Postgraduate Prospectus

www.essex.ac.uk/hrc | Human Rights
justification of human rights within a
culturally complex and diverse world.
These problems are legal, social, political
and philosophical, and we reflect this in
our multidisciplinary approach. In contrast
to our other human rights courses, this
MA examines human rights specifically in
relation to cultural diversity.
Graduates are well placed for careers as
a journalist, a policy analyst or researcher,
as an official in the United Nations system
or as an activist in humanitarian and
policy-making non-governmental bodies
in the UK and abroad. We also prepare
you to undertake further independent
research in the field of human rights.
MSc Human Rights and Research
Methods•†
This course gives you a thorough and
comprehensive education in both human
rights and social science research
methodologies. You study theoretical and
practical problems, which are legal, social,
political and philosophical, in the recognition
and protection of human rights. Our
multidisciplinary approach is combined with
your development of the methodological
and research skills required for gathering
and presenting human rights data
and indicators
Graduates can look for employment in
policy analysis, human rights data collection
and within the growing number of national
and international bodies that draw directly
upon qualitative and quantitative
methodological skills in their work.
MA Theory and Practice of Human Rights•
Our interdisciplinary course examines
the history, theoretical development
and implementation of human rights.
It is intended if you want to work in the
field but also if you are interested in the
legal, political, sociological or ethical theory.
It was described by Dr Simon Caney of
Oxford University as the “premier degree
of its kind”.
Beyond the practical problems of human
rights lie many unresolved theoretical and
philosophical issues. These form the basis
of our course, which provides you with a
solid grounding in fundamental matters of
the law, politics, philosophy and sociology
of human rights. It will enable you to
undertake practical or legal work for
human rights organisations.
Research study
Over the last two decades, we have
developed an extensive record in the field
of academic and policy research, much of
which has been funded by external bodies.
We are well-known for our work
internationally on civil and political rights,
including the prohibition against torture, as
well as international humanitarian law and
the protection of human rights in situations
of armed conflict. These remain major areas
of research for us.
Members of our Centre have expertise
across a wide range of other human rights
issues, spanning various disciplines. For
example, our staff have researched, taught
and worked in the fields of democracy and
development; economic, social and cultural
rights; refugees and migration; and the
protection of human rights in the UK.
The diversity of our interdisciplinary
expertise allows us to conduct research
in the most significant areas of human
rights and democracy.
We also offer group-specific human rights
expertise in addressing such issues as
gender mainstreaming, the human rights of
children, discrimination, minority rights, and
racism. Our staff have worked in different
regions on issues ranging from democratic
and electoral processes in post-communist
countries and Latin America, to human
rights in the European Union.
About our research degrees
We have been providing world class
Masters’ level education in human rights
for over two decades, so now offer our
PhD Human Rights.
Our PhD was established to meet the
demands of our many prospective students
who have an established interest in human
rights and wish to pursue doctoral research
which goes beyond a single academic
discipline but includes a distinct multi
and interdisciplinary perspective.
Research areas
Supervision is available across a
broad range of academic interests
in human rights.
Taught course modules
MA Human Rights and
Cultural Diversity
Colloquium
Three optional modules
MSc Human Rights and
Research Methods
Colloquium
Political Explanation
Comparative Politics of
Human Rights
Two optional modules
MA Theory and Practice
of Human Rights
Colloquium
International Human
Rights Law
Sociology of Human Rights
Comparative Politics of
Human Rights
Philosophy and Rights
Two optional modules
All taught courses include a dissertation.
This information is a guide to course
content and is subject to change on an
annual basis.
Postgraduate Prospectus 2012 | 131