Human Rights

Coursework

The Human Rights programs offer candidates a firm foundation in human rights law and policy. A series of core units provide a practical understanding of how human rights operate in different political, economic, social and environmental contexts. Students will build knowledge and skills across a wide range of disciplinary fields including Sociology and Social Policy, Political Science, Political Economy, Philosophy, History and Human Geography.

Emphasising the practice of human rights, these programs equip students with the ability to skillfully and effectively use human rights tools and language in order to achieve specific changes in the real world. The programs also offer students the opportunity to undertake independent scholarly research on current human rights issues, and the skills to put their academic understanding to use in real situations. While our degrees have a global focus, they also capitalise on Australia’s geo-political location, thus offering a unique perspective on the Asia-Pacific region.

Additionally, students of the Master of Human Rights can opt to build a skills-based or area expertise by undertaking a specialisation in Global Migration, Social Policy, International Relations or Social Research. They also have the opportunity to undertake a vocational student placement within an Australian or international social justice organisation. In partnership with organisations working in the social justice sector, vocational placements connect students with practitioners in the field and provide invaluable on-the-job training that cannot be delivered in the classroom. The Master of Human Rights also offers enrolment in a dissertation as a capstone offering. Completion of a dissertation can offer a pathway to higher degree research programs.

Given the growing salience of human rights in politics, law, social movements and business, graduates can expect to find employment in dedicated human rights governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, where a human rights specialisation is required. Students with a background in journalism, education and other professions will also be strongly positioned to return to their principal fields with a high level of valuable specialist skills.

Research

There are currently no research degrees offered in Human Rights. Potential applicants are referred to the Research section of the handbook.

Awards and Requirements

Please refer to the course rules in this Handbook for information on the specific admission requirements for different coursework award courses.

Master of Human Rights
To be awarded the Master of Human Rights, students complete a total of 72 credit points including:

• 24 credit points of core units of study
• a minimum of 12 credit points of selective units of study
• a maximum of 30 credit points of elective units of study
• a minimum of 6 credit points of capstone units of study
• an optional 18 credit point specialisation as listed in the unit of study table

Graduate Diploma in Human Rights
To be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Human Rights, students complete a total of 48 credit points including:

• a minimum of 24 credit points of core units of study
• a minimum of 6 credit points of selective units of study
• a maximum of 18 credit points of elective units of study

Graduate Certificate in Human Rights
To be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Human Rights, students complete a total of 24 credit points including:

• 12 credit points of core units of study
• 6 credit points of selective units of study
• 6 credit points of elective units of study

Candidates who have completed previous study in a relevant discipline may be eligible for a reduction in the requirements in accordance with the table below.

Contacts and further information

Website: Department of Sociology and Social Policy
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