Modules and courses

The lecture deals with the basic principles underlying human rights: normative universalism, human dignity, the inalienability of certain rights, the relationship between freedom and equality, claims of social inclusion, the secular nature of modern law, and the sometimes tense interplay between human rights and democracy. These and other principles will be developed historically as well as systematically. This inter alia implies criticism of cultural essentialist (i.e. Euro-centric) monopolizations of human rights.
After examining some ‘classical’ European approaches to justifying human rights (e.g. Locke, Kant and Mill), discussions will focus on diverse contemporary readings of human rights, including those by Rawls, Habermas, Rorty, Martha Nussbaum, Jau-hwa Chen and others. Another important question is how to cope with different forms of objections to human rights, as they have been raised in the context of feminism, postcolonial studies and different social movements.

Students

• understand and review the history of ideas of human rights.
• are familiar with some ‘classic’ and contemporary human rights explanations.
• examine key critiques of traditional approaches to human rights arguments.
• have an in-depth understanding of systematic relationships (e.g. the affinities between human rights and democracy).
• discuss and refute ideological distortions and the instrumentalisation of human rights.
• broaden and deepen their skills for intercultural debate on human rights.

This lecture explores human rights claims as a political phenomenon. Who invokes human rights today? Why might actors choose to not invoke human rights language in political struggles? Why are human rights contested, and what are different forms of contestation? The lecture also covers transnational human rights advocacy and the role that different actors have played in shaping human rights regimes. Furthermore, it asks why states ratify human rights treaties, and why states do or do not comply with treaty obligations. Drawing on social science literature and taking a critical look at the empirical data that informs this literature, the lecture investigates where and why human rights violations occur.

Students

• reflect on national, international and transnational human rights politics and policies in a systematic manner.
• critically discuss diverse human rights data types and their use in empirical analysis.
• apply theories on civil society engagement for human rights.
• explain the development of human rights protection, using political science terminology.

The lecture provides an overview of the legal and institutional foundations of international human rights law. It focuses on the International Bill of Rights and the institutional system (Charter and Treaty Body Systems), including their historical development and political embedding. Key aspects of human rights doctrine (system of state duties, territorial scope and obligations of non-state actors) will also be discussed. The lecture also addresses selected specific human rights. In addition, the procedures of the regional human rights courts, the treaty committees and the UN will be assessed.

Students

• have a thorough knowledge of the legal and institutional foundations of international human rights law.
• identify the common basic structures and the differences in respective treaties and institutions and analyse them in their political and social contexts.
• understand and (critically) analyse international norms and decisions.

The seminar familiarises students with academic research methods in the field of human rights, covering legal, political and philosophical approaches. Students practice these methods in exercises during the tutorials.

Students

• recognise different methodological approaches to academic human rights research.
• are able to critically read and analyse academic texts in the field of human rights.
• produce short research papers in the field of human rights.

Students will be familiarised with the political system and the different actors within the EU. The seminar will then focus on human rights issues in various political areas within the European Union, including foreign and humanitarian policy.

Students

• have an in-depth understanding of human rights politics and policies in specific contexts.
• recognize the importance of civil society engagement for human rights protection.
• describe and analyse the political system of the EU with regards to human rights protection.

The seminar deepens topics of substantive and procedural human rights law based on in-depth critical analysis of leading decisions of the regional human rights courts and treaty bodies. The cases will be prepared by the students in small groups and then presented and discussed.

Students

• critically asses the practices of human rights institutions and the respective procedures on the basis of selected examples.
• understand and analyse international norms and decisions.
• work co-operatively on case analysis in small groups.
• present complex cases and argue their analysis in front of the class.

The seminar addresses the foundations of the principle of non-discrimination, i.e. the equal dignity of all human beings, as well as the openness of the principle of non-discrimination for the articulation of new experiences of injustice. It furthermore gives a historical overview of the gradual expansion of the characteristics of prohibited discrimination and insights into the specific problems of multiple and intersectional discrimination, different degrees and different forms of (direct, indirect, structural etc.) discrimination. In this context, specific forms of discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, age or other grounds will be discussed. This finally leads to discussing relevant international and national instruments to overcome discrimination.

Students

• understand and explain the history of formulating anti-discrimination laws, policies and theories in response to systemic injustices.
• can identify and compare different struggles and approaches in these fights for equality.
• have a thorough knowledge of the (mainly international) legal instruments to overcome discrimination, including their strengths and weaknesses.
• apply their knowledge of the history of anti-discrimination approaches to the analysis of contemporary injustices and formulate relevant solutions.
• are able to argue for the need to overcome discrimination based on relevant laws and theories.
• understand different characteristics and forms of discrimination in their own lives and their relationships to each other.
• assess complex (e.g. hidden or intersectional) discriminatory structures both theoretically and in practice.

Four specialization seminars are to be chosen from the list of offered seminars. The seminars offered will exemplify and deepen the knowledge from the foundational modules with regard to specific current human rights, specialized human rights treaties or particular vulnerable situations. They may cut across several disciplines, emphasize an intersectional or critical approach and deepen controversial discussions within human rights research. Topics covered may include Business and Human Rights, Human Rights in International Organizations, International Criminal Law, Migration and Human Rights, Autocratisation and Human Rights, and Human Rights in Transitional Justice.

Students

• have sound knowledge of specific human rights issues.
• participate in and reflect critically on current debates within human rights.
• compare and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various means of addressing human rights violations.
• reflect critically on societal conditions (causes, mechanisms, dimensions, consequences) of particularly vulnerable situations and human rights violations.
• understand the importance of specialized human rights treaties and their implementation in selected countries.
• analyze critically the national implementation of international human rights standards.

The module spans two semesters and provides a forum for critical engagement with current challenges and debates within human rights. It focuses on current events and developments happening around the world that raise questions and discussions around human rights. Students are invited to follow ongoing cases and situations, and are offered a space to participate in discussions with lecturers and their peers on these issues.

Students

• participate in discussions about ongoing developments in human rights theory and practice.
• explain and reflect on current events from a human rights perspective.
• apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.
• formulate and present their point of view on these issues and engage with other perspectives.
• reflect on their roles as human rights professionals in a globalised, modern world.

Students choose additional modules related to the issues and questions addressed in the program. They may choose additional specialization seminars, language courses or other courses offered at FAU. Participation in moot courts and similar formats is also possible. The selection of the modules takes place after a consultation with the program coordinator.

The course is comprised of a series of workshops on various key skills such as, for example, career planning, report writing, speaking and managing stress and mental health. They will be combined with regular sessions to discuss the learnings from the workshops for human rights professionals.

Students

• acquire key practical skills for working as human rights professionals.
• summarize their learnings and reflect on the relevance for their planned careers.

The research colloquium will prepare students for writing their Master’s thesis. They develop and present a research proposal on a topic in the field of human rights.

Students

• choose and formulate an appropriate research question and proposal.
• understand which theories and methodologies are appropriate for their research question.
• consider ethical questions in human rights research.
• plan and outline their research process.
• present their proposal and take constructive feedback into account.
• discuss the proposals of their peers in a helpful and constructive manner.

The seminars deepen the knowledge and skills obtained in the first two semesters, particularly in the module Human Rights Research Methods I, by covering a selection of specific methodological approaches from legal or political sciences or philosophy as they are used in human rights research.

Students

• understand the approach and scope of the discussed research method(s).
• apply the discussed method(s) to specific research questions.
• compare different methodologies.
• assess the limits and ethical considerations of a specific research method.

Students can choose between writing a long Master’s thesis (30 ECTS, option A) or combine a shorter thesis (15 ECTS) with an internship (15 ECTS, option B). They will be counselled on their choice at the end of the third semester. The thesis needs to be registered in time with the program coordinator. The completed and signed registration form (for option A or option B) needs to be submitted at the beginning of the thesis writing process.

Students choosing option A

• acquire the ability to pursue a scientific question for a long time and to work on it within a specified period.
• develop independent ideas and concepts for the solution of scientific problems in the field of human rights politics, the philosophy of human rights and/or legal human rights protection.
• deal with theories, terminology, characteristics, limitations, doctrines of and empirical data on the subject and reflect these in an in-depth and critical manner.
• manage and develop independently appropriate scientific methods and present the results in a scientific manner.
• present a complex subject matters in a clear manner to a specific target group.

Students choosing option B

• acquire the ability to pursue a scientific question and to work on it within a specified period.
• develop independent ideas and concepts for the analysis of scientific or practical problems in the field of human rights politics, the philosophy of human rights and/or legal human rights protection.
• deal with theories, terminology, characteristics, limitations, doctrines of and empirical data on the subject and reflect these in a critical manner.
• manage independently appropriate scientific methods and present the results in a scientific manner.
• present complex subject matters in a clear manner to a specific target group.
• apply the theoretical knowledge they have acquired during their studies in practice.
• deepen knowledge of contemporary human rights practice and reflect on the host organization’s approach as well as impact.
• start building a professional network.

We also have a thesis guide that includes instructions and guidelines that need to be followed.