Human Rights (HRTS)

Director:  Richard A. Wilson
Office:  152 Human Rights Institute, Dodd Research Center

1007. Introduction to Human Rights

(125) (Also offered as POLS 1007.) Either semester. Three credits.

Exploration of central human rights institutions, selected human rights themes and political controversies, and key political challenges of contemporary human rights advocacy. CA 2. CA 4-INT.

2170W. Bioethics and Human Rights in Cross-Cultural Perspective

(170W) (Also offered as PHIL 2170W.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to sophomores or higher.

Philosophical examination of the ethical and human rights implications of recent advances in the life and biomedical sciences from multiple religious and cultural perspectives. CA 1.

3028. Indigenous Rights and Aboriginal Australia

(228) (Also offered as ANTH 3028.) Either semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: ANTH 2000.

An introduction to the study and understanding of Aboriginal ways of life and thought. An exploration of the complexity of contemporary indigenous social orders and land rights issues. CA 4-INT.

3042. The Theory of Human Rights

(205) (Also offered as POLS 3042.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Hiskes

Various theories of human rights, both historical and contemporary. Conceptual arguments both in favor and critical of the theory and practice of human rights will be considered, with literature taken primarily from philosophy and political theory.

3153W. Human Rights in Democratizing Countries

(280W) (Also offered as ANTH 3153W.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open only with consent of instructor.

Human rights, political violence, political and legal anthropology, prosecutions of human rights offenders, truth and memory, reconciliation, international justice. CA 4-INT.

3201. The History of Human Rights

(253) (Also offered as HIST 3201.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Case studies in the emergence and evolution of human rights as experience and concept.

3202. International Human Rights

(226) (Also offered as HIST 3202.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Historical and theoretical survey of the evolution of human rights since 1945.

3207. Genocide after the Second World War

(Also offered as HIST 3207.) Second semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: HIST/HRTS 3201. Gilligan

Origins of the 1948 Genocide Convention. Several case studies of genocide post WWII: Cambodia, Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, and Darfur. Causes and underlying dynamics of genocide with an emphasis on the international response. Critical evaluation of military, political, and non-governmental measures to prevent genocidal acts.

3212. Comparative Perspectives on Human Rights

(258) (Also offered as POLS 3212.) First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Cultural difference and human rights in areas of legal equality, women's rights, political violence, criminal justice, religious pluralism, global security, and race relations.

3219. Topics in Philosophy and Human Rights

(219) (Also offered as PHIL 3219.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: One three-credit course in Philosophy or instructor consent; open to juniors or higher. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit.

What are human rights? Why are they important? Topics may include the philosophical precursors of human rights, the nature and justification of human rights, or contemporary issues bearing on human rights.

3221. Latinos/as and Human Rights

(220) (Also offered as HIST 3575 and PRLS 3221.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Silvestrini

Latino/a issues related to human, civil and cultural rights, and gender differences.

3245. Human Rights Internship and Portfolio

(245) (Formerly offered as INTD 245.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Consent of Director of Human Rights Minor.

Internship with a human rights-related agency, organization, or group, and preparation of a portfolio synthesizing the internship experiences with Human Rights Minor course work.

3263. Women and Violence

(263) (Also offered as WS 3263.) Either semester. Three credits.

A discussion of the various forms of violence against women in our society, including rape, battering, incest and pornography; treats the social, political and personal meaning of violence.

3293. Foreign Study

(293) Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit. May be taken for a maximum of 15 credits. Consent of the Minor Director required prior to departure.

Special topics taken in a foreign study program.

3295. Special Topics

(298) Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

3299. Independent Study

(299) Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit.

Supervised reading and writing on a subject of special interest to the student.

3418. International Organizations and Law

(225) (Also offered as POLS 3418.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

The role of intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and international law in world affairs with special attention to contemporary issues.

3421. Class, Power, and Inequality

(268) (Also offered as SOCI 3421.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Bernstein, Glasberg , Villemez, Wallace

Inequality and its consequences in contemporary societies.

3429. Sociological Perspectives on Poverty

(249) (Also offered as SOCI 3429.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Cazenave, Villemez

Poverty in the U.S. and abroad, its roots, and strategies to deal with it.

3505. White Racism

(236) (Also offered as AFAM 3505 and SOCI 3505.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Cazenave

The origin, nature, and consequences of white racism as a central and enduring social principle around which the United States and other modern societies are structured and evolve. CA 4.

3563. African American History to 1865

(238) (Also offered as HIST 3563 and AFAM 3563.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Campbell, Ogbar

History of African-American people to 1865, from their West African roots, to their presence in colonial America, through enslavement and emancipation. Adaptation and resistance to their conditions in North America. Contributions by black people to the development of the United States

3571. Sociological Perspectives on Asian American Women

(221) (Also offered as AASI 3221 and SOCI 3221.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Purkayastha

An overview of social structures, inter-group relations, and women's rights,focusing on the experience of Asian American women. CA 4.

3573. Asian Indian Women: Activism and Social Change in India and the United States

(222) (Also offered as AASI 3222 and SOCI 3222.) First semester. Three credits. Prerequisites: SOCI 1001, 1251, or 1501; open to juniors or higher. Purkayastha

How gender, class and ethnicity/race structure everyday lives of Asian Indian women in both India and the United States.

3619. Topics in Literature and Human Rights

(241) (Also offered as ENGL 3619.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to juniors or higher. May be repeated for credit with a change of topic.

Study of literature from various historical periods and nationalities concerned with defining, exploring, and critiquing the idea of universal human rights.

3801. Political Sociology

(269) (Also offered as SOCI 3801.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Glasberg

Social analysis of power, democracy and voting, society and the state, and political economy.

3807. Constitutional Rights and Liberties

(256) (Also offered as POLS 3807.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

The role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Bill of Rights. Topics include freedoms of speech and religion, criminal due process, and equal protection.

3825. African Americans and Social Protest

(235) (Also offered as AFAM 3825 and SOCI 3825.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. Cazenave

Social and economic-justice movements, from the beginning of the Civil Rights movement to the present.

3831. Human Rights in the United States

(215) (Also offered as SOCI 3831.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher.

Sociological analyses of human rights issues in the United States, including economic, racial, and gender justice; prisoner's rights and capital punishment; the role of the United States in international human rights agreements and treaties; and struggles on behalf of human rights.

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