Course description
Course Description
The MA in Theory and Practice of Human Rights is an interdisciplinary course that examines the history, theoretical development and implementation of human rights. It is intended both for those who want to work in the field and for those interested in the legal, political, sociological or ethical theory.
Modules and Options
The lists of modules below represent the range of options available for each year of study. This may not be a complete list of the options you will study, and may be subject to change, so please contact the department for further details.
Stage 1
BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
COLONIALISM, CULTURE AND GLOBALIZATION
COMPARATIVE POLITICS OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Compulsory: HUMAN RIGHTS COLLOQUIUM
Core: DISSERTATION: MA THEORY & PRACTICE HUMAN RIGHTS
CURRENT CONTROVERSIES IN CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH
DEMOCRACY BEYOND THE NATION STATE? THE CASE OF EUROPE
DEMOCRACY, CITIZENSHIP AND CONSTITUTIONS
DYNAMICS OF HOME AND WORK IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
ETHICS, POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY II: MA SEMINAR
EUROPEAN CONVENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS I
GAY, LESBIAN AND QUEER LIFE: GENDER, SEXUALITIES AND CHANGE
GAY, LESBIAN AND QUEER LIFE: HISTORY AND VISUAL CULTURE
GENDER DIVISIONS AND FEMINIST THEORY
GENDER, JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT
GLOBALIZATION, INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND ETHNICITY
HUMAN RIGHTS ACROSS NATIONS AND CULTURES
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR WOMEN
HUMAN RIGHTS IN PHILOSOPHY AND LAW
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE NEW EUROPE
INTERNATIONAL CHILD LAW
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
INTRODUCTION TO THE LAW OF ARMED CONFLICTS
LAW OF INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING
PHILOSOPHY AND RIGHTS IIB
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA
PROTECTION MINORITIES IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
SOCIOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AGE OF GLOBALISATION
SOCIOLOGY OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1
SOCIOLOGY OF HUMAN RIGHTS 2: SELECTED SPECIAL TOPICS
THE CONTEMPORARY NATION STATE
THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM OF HUMAN RIGHTS
THE PROTECTION OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Teaching and Assessment Methods
A: Knowledge and Understanding
Learning Outcomes
A1 : current and recent political conflict situations in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas
A2 : long established and newly established human rights institutions, both regional and global
A3 : the main international legal instruments governing human rights
A4 : relations between the responsibilities of governments for human rights and responsibilities of non-state actors
A5 : the evolution of so-called 3rd generation human rights -women's rights, children's rights, rights of indigenous peoples etc.
A6 : current controversies in different academic disciplines over the universalism and cultural relativism of rights
A7 : recent developments in regional and national human rights jurisprudence
A8 : current practical problems in the procedures for human rights promotion, monitoring, reporting and enforcement
Teaching Methods
A1-8 are introduced through presentations by specialists, sometimes world-renowned specialists-all with theoretical and practical knowledge of human rights-to the MA Colloquium. Each presentation is followed by group work and discussion led by the Scheme Director who has an academic background in more than one of the main disciplines. Reading for each colloquium is carefully selected and made available in adcance, and everyone is expected to have digested it thoroughly in advance. Knowledge of A1-8 is reinforced in all core courses, though not all are covered in equal depth. One or more of A1-8 is gone into in depth in different core courses and in the optional courses. Within the MA students are introduced to the use of data bases and other IT resources necessary for up-to-date human rights research. Students are asked to submit a dissertation of around 16000 words. Completion of the dissertation is an important element of the MA.
Assessment Methods
Knowledge of A1-8 is formally assessed in all core courses other than the MA Colloquium. A number of methods of assessment are used: essays, including extended essays, formal term-end or year-end 3-hr examinations, class presentations, and a dissertation.
B: Intellectual/Cognitive Skills
Learning Outcomes
B1 : deal constructively and in an orderly way with politically and legally complex issues, even when information is incomplete
B2 : communicate their conclusions clearly
B3 : demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and in collecting and commenting on complex information
B4 : indicating ways of extending human rights practice and apply human rights theory to quickly evolving situations
Teaching Methods
Skills 1 and 2 are formally assessed through essays especially in the Colloquium and Government and Law core courses by means of eg discussion of different country case studies, or discussions of draft clauses of human rights documents or declarations for some of the 3rd generation rights.
Skill 2 is developed in all core courses and in the MA Colloquium by means of seminar discussion, role-play exercises, assigned oral presentations or all three.
Skills 3 and 4 are developed through the exercise of selecting and pursuing a dissertation topic that addresses both the theoretical and practical aspects of human rights in a particular country or region, or in a particular sector of human rights activity, such as election monitoring or peace-keeping.
The Scheme Director is present during all of the Colloquium classes and most of the remaining courses include class and discussion groups overseen by the relevant tutors. Class and seminar discussions are facilitated by these means.
Assessment Methods
Skills 1 and 2 are formally assessed through essay and dissertation marking.
Skills 3 and 4 are formally assessed through the marking of dissertations, and informally assessed in supervisory sessions during the preparation of dissertations.
C: Practical Skills
Learning Outcomes
C1 : retrieve, evaluate and select for relevance and credibility, information from a range of international sources.
C2 : plan, undertake and report a bibliographically based piece of research
C3 : develop techniques for assessing theoretical proposals as well as practical procedures, whether legal or customary
Teaching Methods
All graduates receive training from a trained Subject Librarian in the use of legal and other databases relevant to human rights, as well as the resources of a research library. All graduates learn how to use these databases unaided, and how to incorporate results in essay and dissertation material.
Sessions are held in the Colloquium during the Spring and Summer terms devoted to training in the preparation of dissertations in the core course disciplines and criteria for the selection of dissertation topics.
Some sessions of the Colloquium allow students to present their ideas for dissertations to the others taking the MA.
Skills 1, 2, and 3 are developed through formal supervision and marking of dissertations, as well as comments and marking of coursework essays
Assessment Methods
Assessment consists of essay and dissertation marking.
D: Key Skills
Learning Outcomes
D1 : communicate effectively at the appropriate level with appropriate audiences
D4 : (i) apply the techniques of several different bodies of theory and practice to the same cases and practical situations and (ii) recognise some of the marks of successful and failed decision-making in complex conflict situations
D6 : exercise initiative and learn independently.
Teaching Methods
Skill 1: All courses require students to participate actively in discussion, and to co-operate with colleagues in arriving at shared results on exercises. All core courses require students to work independently on essays, and there is a dissertation component.
Skill 4: Students cannot graduate from the MA in only a single discipline. The exposure to more than one discipline, and sometimes three, enables them to enter into different systematic approaches to a single problem.
Skill 4 (i) There is an emphasis in the Colloquium and in most of the core courses on case studies that illustrate the practical and political realities of human rights work.
Skill 4 (ii): The course work and marking scheme ensure that only independent researchers are able to pass. The dissertation requirements are valuable preparation for doctoral work.
Skill 6 is developed through research on essays and dissertations.
Assessment Methods
Skills 1 and 4 are assessed through class-based work and discussion.
Skill 6 is assessed through course work and dissertation marking, and in feedback on class-based work in the Colloquium.
