ATS1314 - Human rights theory 1 - 2017

This unit is an introduction to the discipline of human rights. The central topic around which the unit is organised is the universality of human rights. Why are human rights universal? Is there a foundation for the universality of human rights? Does cultural relativism pose a problem for human rights? Torture, and the human rights of refugees and the global poor are also discussed. Students will be exposed to a variety of views on these and related questions. The unit requires no special background in any discipline.

Students successfully completing this subject should have developed:

1. Mastery of the basic concepts of human rights, the structure of the most important international human rights legal instruments and the central justifications offered for taking human rights to be universal;
2. Improved writing skills;
3. Improved oral communication skills;
4. Familiarity with central positions in philosophical accounts of the justification and explanation of human rights;
5. Skills to assist them to conduct independent research in human rights topics.

Within semester assessment: 70% + Exam: 30%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Dr John Thrasher

Human rights