PMHURIIC - MA Human Rights and International Conflict

The MA in Human Rights and International Conflict provides a rigorous academic training in understanding the moral and political theory and practice of human rights. Human rights emerged from both a tradition of ethical reasoning and the twentieth-century’s practice of international conflict. At the end of that century, they flourished in a brief period of relative international order and stability. Now that the period is over, they face a variety of challenges arising from a range of international conflicts. The course contextualizes those challenges historically and theoretically, analyzes particular conflicts and their actual and potential resolutions, and provides students with opportunities for exploring the continuing potential of human rights to improve the human condition.

The core of the MA in Human Rights and International Conflict comprises four class-taught 20-credit modules: GI7002 History and Theory of Human Rights, GI7064 International Conflict Resolution, GI7010 Human Rights and the International Order, and GI7028 Theory and Research Methods in International Relations. Each of the first two of these core modules, both of which run in the Autumn semester, survey one of the MA’s two constituent subjects, which are then fully combined by the third, Human Rights and the International Order, which runs in the Spring semester. The fourth core module prepares students for the 60-credit Dissertation. Beyond this solid, quintuple core, the course includes several specified "option" modules, of which students may choose two. All of these modules are based in the School of Social Sciences. Additionally, students may opt to take an "elective" module from anywhere in the University.

All modules use Weblearn for purposes of lecture provision, the provision of learning materials, assessment, and feedback. This is blended with a learning-centred, interactive and discussion-based approach to face-to-face interaction in class, enabling students to engage critically with the course content and with one another’s reasoning, whilst allowing all to draw on their own cultural and other experiences and to learn from that which each brings to our shared practices of intellectual enquiry and ethical advocacy.

The aim of the MA in Human Rights and International Conflict is to analyze the relation of human rights to states and international organizations, and to thereby equip students with a full understanding of human rights, of their relation to international conflict, and of ethical, political and philosophical issues raised. This includes an understanding of how the idea and practice of human rights can legitimate and inform states and international institutions, how conflict between international actors causes difficulties and dilemmas for human rights norms, how such problems can best be remedied, and how such remedies involve those norms. In this way, the course aims to operationalize and apply moral and political theory to international practice and particular issues.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Apply methods and techniques appropriate to their own research or advanced scholarship in human rights and international conflict.
2. Apply knowledge with originality, based on a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in human rights and international conflict.
3. Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in human rights and international conflict.
4. Evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses
5. Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
6. Exercise self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level
7. Advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level
8. Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations
9. Learn independently for the purposes of continuing professional development.

GI7002
GI7064
GI7028
GI7010
GI7P00
GI7069
SS7152
GI7012
GI7040
GI7047
GI7073
GI7076
SS7147

Learning Outcomes cover LO1-9

Politics and International Relations.

The course includes formative assessments, such as seminar presentations, that provide feedback and facilitate critical reflection, in preparation for substantive, summative assessments. The skills honed through such scrutiny and reflection are then fully deployed in the final Dissertation.

MA: all core modules, including Dissertation, plus two optional modules.
PG Diploma: all class-taught core modules plus two optional modules.
PG Certificate: three modules, not including elective, of which at least two must be core.

The teaching and learning strategy is to develop each student as an actively independent learner able to critically apply theory in and through a shared practice of intellectual enquiry, whilst engaging in more personal development planning.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ideally.

Students develop transferable skills of research, analysis and written and verbal reasoning in engagement with human rights materials, qualifying them for a wide range of careers especially in the international promotion of human rights.

Graduates of this course have opportunities for employment in the private, public and third sectors. Graduates have gone on to work in private, public and third sectors. Some graduates also go on to study a PhD.

You will be required to have:

• at least a 2:1 at undergraduate level in a humanities or social science subject (candidates with other qualifications or relevant vocational experience may be considered)

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.