This major addresses the human rights discipline in both theory and practice, and will equip students with an understanding of key issues relating to the study of human rights as a discipline, such as:
• The political, philosophical and historical development of ideas concerning human rights
• The emergence and role of human rights in international relations
• The interplay between human rights theory, law and practice
• Key contemporary theoretical debates on human rights
• The relationship between human rights and concepts such as social justice and equity
• The application of human rights theory in practice, such as:
o Issues around the implementation and enforcement of human rights standards
o Questions on the best mechanisms for dealing with human rights violations
o Human rights advocacy and social movements in the international system
• Contemporary case studies and issues
The Major is constructed so that the compulsory courses provide students with a robust understanding of political, legal, historical and philosophical origins and contemporary realities of the human rights field. When selecting their core courses to complete the Major, students then have a choice between selecting a pathway that will enable them to focus on a particular area of human rights (such as Indigenous rights, gender and human rights, human rights in political philosophy and the historical emergence of ideas of rights) or to select a range of courses that will enable them a broad expertise in various human rights issues (such as key contemporary issues, human rights and development, human rights in international relations).
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful
completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- identify, discuss and analyse the key moments,
issues and debates in the emergence of the contested concept of ‘human
rights’; - identify and appraise the differing applications
of human rights in theory, law and practice; - explain and assess the major contemporary
theoretical debates within the human rights discourse; and - recognize and assess the intersection between
theories of human rights and the application of human rights standards in
practice.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
A maximum of 12 units of courses at 1000 level
A minimum of 6 units of courses at 3000 level
18 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL1004 | Fundamental Ideas in Philosophy: An Introduction | 6 |
| POLS1005 | Introduction to International Relations: Foundations and Concepts | 6 |
| POLS1006 | Introduction to International Relations: Contemporary Global Issues | 6 |
A minimum of 6 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HIST2238 | Human Rights in History | 6 |
| POLS2113 | Human Rights | 6 |
| POLS3035 | The Politics of International Law | 6 |
A minimum of 6 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS2044 | Contemporary Political Analysis | 6 |
| SOCY2043 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 6 |
A maximum of 18 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH2025 | Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective | 6 |
| ANTH2009 | Culture and Development | 6 |
| ANTH2129 | Crossing Borders: Migration, Identity and Livelihood | 6 |
| ASIA2081 | Human Rights in Asia | 6 |
| ENGL3037 | Literature, Law and Human Rights | 6 |
| GEND2021 | Trauma, Memory and Culture | 6 |
| HIST2022 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History | 6 |
| HIST2133 | Human Variations and Racism in Western Culture, c. 1450-1950 | 6 |
| HIST2223 | The French Revolution and Napoleon | 6 |
| HIST2226 | Nazi Germany | 6 |
| HIST2228 | Enlightenment Worlds | 6 |
| HIST2232 | Crime and Justice: Historical Dilemmas | 6 |
| INDG3001 | Public policy development and implementation and Indigenous Australians | 6 |
| PHIL2020 | Theories of Social Justice | 6 |
| PHIL 2111: Global Citizens | ||
| PHIL2113 | Global Justice | 6 |
| POLS2011 | Development and Change | 6 |
| POLS2063 | Contemporary Political Theory | 6 |
| POLS 2064: Global Social Movements | ||
| POLS2095 | Politics in Latin America | 6 |
| POLS2100 | Genocide in the Modern World | 6 |
| POLS2101 | Refugee Politics: Displacement and Exclusion in the 20th and 21st Centuries | 6 |
| POLS2119 | Ideas in Politics | 6 |
| POLS2123 | Peace and Conflict Studies | 6 |
| POLS 3030: Politics of Brazil | ||
| POLS3032 | The Politics of Empire | 6 |
| SOCY2157 | Surveillance and Society | 6 |
| SOCY2030 | Sociology of Third World Development | 6 |