Human Rights [not available in 2022] major (MJD-HMRDM)
Human rights have come to be the dominant language in which contentious social and political questions are debated. Activists appeal to human rights in attempting to advance the interests of the oppressed. States appeal to human rights in justifying policy interventions, on both domestic and international scales. A complex set of legal and political institutions has evolved, centred around the idea of human rights. And a flourishing field of academic inquiry is now devoted to understanding, and debating, human rights issues.
The University of Western Australia's Bachelor of Human Rights and its associated extended major in Human Rights constitute a unique, interdisciplinary programme of study that equips students with the knowledge and skills to engage with real-world issues in human rights and related areas such as social justice and inequality. Students will study human rights from a wide variety of perspectives – legal, historical, political, and philosophical. They will also have the opportunity to gain invaluable real-world experience through opportunities for internships, and a specialised unit dedicated to human rights research.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) evaluate competing positions and perspectives on human rights issues; (2) reason clearly and persuasively about contentious moral and political issues; (3) demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the history of the human rights tradition as well as key contemporary controversies; (4) apply sophisitcated analytical and critical thinking skills to a diverse range of human rights issues; and (5) demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills.
Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. We know that many of you value the University's guidance and assistance in planning your enrolment throughout your course, so we offer the following suggestions for your consideration as possible avenues to broaden your degree. Do always remember, however, that there is no wrong way to broaden your studies as long as you complete at least four units not associated with your Degree Specific Major.
In fulfilment of their broadening requirement, students might consider completing a four-unit minor that would complement their studies. In particular, the university offers minors in several languages - French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish - ideal for students of human rights. Other relevant minors include Active Citizenship, Cross-Cultural Communication, and Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning, and Urban Environments.
Human Rights [not available in 2022] can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
- BP034 Bachelor of Human Rights
- CB022 Bachelor of Human Rights and Bachelor of Arts*
- CB023 Bachelor of Human Rights and Bachelor of Commerce*
- BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
*Students enrolling in this as part of a combined course must use the code MJDC-HMRDM when selecting this as their extended major.
Overview of unit sequence
Human Rights [not available in 2022] is a degree-specific double major comprising:
- five Level 1 units
- six Level 2 units
- seven Level 3 units
Key to availability of units: |
---|
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; SS = summer teaching period; N/A = not available in 2022; NS = non-standard teaching period |
Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2023 or 2024.
Students should note that completion of the Bachelor of Human Rights also requires the completion of PHIL1002: Introduction to Critical Thinking, which is a foundation unit for the degree.
Level 1
Take all units (30 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
N/A | HIST1104 | The History of Human Rights |
|
N/A | HUMR1001 | Human Rights in Global Perspective |
|
S1 | INDG1150 | Aboriginal Encounters: Strangers in our Backyard |
|
S1 | LAWS1111 | Law, Conflict and Change |
|
S2 | POLS1102 | Understanding Global Politics |
|
Level 2
Take all units (24 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
N/A | HUMR2002 | International Norms, Ethics, and Human Rights | |
S2 | LAWS2224 | Evolution of Human Rights |
|
S2 | PHIL2009 | Global and Environmental Justice |
|
S2 | PPHE2211 | History of Political Ideas |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1 | INDG2300 | Indigenous Knowledge: Mind, Body and Spirit |
|
S2 | INDG2500 | Looking North: The Wild West |
|
N/A | LAWS2225 | Indigenous Peoples and the Law |
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
N/A | HIST2008 | White Supremacy |
|
N/A | HIST2016 | When Empire Strikes: Imperial Expansion, Resistance, and Rights from Europe to Australasia | |
S1 | PHIL2001 | Bioethics |
|
S1 | POLS2214 | Foundations of Foreign Policy |
|
S2 | POLS2220 | Foundations of Global Political Economy |
|
Level 3
Take all units (30 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S2 | GEND3901 | Feminist Thought |
|
S2 | HUMR3001 | Human Rights: Research and Practice | |
S2 | LAWS3316 | Law, Advocacy, Activism and Change |
|
S1 | PHIL3003 | Moral Theory |
|
S2 | PPHE3327 | Contemporary Political Theory |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S2 | HIST3012 | Rights, Rule and Power: From Magna Carta to the French Revolution |
|
S2 | LAWS3334 | Law and Religion | |
S2 | POLS3204 | The Politics of Gender |
|
N/A | POLS3302 | South Asia and the Middle East: Foreign Relations and Politics |
|
S1 | POLS3335 | Social Movements and the Politics of Change |
|
N/A | POLS3342 | Global Environmental Politics |
|
NS, S1, S2, SS | SVLG3003 | McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1 | INDG3300 | Indigenous Research | |
S2 | INDG3400 | Indigenous People and Global Issues |
Choosing your degree-specific major
General degrees
You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.
To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how the Human Rights [not available in 2022] degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Human Rights or Bachelor of Human Rights and Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Human Rights and Bachelor of Commerce course.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .
Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music
You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This comprehensive degree does not allow you to choose a double major.