Human Rights MA

This human rights course takes a broad conception of human rights as its basis - what HG Wells once said was the belief that everyone is entitled to the "nourishment... care and attention needed to realise [their] full possibilities of physical and mental health from birth to death".

It looks at how far human rights are enshrined in definitions of citizenship and to what extent they form the basis of national and international law. In addition, it explores the extent to which human rights are enshrined in and supported by a deeper politics and culture, by institutions, structures, movements and values.

If you would like to develop a career as a practitioner or researcher in the field of human rights and are interested in the connections between theory and practice, this course is ideal.

The scope of this course is extensive and challenging. It deals with political developments in the UK, in Europe and internationally. You will look at nation-states, international and transnational organisations, but also at campaigning movements and pressure groups, recognising how much the development and securing of human rights owe to them.

This will involve both the study of the current international situation and of relations between states and non-state actors where conflicts have resulted in considerable violations of human rights.

You will also look at the challenges and demands that have resulted from the continual and growing movements of people, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants fleeing conflicts and seeking better lives. This course is underpinned by a grounding in case law in human rights.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Core modules

• Defining and Protecting Human Rights
• Dissertation
• Foundations and Frameworks of Human Rights
• Human Rights Actors and Activities
• Research Skills and Methods in Social Sciences
• Strategies for Achieving Human Rights
• Work Placement

Optional modules

• Crimes of the Powerful
• Fascism and the Post War Extreme Right
• Gender and Politics
• Human Rights and Political Violence
• The Politics of Mass Murder
• US Foreign Policy in an Age of Terror
• Case Studies in International Conflict
• Media, Public Policy and International Politics
• Political Communication, Advocacy and Campaigning
• Questions of Censorship

Read the case study of Monica Vecchi who went on to work for Amnesty International after completing her MA in Human Rights.
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The Human Rights MA has been developed in collaboration with a number of organisations committed to the defence and extension of human rights. You'll also undertake a work placement as part of your course.
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