Human Rights I (at least 25 credits from MR110L or MR101L, or equivalent).

The course is part of the main field of study Human Rights at the 31-60 credit level and meets the degree requirements for the degree of Bachelor, main field of study Human Rights.

The aim of the course is to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the field of Human Rights from a multidisciplinary perspective. Students will also acquire an ability to analyse central questions and problems within the field in an independent and critical manner.

The course consists of three modules:

1. Contemporary Human Rights Issues (15 credits)

The module will deal with contemporary issues and central questions within the field of human rights. The first part of the module addresses the drafting and establishment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Besides the process itself, it addresses central human rights issues arising from the establishment of the declaration. The second part of the module will continue with tracing the central human rights issues originating from the establishment of the Universal Declaration in contemporary human rights debates.

2. Method (7,5 credits)

The module covers primary methods and methodological issues of relevance for the study of human rights.

3. Project work (7,5 credits)

The module consists of a project work including a presentation, defence and evaluation of project works.

Module 1: Contemporary Human Rights Issues

After completing the module, the student will

1. have a broader and in-depth understanding of the origins of and contemporary human rights issues from a multidisciplinary perspective;
2. have the ability to independently analyse and critically reflect upon contemporary issues within the field of human rights;
3. have an in-depth understanding of and the capability to analyse the causes, dynamics and different interpretations of human rights issues;
4. be able to discuss and problematise contemporary human rights issues by applying relevant scientific approaches and theories to an independently selected material.

Module 2: Method

After completing the module, the student will

1. have a basic knowledge of the connection between scientific problem, research question and the choice of theory and method;
2. have a basic knowledge and understanding of scientific theory and different methods within humanities and social sciences
3. have the capability to formulate a research question and to argue for the use of relevant methods and material.

Module 3: Project Work

After completing the module, the student will

1. be able to analyse human rights issues by applying relevant theories and methods;
2. be able to cooperate and to complete the project within a group setting;
3. be able to structure an academic text, use academic formalities, and on a basic level master an academic language;
4. have the ability to evaluate and defend an academic text.

The course is designed for full-time study. The teaching activities in the first module is mainly lectures seminars, and workshops. During the second and third modules the teaching activities consist of lectures, seminars and supervision. The majority of the learning activities consists of independent study. The learning activities presuppose active participation from the students. Students who have not presented a passing project work are not given further supervision.

**1.Contemporary Human Rights Issues
**

The students’ performance in the module is assessed by means of written assignments.
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 will be assessed by an individual home exam 5 hp.
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be assessed by an individual written assignment 5 hp.
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be assessed by an individual written assignment 5 hp.

2. Method

The students’ performance in the module are assessed by seminar participation and an individual written assignment.
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 will be assessed by an individual written assignment 5.5 hp.
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 will be assessed by seminar participation 2 hp.

3. Project Work

The students’ performance in the module is examined by the completion of a written project work and an oral opposition seminar.
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 are assessed by a written project work 5.5 hp.
Learning outcome 4 is assessed by an oral opposition seminar 2 hp.

In order to achieve a passing grade on the course in its entirety, the grade Pass is required for each examination.

Module 1: Current Human Rights Issues

• Donnelly, Jack, (2013), Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice, Cornell University Press
• Freeman, Michael, (2011), Human Rights: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Polity Press.
• Hayden, Patrick, (2001), The Philosophy of Human Rights, Paragon House Publishers
• Ishay, Micheline, R., (2006) The Human Rights Reader, Routledge.
• Keller, Helen & Ulfstein, Geir, (2012),UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, Cambridge University Press (e-book, Malmö University)
• Rodriguez-Garavito, Csar (Ed.): Business and Human Rights: Beyond the end of the beginning, Cambridge Univ. Press 2018. (Available as e-book through Malmö University Library)
• Morsink, Johannes (2000) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Origins, Drafting and Intent, University of Pennsylvania Press
• Additional 500 pages of scientific articles and primary source material from the United Nations archives.
• Additional 800 pages of articles and material individually selected by students.

Module 2: Method

• Halperin, Sandra & Heath, Oliver (latest edition) Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
• May, Tim (2001), Social Science Research (London: Open University).
• There may be additional articles (max 300 pages) in lecture presentations.

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students will be offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the changes.

The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.

The Language of Instruction is English