Utbildningsinfo
IN ENGLISH
Malmö universitet
Course syllabus spring 2015
Course syllabus spring 2015
Title
Human Rights II
Swedish title
Human Rights II
Course code
MR105L
Credits
30 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2014-11-26
Syllabus valid from
2015-01-19
Entry requirements
Prerequisite course for this course is: MR101E Human Rights I (passed)
Level
Basic level
Main field
Human Rights
Progression level
G1F
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the field of Human Rights, in terms of both theory and methodology. Students will also acquire an ability to analyse central questions and problems within the field in an independent and critical manner. This is primarily achieved through project work.
Course contents
  • Politics and HR II (7.5 credits)
  • Philosophy, religion and HR II (7,5 credits)
  • Law and HR II (7.5 credits)
  • Method and project work (7.5 credits)
The first module (politics and HR II) relates to study of modern theories of society and their importance for the analysis of human rights. The second module (philosophy, religion and HR II) deals with the debate between universalism and multiculturalism in the concept and understanding of human rights. The third module (law and HR II) addresses the function of regional legal systems and their relation to the UN system for the legal protection of human rights. The fourth module (method and project work) comprises of a project work and integrated method aiming to give knowledge, understanding and abilities relevant for writing of a thesis, and for the analysis of human rights in general. The method teaching is carried out as an integrated part of the project work and runs parallelly to the process of the essay.
Learning outcomes
Human rights II consists of four modules of 7,5 credits each, with the following learning outcomes:
Module 1: Politics and human rights II
After finishing the course the student:
  • can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the political perspectives of human rights, especially modern theories in society and their importance for the analysis of human rights;
  • can demonstrate, within given time frames, an ability to identify, formulate, and solve questions and problematizations based on applying modern theories in society and their importance for the analysis of human rights.
  • Can demonstrate an in-depth ability to analyse, interpret the development of and critically reflect over modern theories in society and their importance for the analysis of human rights.
Module 2: Philosophy, religion and human rights II
After finishing the course the student:
  • can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of perspectives involving philosophy and religion in relation to human rights, especially concerning issues about women's rights and human development, multiculturalism, and freedom of religion in secular states.
  • can demonstrate, within given time frames, an ability to identify, formulate, and solve questions and problematizations based on applying theories within philosophy and religion on matters pertaining to human rights.
  • can demonstrate, in relation to human rights, an in-depth ability to analyze, interpret the development of, and critically reflect on issues concerning women's rights and human development, multiculturalism, and freedom of religion in secular states.
Module 3: Law and human rights II
After finishing the course, the student:
  • can demonstrate knowledge and understanding, based on the legal perspective of human rights and an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the international legal system for the protection of human rights and its connection to regional human rights systems.
  • can demonstrate an in-depth ability to analyse, interpret the development of, and critically evaluate the global system of human rights and how it connects to the human rights context of regional systems;
  • can demonstrate, within given time frames, an ability, from a legal perspective, to identify, formulate, and solve questions and problematizations based on applying regional human rights systems;
  • can demonstrate an ability, both orally and in writing, to give a critical legal account of their assessment and analysis of these problems and tasks;
Module 4: Method and project work
After finishing the course, the student:
  • can demonstrate knowledge and understanding about legal, social scientific and philosophical methods- can demonstrate an ability, individually or as part of a group, to collect and revise material on human rights that is relevant to the topics covered by the modules, and can give a logical and coherent account of this material and information.
  • can demonstrate an in-depth ability to independently evaluate their knowledge of human rights and identify their need for further competency within the subject.
An overall learning outcome of the course in its entirety is that the student shall demonstrate the ability to write well-formulated academic texts in a coherent structure and the correct usage of references.
Learning activities
Instruction in Modules 1-3 is given primarily in the form of lectures and in -depth seminars. A large portion of the learning activities on the course is devoted to self-study for the students. During the project work, teachers supervision as well as methodology teaching is provided. The learning activities presuppose active participation from the students.
Assessment
Assessment of modules 1-3 is carried out by means of mandatory assignments to be completed outside class. Module 4 (method and project work) is examined continuously through participation and assessment of exercises and written assignments of methodology, relating to the project work, as well as the completion of a submitted written assignment. Appraisal in the above forms of examination focuses partly on the student's knowledge and understanding of those problems within the fields of human rights covered by the different modules and partly on the student's ability, within given time frames and in line with other examination requirements, to critically analyse, evaluate and solve issues relating to the subject area. Also included in the assessment is the student's ability to analyse and reflect upon the extent to which human rights are firmly established in contemporary society.
Re-take examinations: Students who do not pass the regular course exams have the minimum of two re-sit opportunities. Re-takes follow the same form as the original exams.
Course literature and other study material
Module 1: Politics and HR II
  • Callinicos, Alex (2007) Social Theory: A Historical Introduction, 2nd Edition. Polity Press
There may be additional articles (max 300 pages) in lecture presentations
Module 2: Philosophy, religion and HR II
  • Blackford, Russell (2012) Freedom of religion & the secular state (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell).
  • Kymlicka, Will (1995) Multicultural citizenship (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
  • Okin, Susan Moller: Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?, Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press 1999 (excerpt, about 30 p.)
  • Okin, Susan Moller: "Poverty, Well-Being, and Gender: What Counts, Who's Heard?", Philosophy & Public Affairs, Vol. 31, No. 3, (Summer, 2003), pp. 280-316.
  • Nussbaum, Martha (2000) Women and human development (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
  • Skerker, Michael: "Nussbaum's Capabilities Approach and Religion", The Journal of Religion, Vol. 84, No. 3 (July 2004), pp. 379-409
There may be additional articles (max 100 pages) in lecture presentations
Module 3: Law and HR II
  • Cameron Iain (2010) Introduction to the European Convention on Human Rights (Uppsala: Iustus förlag).
  • Smith, Rhona (latest ed.), Textbook on International Human Rights (Oxford: Oxford UP)
There may be additional articles (max 300 pages) in lecture presentations.
Module 4: Method and project work
  • Landman, Todd (2002) Comparative Politics and Human Rights Human Rights Quarterly, 24 (4): 890-923.
  • May, Tim (2001), Social Science Research (London: Open University).
  • Shelton, Dinah (2006) Normative Hierarchy in International Law The American Journal of International Law, vol 100, no 2: 291-323.
  • Strong, S.I, (2014) How to write Law Essays and Exams, Oxford UP
  • Thomson, Anne (1999) Critical reasoning in ethics: a practical introduction, London: Routledge
  • Walliman, Nicholas (2010), Research methods: The basics (Taylor and Francis)
  • Weston, Anthony (2009) Rulebook for Arguments. Hackett Publishing.
Recommended additional reading: Warburton, Nigel (2000) Thinking From A to Z (London: Routledge).
There may be additional articles (max 300 pages) in lecture presentations.
Course evaluation
All students are offered an opportunity to give oral or 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.
Student participation takes place through the course council.