Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3239: International Human Rights

This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.

Module Aims

The module aims to increase students’ knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of international human rights, and through critical engagement with contemporary debates and specific skill development prepares students for a career in this field. Students will be introduced to the evolution of the international human rights legal regime and through scholarly work and legal cases will be provided with a sound grounding in international human rights laws. Through Multi-media sources, including streaming into UN Human Rights Council sessions and guest presentations from subject experts from different countries, students will analytically engage with thematic issues such as women’s rights and minority rights and debate complex human rights topics such as universalism and compatibility different rights regimes. The last three seminars and their first assessment will equip students with practical skills and knowledge on conducting campaigns and research for a career in international human rights whilst examining critiques of practice within the field.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate a very good understanding and knowledge of international human rights laws, norms and bodies and critically evaluate their limitations and effectiveness.
2. Critically and effectively engage in contemporary debates in international human rights using country-specific and thematic case studies.
3. Demonstrate employability skills and knowledge required for a career in international human rights whilst being aware of the challenges associated with working in the field.
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Critically reflect on key elements of the debates on international norms, sovereignty, conflict, security and human rights.
5. Demonstrate a good understanding of the relationship between theory and practice.
6. Make an informed judgement on the challenges and limitations of working in international human rights.
Personal and Key Skills7. Independently research, critically evaluate and analyse inter-disciplinary literature.
8. Make rigorous and persuasive arguments and convey them coherently, analytically and convincingly verbally and in writing.
9. Develop policy analysis skills through combining academic and theoretical work with case studies and expert interviews.
10. Communicate effectively through engagement at seminars, during presentations and in practice campaigns.
11. Work in groups to identify, define and solve problems creatively and engagingly