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Monash University

Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Area of Study

All areas of study information should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook. The units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the Faculty of Arts component of any bachelors double degrees.

Managing facultyFaculty of Arts
Offered bySchool of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies
Campus(es)Caulfield, Clayton

Description

In the era of globalisation, one of the most important concepts in international affairs is the idea of human rights. Human rights theory is an interdisciplinary major area of study, which examines the history and the nature of human rights, including basic conceptual issues such as:

  • What are human rights?
  • Are human rights culturally relative?
  • Is it possible for human rights to conflict with other requirements of justice?
  • How do human rights relate to institutions like the United Nations?

Students also examine how these theoretical issues relate to pressing practical problems, for instance, how an understanding of human rights theory helps to address issues such as global poverty, unequal access to medicine, free trade, terrorism, warfare, humanitarian intervention, torture, surveillance, and more.

Human rights theory is an excellent complement to studies in law, criminology, journalism, international studies, philosophy, history, development studies and sustainability. Students of human rights theory will acquire strong analytic abilities and communication skills, and will have expertise in areas that are of relevance to employers in the NGO sector, a wide variety of professions and in the federal and state public service and its statutory authorities

Units

First-year level

Students studying a sequence in human rights must complete the following two units (12 points):

Second/Third-year level

Students studying a minor or major in human rights must have completed the first-year sequence. In addition:

  • a minor requires completion of a further two units (12 points) chosen from list A below
  • a major requires completion of a further six units (36 points) from the units listed below, including a minimum of four units from list A. A minimum of three units must be taken at third year level.

List A

List B

Units not offered in 2011

List A:

  • ATS2xxx/ATS3xxx The struggle for justice
  • ATS2639/ATS3639 Poverty, ecology, and international justice

List B:

  • ATS2614/ATS3614 Slavery and freedom: From the American to the French Revolution
  • ATS2638/ATS3638 Global childhoods: Children's rights, welfare and mobility in a global context

Relevant Courses

Diplomas

  • 4045 Diploma in Arts (Human Rights Theory)

Bachelors

Single degrees

  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts
  • 1638 Bachelor of Arts as a Participant in the Dean's Scholars Program
  • 3907 Bachelor of Arts (English Language)
  • 3910 Bachelor of Arts (Global)
  • 4077 Bachelor of Arts (International)
  • 1366 Bachelor of Arts (Languages)
  • 4042 Bachelor of Journalism
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters
  • 0821 Bachelor of Music
  • 1144 Bachelor of Performing Arts
  • 1275 Bachelor of Professional Communication

Double degrees

  • 3277 Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 0550 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
  • 0553 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance)
  • 0555 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Management)
  • 0556 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
  • 1807 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business and Commerce
  • 3912 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business Information Systems
  • 0542 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 2672 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Computer Science
  • 0170 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics
  • 1541 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education-primary
  • 1641 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education-secondary
  • 3906 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems
  • 0080 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws
  • 3054 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
  • 0530 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
  • 3426 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work
  • 0002b Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology
  • 3779 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts
  • 1941 Bachelor of Business and Commerce and Bachelor of Communication
  • 4423 Bachelor of Business and Commerce and Bachelor of Professional Communication
  • 0116 Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 3281 Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 3909 Bachelor of Professional Communication and Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems
  • 1945 Bachelor of Professional Communication and Diploma of Professional Writing