In the era of globalisation, one of the most important concepts in international affairs is human rights. The major in human rights is interdisciplinary, examining the history and the nature of human rights and addressing basic issues such as: What are human rights? Are human rights culturally relative? How can human rights be justified? You will examine how these issues relate to pressing practical problems, for instance, how an understanding of human rights helps to address issues such as global poverty, unequal access to medicine, refugees, terrorism, warfare, children's rights, humanitarian intervention, torture, surveillance, and more.
The human rights major or minor is an excellent complement to studies in law, criminology, journalism, international studies, politics, international relations, philosophy, history, development studies and sustainability. As a student of human rights you will acquire strong analytic abilities and communication skills, and will have expertise in areas that are of relevance to employers in the non-government organisation (NGO) sector, a wide variety of professions and in the federal and state public service and their statutory authorities.
Availability
Human rights is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major and a minor, and in A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major.
Outcomes
In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will:
- have a deep understanding of the history, politics and philosophy of human rights
- be able to critically analyse policy proposals which bear on human rights issues, such as global poverty, immigration, and armed conflict.
Major requirements (48 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3.
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- One level 2 cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2057 Genocide
- ATS2334Not offered in 2019 Human rights discourse: A practical and conceptual history
- ATS2640 The ethics of global conflict
- ATS2868 Anarchy, property and the state
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3639 Poverty, climate change and international justice
- ATS3905 Democratic theory
- Four units (24 points) from the remaining cornerstone and capstone units or the elective list below, with at least two units at level 3.
Minor requirements (24 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited towards the minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html).
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- Two level 2 or 3 units (12 points) as listed within the major including cornerstones, capstones and electives. It is highly recommended that students complete a second-year level unit before enrolling in a third-year level unit.
Elective list
Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.
- ATS2354Not offered in 2019/ATS3354Not offered in 2019 Interrogating racism: Indigenous Australians and the state
- ATS2584Not offered in 2019/ATS3584Not offered in 2019 Australia's black history
- ATS2600 The Holocaust
- ATS2624 Global governance
- ATS2628 Power and poverty: International development in a globalised world
- ATS2637 Global bioethics
- ATS2640 The ethics of global conflict
- ATS2706 Foreign policy analysis
- ATS2932 Struggles for justice: The history of rebellion, resistance and revolt
- ATS3335 International political economy
- ATS3340 International security studies
- ATS3376 Anthropology of human rights
- ATS3462 International crime and justice
- ATS3623Not offered in 2019 Nationality, ethnicity and conflict
- ATS3632 Post-conflict: Justice, memory, reconciliation
- ATS3697 Gender and international relations
- ATS3935 Professional practice
- ATS3956 Trauma and memory in the modern world
International study tours
- ATS2330Not offered in 2019/ATS3330Not offered in 2019 State sovereignty, human rights and the responsibility to protect
- ATS3208Not offered in 2019 In the footsteps of refugees
- ATS3314Not offered in 2019 Seeking justice: South Africa and Rwanda
Intending honours students
There is no dedicated honours for the human rights major. Students who complete a major in human rights and who satisfy the arts faculty's general entry requirements for honours may be admitted to honours in a related area of study, but their eligibility is at the discretion of the honours coordinator in that area of study. Students intending to progress to honours are strongly advised to consult with the human rights coordinator prior to completing their third year.
Diplomas
- A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts
Bachelors
Single degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degree:*
Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.
Double degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts component in the following double degrees:*
- A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
- A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
- B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
- B2038 Bachelor of International Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2039 Bachelor of Marketing and Bachelor of Arts
- B2046 Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts
- C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
- D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
