Course syllabus autumn 2009
Course syllabus autumn 2009
Title
Human Rights I
Swedish title
Human Rights I
Course code
MR101E
Credits
30 credits
Grading scale
UV / Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Board of Studies at Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2009-05-06
Syllabus valid from
2009-09-01
Entry requirements
English B.
Level
Basic level
Main field
Human Rights
Progression level
G1N
Course contents
The course contains the following modules:
- Law and HR (7,5 credits)
- Politics and HR (7,5 credits)
- Philosophy, Religion and HR (7,5 credits)
- Project Work (7,5 credits)
The first module (Law and HR) comprises studies both of the basic regulation of international laws on human rights and of control measures to safeguard human rights. The second module (Politics and HR) comprises studies of human rights in relation to the concept of state, and with regard to political power and democratic processes. The third module (Philosophy, Religion and HR) comprises studies of philosophical and ethical theories and discussions regarding human rights. The fourth module The fourth module (Project Work) consists of writing a land analysis from a multidisciplinary perspective on human rights.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
After finishing the course, the student:
- can show knowledge and understanding of international law and the regulation of international laws on human rights, as well as the relationship between international and national law;
- can show knowledge and understanding of the capacity and political power the State has to guarantee the furtherance and protection of human rights; furthermore, can show knowledge and understanding of the problems which may arise because of weak political support for human rights;
- can show knowledge and understanding of the relationship between, on the one hand, democracy and human rights, and, on the other hand, state sovereignty and human rights within the field of international politics;
- can show knowledge and understanding of the following: (i)the background of the history of ideas related to human rights, (ii) the relationship between human rights as a juridical and philosophical phenomenon and (iii)contemporary philosophical discussion on human rights;
- can show knowledge and understanding of the implications of the claim to universal status in regard to rights, at the same time bearing in mind different cultural representations of rights and responsibilities as well as the value systems of world religions and
- can show knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives: environment, gender, and migration and ethnicity.
Applying knowledge and understanding
After finishing the course, the student:
- can show the ability to identify, formulate and resolve questions and assignments relating to human rights from a juridical as well as a political and a philosophical standpoint, within given timetables;
- can discuss and present an evaluation and analysis of these questions and assignments, both orally and in writing;
- can, individually, or as part of a group, collect material and work with information on human rights, and present related conclusions in a logical and coherent fashion;
- can identify future labour markets in areas where operation is fundamentally dependent upon the concept of human rights and
- can apply knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives to issues pertaining to human rights.
Making judgments and communication skills
After finishing the course, the student:
- can show the ability to analyse and interpret the development of human rights from a multidisciplinary perspective, and can reflect critically over the importance of human rights in contemporary society;
- can show the ability to make evaluations of questions within the field of human rights from a multidisciplinary perspective and
- can independently evaluate his or her knowledge of the subject and identify areas where he/she requires further knowledge within the field of human rights.
Learning activities
Teaching in Modules 1-3 is principally in the form of lectures and seminars. During the fourth module, separate project meetings are held, wherein students receive individual supervision of their project work.
A large part of the learning on the course is achieved by means of self-studies.
Assessment
Students’ performance in Modules 1-3 is appraised by means of formal examinations and assessed home assignments. The fourth module is assessed by means of a written land analysis. The examinations test knowledge and understanding of the Human Rights issues covered in the modules as well as the student’s ability, within agreed timetables and in line with other examination requirements, to critically analyse, evaluate and resolve Human Rights questions. In addition, the student’s ability to analyse and reflect upon the support for human rights in contemporary society is evaluated.
Re-sit examinations
Students who do not pass the regular course exams have the minimum of two re-sit opportunities. Re-sits follow the same form as the original exams, apart from re-sits for group work, which take the form of individual written and oral assignments.
Course literature and other study material
Course 1: Law and HR
- Dixon, Martin (2007), Textbook on International Law (Oxford: Oxford UP)
- Smith, Rhona (latest ed), Textbook on International Human Rights Law (Oxford: Oxford UP)
- Andrew Clapham (2007), Human Rights. A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford UP)
- Linda Fasulo (2004), An Insider’s Guide to the UN (Yale University Press)
- Documents in Public International Law (2nd ed 2008), Maja Eriksson, Olle Mårsäter, Sia S. Åkermark (Norstedts Juridik)
Alternative book to Documents in Public International Law is the following book: @@Basic Documents on Human Rights, I Brownlie (ed) (Oxford: Oxford UP 2002)
There may be additional articles of 100 pages max – see lecture presentations.
Course 2: Politics and HR
- Dahl, Robert (1989) Democracy and Its Critics (New Haven: Yale UP).
- Forsythe, David, Roger Coate & Thomas Weiss (2004) United Nations and Changing World Politics (Boulder: Westview).
- Todd Landman (2004) “Measuring Human Rights” Human Rights Quarterly, vol 26: 906-931. Available online through the library’s webpage.
- Rotbeg, Robert (2003) State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror (Washington: Brookings Institution Press).
- Stein, Eric (2001) ’International Integration and Democracy: No Love at First Sight’ American Journal of International Law, vol 95, no 3: 489-534. Available through the library’s “search articles” (J-Stor database).
There may be additional articles of 100 pages max – see lecture presentations.
Course 3: Philosophy, religion and HR
- Patrick Hayden (2001) The Philosophy of Human Rights St. Paul: Paragon House. (IBSN 1-55778-790-5). Reading instructions will be given by teachers.
- Brian Orend (2002) Human Rights. Concept and Context. Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press (ISBN 1-55111-436-4) 272 pp. incl. appendix
- David Miller (2003) Political Philosophy. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press (ISBN 978-0192803955) 160 pp.
- Nancy Martin et al (2003) Human Rights and Responsibilities in the World Religions Oneworld Publications (ISBN-13: 978-1851683093) 352 pp. Reading instructions will be given by teachers.
There may be additional articles of 100 pages max – see lecture presentations.
Course 4: Project work
No course literature.
Course evaluation
All students are offered an opportunity to give oral and written feedback at the end of the course. A summary of the results will be made available on the school’s web-pages. The students are also given a possibility to offer feedback for each module/unit.
Student participation takes place through the course council.