History, Politics and Human Rights

HIS30012 12.5 Credit Points Hawthorn Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students

Duration

  • One Semester/Teaching Period

Contact hours

  • 36 hours

On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.

2026 teaching periods

Swinburne Online

Teaching Period 3		 Swinburne Online

Teaching Period 3

Dates:
3 Nov 25 - 8 Feb 26

Results:
3 Mar 26

Last self enrolment:
16 Nov 25

Census:
28 Nov 25

Last withdraw without fail:
2 Jan 26

Dates:
2 Nov 26 - 7 Feb 27

Results:
2 Mar 27

Last self enrolment:
15 Nov 26

Census:
1 Dec 26

Last withdraw without fail:
22 Dec 26

Prerequisites

50 Credit Points at Level 2
 

Aims and objectives

This unit introduces students to the international framework for human rights. Beginning with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the unit examines responses to genocide, inequality and
campaigns for civil rights and self-determination. Through an historical analysis of case studies the unit reflects on
the limitations in human rights law and the “human condition” more generally.

Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
 
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Analyze and explain the framework for the development of human rights including the various covenants, conventions and declarations formulated through the United Nations;
2. Examine key struggles for human rights in the twentieth century;
3. Locate, interrogate, and integrate primary and secondary source documents in the development of an argument;
4. Critically analyze key historiographical debates in human rights literature and examine the limitations of human rights declarations.