shall continue with the coverage of the major areas of law. Among others, we will cover the nature, sources and interpretation of legal norms, and specific fields such as international law, human rights law, legal philosophy and other areas. The primary aim of this course will be to equip students with the foundational knowledge of law so that they can better follow specialised law courses that will be on offer later on during their studies at IUS. The secondary aims of this course are to help students develop critical-thinking abilities and skills.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017). Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994).
Additional Literature
For further perspective on topics of EU Law: Davies, Karen, Understanding European Union Law, 5th ed. (Routledge, 2013). For further perspective on topics of International law: Lowe, Vaughan, International Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2015). Additional materials may be distributed over the course of the semester.Teaching Methods
The primary teaching method will be the lecture method
However, other methods will be employed as well where and when appropriate, in particular the group discussion and problem solving
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction class | Introduction to the course |
| 2 | Legal norm | Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994), p 3- 25 |
| 3 | Types of legal norms | Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994), p 25 - 50. |
| 4 | Sources of legal norms | Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994), p 193- 240 |
| 5 | Interpretation of legal norms | Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994). |
| 6 | International Law, part I | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 278 - 301 |
| 7 | International Law, part II, Quiz 1 | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 278 - 301 |
| 8 | Mid-term exam | All materials up to 8 weeks |
| 9 | EU Law, part I | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 229 - 250 |
| 10 | EU Law, part II | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 229 - 250 |
| 11 | Organized student visit (TBD) | Practical part of the course |
| 12 | Human Rights, part I | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 305 - 329 |
| 13 | Human rights, part II, Quiz 2 | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 332- 358 |
| 14 | Philosophy of Law | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 360 - 382 |
| 15 | Revision and preparation for the Final Exam | All materials up to 15 weeks |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW120.1 | Course | Thursday 09:00 - 11:50 | A F1.10 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 15:00 | A F2.21 | |
| Thursday | 12:00 - 14:00 | A F2.21 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Mid-Term Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quiz 1
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quiz 2
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lectures
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Preparation for the Lectures
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Preparation for the Midterm Exam
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
Preparation for the quiz
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Preparation for the Final exam
25 hours ⏳ (1 week × 25 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [LAW120] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| LAW120 | Introduction to Law II | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Harun Halilović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-15:00 Thursday: 12:00-14:00 |
|||||||
| hhalilovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is the continuation of Introduction to Law I. This semester we shall continue with the coverage of the major areas of law. Among others, we will cover the nature, sources and interpretation of legal norms, and specific fields such as international law, human rights law, legal philosophy and other areas. The primary aim of this course will be to equip students with the foundational knowledge of law so that they can better follow specialised law courses that will be on offer later on during their studies at IUS. The secondary aims of this course are to help students develop critical-thinking abilities and skills. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017). Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994). | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The primary teaching method will be the lecture method. However, other methods will be employed as well where and when appropriate, in particular the group discussion and problem solving. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction class | Introduction to the course | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Legal norm | Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994), p 3- 25 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Types of legal norms | Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994), p 25 - 50. | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Sources of legal norms | Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994), p 193- 240 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Interpretation of legal norms | Perić, Berislav, Struktura prava, 12th ed. (Informator, 1994). | ||||||||
| Week 6 | International Law, part I | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 278 - 301 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | International Law, part II, Quiz 1 | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 278 - 301 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-term exam | All materials up to 8 weeks | ||||||||
| Week 9 | EU Law, part I | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 229 - 250 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | EU Law, part II | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 229 - 250 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Organized student visit (TBD) | Practical part of the course | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Human Rights, part I | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 305 - 329 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Human rights, part II, Quiz 2 | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 332- 358 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Philosophy of Law | Hage, Waltermann and Akkermans, Introduction to Law, 2nd ed. (Springer, 2017), p. 360 - 382 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Revision and preparation for the Final Exam | All materials up to 15 weeks | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Mid-Term Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz 1 | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz 2 | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lectures | 3 | 15 | 45 | Preparation for the Lectures | 3 | 15 | 45 | |||
| Preparation for the Midterm Exam | 15 | 1 | 15 | Preparation for the quiz | 10 | 2 | 20 | |||
| Preparation for the Final exam | 25 | 1 | 25 | 0 | ||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 20/02/2026 | |||||||||