STV4321B – Human rights, ideologies and political regimes

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

This course will unfortunately not be given Spring 2016. Teaching and examination in STV4321B were given for the last time Spring 2015.

The purpose of the seminar is to discuss the main features of the international system of human rights under the UN, in particular as this system has encountered new challenges in the wake of 9/11. The seminar deals with both the normative justifications of the human rights system and the political legitimacy of international human rights institutions, and address the challenges and prospects of human rights defenders.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

 Students will:

  • obtain knowledge of the international system of human rights norms
  • develop a basic understanding of problems with their conceptualization, justification, and political legitimacy. 

Skills

Students will:

  • learn to use comparative and historical analyses of the obstacles to the realization of human rights in the globalizing world, ranging from threats from authoritarian regimes to structural injustices in the modern world.

Competences

Students will:

  • be able to identify human rights aspects of, and apply human rights norms to, national and international conflicts.

Admission

Students admitted to other Master programmes may be qualified to apply for the course. Please see the webpage on applying to be guest student on our master's courses.

For incoming students: All Master's courses in Political Science must be registered manually by the Department, they will not appear in Studentweb. Contact your international coordinator at UiO.

Prerequisites

Recommended previous knowledge

Bachelor's degree in Political Science or equivalent.

Teaching

Lectures.

Examination

Written assignment and written examination.

One written assignment (3500-5000 words in total), and a 3-hour written examination. In order to receive a passing grade on the assignment, your topic will have to reflect the course readings and curriculum. In order to pass the course, your assignment and your written examination must be passed in the same semester as your course is taught.

The written examination counts 60% of the grade, and you will receive one overall grade for the course.

Guidelines for written assignments - Technical standards, deadlines etc.

Examination support material

Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.

Language of examination

It is possible to submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

Ask for explanation of your grade in this course

Resit an examination

Withdrawal from an examination

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

Special examination arrangements

Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.

Evaluation

The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.

Facts about this course

Credits
10
Level
Master
Teaching
Spring 2015
Examination
Spring 2015
Teaching language
English