Human Rights

Programme - first cycle - 180 credits

Overview

Hedvig Obenius is studing human rights at Malmö University

 "Human Rights may sound quite specific, but it is actually very broad. You learn a lot from different sectors and aspects. I’m very interested in law, especially tied to migration."- Hedvig Obenius

 

Content

What is Human Rights about?

Students enjoying Gäddan 8

Students enjoying the cafeteria and study area inside Gäddan 8.

This three-year bachelor's programme provides students with basic knowledge of human rights and how they are applied and affected by the world we live in.

The concept of human rights has a legal content, namely that the state has the obligation to, in accordance to agreements in international law, implement these rights for individuals at national level. The state also has the obligation to protect individuals from violations and abuses.

The human rights concept  deals with

  • issues of politics and philosophy, such as morals and justice as well The respect for human rights is necessary for the rule of law and safety in a democratic society.
  • questions regarding  international relations, a subject closely related to the general development and understanding of human rights.

What makes Human Rights unique?

In addition to compulsory courses of human rights and international relations, you will have the opportunity to carry out an internship or optional courses in Sweden or abroad. This means you are able to get valuable practical experience in the fields of human rights work, as well as the possibility to develop and create networks and contacts with relevant organisations.

Interviews

You learn a lot from different sectors and aspects

Hedvig Obenius divides her time between Malmö and London, is a student on the BA programme in Human Rights and thinks Malmö University offers a broad selection of courses to choose between.

Hedvig Obenius, Human Rights, Malmö University
A deciding factor for Hedvig Obenius was that the programme is taught in English and offers the opportunity to go abroad for a year, including an internship for one semester.

“I chose the programme for different reasons. I’m 28 and it felt like it was time to get a degree. I’m interested in human rights as it is something that comes up and is relevant in all of society. I have my second home in England, my family and a house, and Malmö is in a convenient location – I fly to the UK from Copenhagen airport once a month.”

Before starting the bachelor’s degree programme Hedvig lived for four years in the UK, one year in France, had worked as a project manager at a British micro brewery, with environmental issues for one of Ericson’s suppliers, and studied a short course online offered by Umeå University.

“I enrolled in that course to see what studying was like, and then applied to the Human Rights BA at Malmö University as I thought it looked like a good programme. It may sound quite specific, but it is actually very broad. You learn a lot from different sectors and aspects. I’m very interested in law, especially tied to migration.”

Another deciding factor for Hedvig was that Malmö University doesn’t chare the high tuition fees English universites do, and that the programme is taught in English and offers the opportunity to go abroad for a year, including an internship for one semester. She also finds it stimulating to meet students from all over the world.

“I like the culture at Malmö University, that professors and management are open to hearing from the students, our feedback matters.” 

As for the future, she still thinks it’s a bit early to say. She’s only on her second semester of the programme, but the modules have given her a few ideas about what she might want to do next.”

“I’ve thought about supplementing my degree with studies in law and maybe work as an adviser for civilians  – I don’t have any illusions about saving the world but I know I would like to work with migration issues or within the legal system.

Career

What career will I be prepared for?

Human Rights provides a good foundation for further studies at the master's level. After graduation you will be qualified to work with legal, political or ethical issues within the sphere of human rights at international organisations, voluntary organisations or public authorities.

Syllabus

Programme Code: SGMRE

Institution:
Department of Global Political Studies
Revision:
4

Other set versions

  • Version 1
    approved 2007-03-02
    For students admitted fall 2007  
  • Version 2
    approved 2007-03-02
    For students admitted fall 2008  
  • Version 3
    approved 2007-03-02
  • Version 3.1
    approved 2009-02-26
    For students admitted fall 2009  
  • Version 5
    approved 2009-09-21
    For students admitted fall 2010  
  • Version 6
    approved 2010-12-09
    For students admitted fall 2011  
  • Version 7
    approved 2011-12-15
    For students admitted fall 2012  
  • Version 8
    approved 2011-12-15
  • Version 8.1
    approved 2012-11-07
  • Version 8.2
    approved 2013-02-27
    For students admitted fall 2013  

Approval

The programme was established 02 March 2007.
This programme syllabus (version 4) was approved 30 September 2009 by the Board of Studies at the Department of International Migration and Ethnic Relations.
The syllabus is valid from 01 September 2010. Replacement for programme syllabus ratified 02 March 2007.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

A graduate of the Bachelor’s Programme in Human Rights:
- understands how human rights are regulated in national legislation and international law, and comprehends the relationship between these two systems;

- has a knowledge and an understanding of the political dimensions of the development and application of human rights;

- has a knowledge and a fundamental understanding of the structure of human rights theories and inducement, in addition to the questions and issues the theories are designed to analyse;

- has a knowledge of the correlation between international relations and human rights and
- has an understanding of Malmö University’s perspectives: the environment, gender, migration, and ethnicity.

Applying knowledge and understanding

A graduate of the Bachelor’s Programme in Human Rights:
- can identify, formulate and resolve problems related to human rights from judicial, political and philosophical perspectives;

- possesses the skills to apply theories of human rights needed to analyse and evaluate factual conditions and phenomena;

- has the ability to write academic texts, and can give an account of human rights related projects orally and in writing;

- accomplishes tasks individually or collectively within agreed timetables;

- can use his or her competence as a basis for a career or further research in relevant areas and
- has the ability to apply his or her knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives—the environment, gender, migration, and ethnicity—to issues related to the field of human rights.

Making judgements and developing communication skills

A graduate of the Bachelor’s Programme in Human Rights:
- has the ability to independently analyse and interpret the development of human rights from a multidisciplinary perspective;

- has the ability to make rational judgements drawing on various methodological aspects within the field of human rights and

- can evaluate independently and reflect critically on questions concerning human rights and the role they play in society today

Organisation

uman rights is a concept that is used all the more frequently in society nowadays, and is applicable to cooperation at both national and international levels. For example, human rights are raised with regards to the pursuits and operational regulations of national and international public authorities, organisations and business concerns. The respect for and the promotion of human rights have become mainstays for the protection of rights and individual security in democracies and stable communities governed by law.

The purpose of the Bachelor’s Programme in Human Rights is to provide students with an understanding and knowledge of what constitutes human rights, how they are utilised, and how development in this field of study is a consequence of transformation in the world.

The programme is comprised of six semesters of study and leads to a bachelor’s degree in Human Rights. Terms 1 is a so-called programme semester, where students are provided with pedagogic, academic and methodological tools especially tailored for the programme. The programme semester is performed in cooperation with International Relations; it includes an introduction to university studies and contemporary history, as well as an introduction to human rights. Thematic studies embracing both human rights and international relations perspectives are pursued parallel to the introduction of the main subject. Semester two to four comprise studies in Human Rights and International Relations. Human Rights I is organised in terms of the multidisciplinary approach to human rights characteristic of the programme, i. e. as it relates to law, politics and philosophy/religion. Human Rights I also include project work in groups. Human Rights II aim at deepening the multidisciplinary perspective on human rights with respect to relevant themes. It also includes project work in groups and method. International Relations I gives basic knowledge about approaches and theories regarding international relations. Semester five gives the opportunity of elective studies and/or an internship, as long as the programme coordinator deems it to be relevant to the study programme. The last semester, semester six, consist of Human Rights III, which includes a BA essay comprising 15 hp.

Degree

Bachelor of Arts / Science.

Kandidatexamen i Mänskliga rättigheter / Bachelor of Social Science with a major in Human Rights.

Contact

Further information

Mikael Spång, programme responsible
Phone: 040-66 57359
E-mail: mikael.spang@mah.se