Curricular Offerrings

Degree Programs

The College of Law of the University of the Philippines offers the following degree programs:

• Four-year undergraduate program leading to Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree
• Five-year undergraduate program for working students leading to a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree
• Regular graduate program leading to a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree primarily for prospective law teachers and professional specialist*

Non-Degree Program

Under University rules, a mature student, even if he does not fully satisfy the entrance requirements, may be admitted as a special student and may enroll for such subjects which, in the opinion of the instructor and the Dean, he has the necessary information and ability to pursue profitably. He shall not be allowed to enroll for more than nine (9) units a semester or to register for more than two (2) years, except by special permission of the Dean. Subjects taken shall be without credit.

Foreign graduate students in the regular Master of Law Program who do not fulfill the requirements which make it possible to admit them as formal candidates for the LL.M. degree, may be admitted as special students. Special students may qualify for a Certificate of Graduate Studies certifying the work successfully completed during the period of studying in the College of Law.

[*Admission to the Master of Law (LL.M.) Program has been suspended indefinitely]

Admission Requirements

No students shall be admitted to the program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Law unless he has satisfactorily completed in an authorized university or college a bachelor's degree in arts or science with any of the following subjects as major or field of concentration:

• Political Science
• Philosophy
• English
• History
• Economics

A bachelor's degree holder in a field other than those mentioned above must have earned the following minimum number of units:

English - 12 units
History and/or Economics - 9 units
Plus Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology - 9 units
and a course on Rizal - 3 units

An applicant shall be required to take the Law Aptitude Examination and, if he/she should qualify, to undergo an interview.

The UP LAE is usually administered in the third week of November in four (4) testing centers (UP Diliman, UP Baguio, UP Cebu, and UP Mindanao).

Holders of graduate degrees are not exempted from taking the test.

No student shall be admitted to the College unless the Committee on Student Admissions recommends his admission.

Only those who are employed full-time shall be permitted to enroll in the evening classes.

Classes

Subject-Matter of Courses

The courses comprehended a study of general principles and basic theories of law as an intellectual discipline, as well as systematic and analytical examination of the specific codes and other statutory enactment's in force in the Philippines together with inter-pretative court decisions and other pertinent materials. The civil-law basis of the most of the private laws of the country and the common-law concept embodied to the public laws and derived particularly from Anglo-American jurisprudence, are closely borne in mind. Consequently, the materials of study are textbooks, statutes, cases and other authoritative works on law and jurisprudence. Non-legal materials derived from other branches of the social sciences which have a bearing on the development and significance of law are often resorted to for a better understanding of the meaning if specific legal provisions and their underlying policies.

Medium of Instruction

English is generally used as the medium of instruction.

Methods of Instruction

Instruction is, unless otherwise indicated in the course description, by the question and answer method accompanied by discussion to enable the student to understand the vital points in the assignment, to develop an analytical faculty, and to engender a critical attitude with respect to rules, conclusions, or theories. This form of the modified Socratic method is used whether the class is studying a textbook, a court decision, or a statutory provision. the purely lecture method is very rarely used. The title of lecturer or professorial lecturer given to some members of the faculty reference to their part-time status in the teaching staff rather than to he method they are expected to follow in their class instruction.

In the clinical method, the students are exposed to the practical problems of law practice and are given an opportunity to learn by doing.

The seminar method is also employed. A group of advanced students study under a professor or professors with each students doing original research and all exchanging results through reports and discussions.


 

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