MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND LAW (MSc IT&Law)
DESCRIPTION
The principal aim of this MSc IT & Law programme is to impart knowledge of the central legal issues that arise as a result of diffusion of IT innovation, and the legal implications of adoption and use of IT by individuals and organizations. In very general terms, such issues concern the ways in which IT affects the application of existing law, how existing laws affect the use of IT, and the manner in which IT functions as a regulatory mechanism in itself. Hence, the purpose of the MSc IT & Law programme is to examine the mutual shaping relationships between IT and Law. The MSc IT & Law programme will therefore, equip graduates with specialized skills which will enable them to:
- Explain the relationship between law and information and communication technology (IT) within the areas of electronic communications, intellectual property, privacy/data protection and electronic commerce.
- Suggest ways in which IT could be applied in judicial processes and enforcement of law.
- Critically assess the challenges posed by IT to law, including assessment of the efficacy of law in the digital environment.
- Interpret and apply legal rules in development and enforcement of IT contracts and service level agreements.
- Analyse the legal and regulatory implications of adoption and use of IT.
- Develop mastery of the rules and discourse of IT law and suggest and assess alternative forms of regulation to traditional law.
- Demonstrate the ability to independently plan, design, execute, and report a scholarly research project.
- Pursue higher leaning at PhD level and conduct academic research in IT and
STUDENTS’ ADMISSION
Entry Requirements for admission with Law or IT background.
- The programme is principally for applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in Law, IT and related programmes from an accredited university.
- Applicants with other academic background can also apply but a formal interview may be used to test their suitability for the programme.
- Applicants must have a minimum of second (2nd) Class Lower Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
COURSES OFFERED
IT RELATED CORE COURSE
- ICT701 Computer Systems
- SOT707 Database and Programming Concepts
- ICT702 Data Communication and Computer Networks
- SOT715 Data Analytics and Visualisation
- ITL703 Computer Forensics and Cybercrime Investigation
- SOT702 Research Methods
IT RELATED ELECTIVE COURSES
- ICT708 Software Engineering
- ICT709 IT Project Management
- ICT711 Information and Network Security
LAW RELATED CORE COURSES
- ITL709 Legal Aspects of Information Technology.
- ITL701 Legal Environment and Business Law.
- ITL707 IT Contracts and Service Level Agreements
- ITL704 Electronic Transactions Law
- ITL702 IT Aspects of Intellectual Property Law
LAW RELATED ELECTIVE COURSES
- ITI705 Information Privacy and Data Protection Laws
- ITL706 Intelligent Systems for Legal and Administrative Practices
- ITL708 Internet Governance and IT Regulation
FIRST YEAR COURSES
- TL709 Legal Aspects of Information Technologies
- ICT701 Computer Systems
- ITL707 IT Contracts and Service Level Agreements
- SOT707 Database and Programming Concepts
- SOT702 Research Methods
- ICT702 Data Communication and Computer Networks
- ITL701 Legal Environment and Business Law
SECOND YEAR COURSES
- Elective Course
- ITL703 Computer Forensics and Cybercrime Investigation
- ITL704 Electronic Transactions Law
- ITL702 IT Aspects of Intellectual Property Law
- SOT715 Data Analytics and Visualisation
- Elective Course
- SOT700 MSc Project
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY COURSES;
In the first semester:
- Students with law background will take the following three course; Computer Systems, Programming and Database Concepts, and Legal Aspects of IT.
- Students with IT related background will take the following courses; Computer Systems, Legal Aspects of IT, and Legal Environment and Business Law.
- Students with no law or IT related background will take all four first semester courses.