| Unit name | The Politics of Human Rights |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLI30026 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Ashley Dodsworth |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The Politics of Human Rights introduces you to the debates over human rights. Exploring the contemporary debates over rights to migration and torture, the theoretical underpinnings of the concept of human rights, debates over who can possess such rights and the ethical considerations over measurement, this unit will enable you to both understand and participate in the dominant moral language of contemporary politics and the contested attempts to apply it.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit fits into the programme of study with the aim of helping you:
This unit is part of the third year teaching within SPAIS and the political theory strand in particular.
An overview of content
The Politics of Human Rights will explore contemporary debates over rights ranging from migration to torture and will examine the theoretical underpinnings of the concept of human rights and debates over who can possess such rights and the ethical considerations over measurement,
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit:
The aim of this unit is for you to develop your capacity to think critically about the most important political problems in the world. This unit provides the space, opportunity, and framework for you to consider what human rights are, and how they are conceptualised and understood so that you can explore your own positions and know with greater certainty how they would answer these key questions.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the module you will be able to:
1. Thoroughly understand the development of human rights and the problems inherent with the definition of these concepts, particularly with regard to the terms ‘universality’ and ‘human’
2. Show a mastery of the methodologies that are used to assess human rights fulfilment and the ability to apply these methods appropriately
3. Assess and critically evaluate the contemporary debate surrounding key human rights and develop your own position in response
4. Present and defend a detailed and well-structured position in response to the relevant academic literature and your own research
You will be taught through lectures, seminars, guided research, and independent research. These approaches will be united in a commitment to iterative, reflective approach that centres on the development of your own position. This will be illustrated through problems in contemporary politics e.g. the debate over assisted dying, the emphasis is on the your understanding of the various ethical responses to this problem and your capacity to decide which approach is best.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative feedback on both ideas and plans for the assignments will be given in class and in office hours.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The summative assessments will be a 1000 word article response, worth 25% of the mark and a 2000 word essay in response to a set question that is worth 75% of the grade, This format reflects departmental best practice and deadlines will be mapped against the university wide assessment weeks and the other units taught at this level.
When assessment does not go to plan:
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you will be offered an opportunity for reassessment in the failed element(s). This will comprise a task of the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLI30026).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
