SPS103 Law and Ethics
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Social and Political Sciences
Course Objectives
The aims of this course are: • To help students understand the complexities and “pros and cons” of moral, ethical and legal decision making, and to coherently present both sides of the argument. • To emphasize students’ ability to critically assess information, including perspectives contrary to their own ones. • To assist students to think beyond their geographic, social and religious borders. • To ensure that students know the historical and geographic context of morals, ethics and law as well as the search for moral and ethical universality. • To increase students' ability to apply ethical theory to practical personal and professional decision-making. • To increase students' awareness and recognition that ethics is not just a matter of opinion
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
McInerney & Rainbolt. (1994). Ethics. Harper Collins Canada
Additional Literature
Teaching Methods
Lectures
Class discussion with examples
Quizzes and exams.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction | Chapter 1 |
| 2 | Approaching Ethics | Chapter 2 |
| 3 | Uncovering the Roots of Ethics / I QUIZ | Chapter 3 |
| 4 | Surveying Key Ethical Theories I | Chapter 4 |
| 5 | Surveying Key Ethical Theories II | Chapter 5 |
| 6 | Surveying Key Ethical Theories III / II QUIZ | Chapter 6 |
| 7 | Applying Ethics to Real Life: Biomedical Ethics | Chapter 8 |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Applying Ethics to Real Life / III QUIZ | Chapter 10 |
| 10 | Applying Ethics to Real Life: Environmental Ethics | Chapter 11 |
| 11 | Applying Ethics to Real Life: Human Rights / IV QUIZ | The Universal Declaration |
| 12 | Applying Ethics to Real Life: Just and Justified Wars | Movie Session |
| 13 | Applying Ethics to Real Life: Just and Justified Wars | Selected Articles |
| 14 | Review Week | |
| 15 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Mid-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Quizes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Movie Reflection Paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Attendance and Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
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:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home study
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Quizes
8 hours ⏳ (4 week × 2 h)
Reflection Paper
6 hours ⏳ (3 week × 2 h)
Mid-term exam study
24 hours ⏳ (8 week × 3 h)
Final exam study
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 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 [SPS103] 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 Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | Not Allowed | ||
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Mid-term exam | 1 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Quizes | 1 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Movie Reflection Paper | 1 | 10 | Not Allowed | ||
| Attendance and Participation | 1 | 10 | Not Allowed | ||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home study | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Quizes | 2 | 4 | 8 | Reflection Paper | 2 | 3 | 6 | |||
| Mid-term exam study | 3 | 8 | 24 | Final exam study | 3 | 14 | 42 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||