Module Descriptors
HUMAN RIGHTS: FOUNDATION (BLOCK TEACHING)
LAWS60904
Key Facts
Faculty of Business, Education and Law
Level 6
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Angus Mcdonald
Email: A.H.McDonald@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 16
Independent Study Hours: 134
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- ASSIGNMENT weighted at 100%
Module Details
Module Resources
Well stocked Law library
Internet resources
Appropriate texts, legislation and case law
Internet resources
Appropriate texts, legislation and case law
Module Texts
Douzinas, Costas The End of Human Rights (Hart Publishing, 2000)
Fenwick, Helen Civil Liberties and Human Rights (Cavendish Publishing, 3rd ed., 2002)
Fenwick, Helen Civil Liberties and Human Rights (Cavendish Publishing, 3rd ed., 2002)
Module Additional Assessment Details
1 x 3000 word coursework assignment. Assessing learning outcomes 1-6.
Module Special Admissions Requirements
Any Level 1 Law Module
Module Indicative Content
This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the theoretical basis, institutional context and procedural practicalities essential as a foundation to any further study of substantive human rights. The module is also a self sufficient introduction to the field of human rights.
Three main fields of enquiry:
1. The theoretical contexts in which 'rights talk' makes sense. Natural rights, civil liberties, human rights. Common law and continental approaches. Historical contexts.
2. The institutional contexts of human rights. Separation of powers and limited government. Constitutions and courts.
3. The procedural practicalities of human rights. The European Convention on Human Rights, and its enforcement mechanism, the European Court of Human Rights. Convention rights in UK law, the Human Rights Act 1998. Margin of appreciation, derogation, incompatibility, discrimination.
Three main fields of enquiry:
1. The theoretical contexts in which 'rights talk' makes sense. Natural rights, civil liberties, human rights. Common law and continental approaches. Historical contexts.
2. The institutional contexts of human rights. Separation of powers and limited government. Constitutions and courts.
3. The procedural practicalities of human rights. The European Convention on Human Rights, and its enforcement mechanism, the European Court of Human Rights. Convention rights in UK law, the Human Rights Act 1998. Margin of appreciation, derogation, incompatibility, discrimination.
Module Learning Strategies
WHOLE GROUP/LECTURE AND WORKSHOP SESSIONS -these will be used to introduce new topics in the programme and to disseminate general information as well as providing guidance for small group sessions. New topics introduced in these sessions will be developed further in the discussions and in the work undertaken in small group sessions.
12 HOURS
SMALLER GROUP SESSIONS - will be used as a forum in which specific topics and the results of preparatory study can be discussed , although they will also include other learning activities designed to improve research, presentational, and communication skills. The emphasis in these sessions is on student interaction.
4 HOURS
DIRECTED STUDY & SELF-MANAGED STUDY - this will play an important part in this module, and participants will be asked to undertake reading and study tasks prior to the small-group sessions, and to reflect on work done in those sessions as a major part of their preparation for the assessment.
134 HOURS
TOTAL LEARNING TIME 150 hours
12 HOURS
SMALLER GROUP SESSIONS - will be used as a forum in which specific topics and the results of preparatory study can be discussed , although they will also include other learning activities designed to improve research, presentational, and communication skills. The emphasis in these sessions is on student interaction.
4 HOURS
DIRECTED STUDY & SELF-MANAGED STUDY - this will play an important part in this module, and participants will be asked to undertake reading and study tasks prior to the small-group sessions, and to reflect on work done in those sessions as a major part of their preparation for the assessment.
134 HOURS
TOTAL LEARNING TIME 150 hours