1 School of Oriental and African Studies the Following Information
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School of Oriental and African Studies The following information forms the programme specification at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. It gives definitive information relating to a programme of study and is written for a public audience, particularly prospective and current students. It is also used for other purposes such as initial programme approval, and is therefore produced at the start of the programme development process. Once approved, it forms the base- line information for all statements relating to the programme and is updated as approved amendments are made. CORE INFORMATION Programme title Human Rights Law Final award MA Intermediate awards N/A Mode of attendance Full time or part time (two or three years) UCAS code N/A Professional body accreditation N/A Date specification created/updated Updated September 2013 WHY CHOOSE THIS PROGRAMME? Why study at SOAS? SOAS is unique as the only higher education institution in the UK specialising in the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The School also has the largest concentration of specialist faculty concerned with the study of these areas at any university in the world. SOAS is consistently ranked among the top higher education institutions in the UK and the world and it offers a friendly, vibrant environment for students in a diverse and close-knit community. What is special about this programme? The MA in Human Rights Law allows students to study human rights law, its application and relevance to a broad range of areas and legal issues, including Islamic law, Chinese law, gender, international law, conflict and labour law. All SOAS courses are designed not only to introduce students to the general fields of law, but also to provide an understanding of how generic legal structures and processes may operate in non-Western social and cultural settings. All teachers on courses offered at SOAS are experts in their designated field. Many have years of experience advising 1 governments, international organisations or non-governmental organisation, and many also have been or continue to be legal practitioners. Who would it suit? Students without an undergraduate degree in law who would like to acquire knowledge and understanding of human rights law across the world and in its broadest legal sense. Because of its international focus students from all parts of the world come to SOAS to study law, bringing with them a unique range of experience and expertise which frequently enlivens the learning experience. SOAS MA students have progressed into a wide range of fields, including the Foreign Office, the European Chamber of Commerce, Intermediate Court(s) and the Red Cross. Programme structure Students take the equivalent of three full courses (45 credits each), with at least two the programme-specific list of modules and the third either from that list or from a list of over 50 full and half-unit courses, as well as writing a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic related to human rights law. Students may be permitted to select one full course, or one half course, or two half courses in place of the equivalent number of Law course(s) (see programme structure) Assessment summary The majority of courses split assessment between assessed coursework (including essays of between 3,000 and 5,000 words) and unseen exams, with some courses assessed by either just unseen exams or just coursework (5,000 to 10,000 words). ENTRY REQUIREMENTS SOAS has general minimum entrance requirements for registration for a postgraduate taught degree and these can be viewed at http://www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/pg/howtoapply/ Undergraduate degree in law not required. Relevant academic work or professional experience will be considered and is likely to be an advantage. PROGRAMME AIMS What will this programme give the student an opportunity to achieve? 2 To develop broad-ranging knowledge of applications of and issues in human rights law, in a context of international and comparative law. To be able to engage in theoretical and empirical analysis of international and comparative law, with particular reference to human rights law. To be able to explain and debate events and trends in human rights law. PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES What will the student learn? Knowledge & Understanding Students will acquire specialist knowledge of human rights law internationally. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, knowledge and understanding of the following: a. the theoretical and practical underpinnings of human rights law internationally; b. the context in which law is made, interpreted, adjudicated, and amended; c. the role played by law, particularly human rights law in different situations at the national, regional and international level; d. the role and function of legal institutions in dealing with human rights; e. the weight and significance of different sources and methodologies. Students will develop knowledge of how to locate relevant materials and assess their relevance and/or importance. Intellectual (thinking) Skills Students should develop rigor in analysis and assessment of legal arguments. Students should develop the ability to understand, summarise and critically assess differing perspectives on theoretical debates. Students should develop independence of thought and the confidence to challenge the accepted wisdom. Students should learn to identify issues and formulate questions for further research through independent work. Students will be encouraged to bring to bear their own previous experience and knowledge in addressing legal issues in an interdisciplinary manner. Subject-based Practical Skills The programme will help students develop the ability to: Write clear research essays and dissertations. Research in a variety of specialized research libraries and institutes and online, and retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources. Present seminar papers and defend the arguments therein. Discuss ideas introduced during seminars. Develop essay and dissertation research questions. Read legal source materials rapidly and critically. Present legal arguments in moots and debates. 3 Transferable Skills The programme will enable students to: Communicate effectively in writing. Structure and communicate ideas and arguments effectively both orally and in writing. Read and comprehend significant quantities of reading rapidly and effectively and develop critical faculties. Find and use a variety of written and digital materials, especially legal materials, in libraries and research institutes. Present (non – assessed) material orally. Develop teamwork skills. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR GAINING AN AWARD How will the student’s study be structured? How will they achieve an award? Structure, duration and requirements for gaining an award SOAS has standard requirements relating to the structure and duration of taught postgraduate programmes and for the award and classification of these programmes. Details can be found at http://www.soas.ac.uk/registry/degreeregulations/file60379.pdf Programme structure diagram Students must take courses to a total value of 135 credits and a dissertation. Level Year of Course Course title Credit Status Notes study code Students must take courses to a value of 90 credits from the list below 7 1 or 2 15PLAC150 Human Rights 45 (part- and Islamic Law time students only) 7 1 or 2 15PLAC111 Human Rights in 45 (part- the Developing time World students only) 7 1 or 2 15PLAC112 Human Rights of 45 (part- Women time students only) 7 1 or 2 15PLAH043 Chinese 22.5 (part- Constitutionalism time students 4 only) 7 1 or 2 15PLAC145 International 45 (part- Human Rights time Clinic students only) 7 1 or 2 15PLAH031 Foundations of 22.5 (part- Comparative time Law students only) 7 1 or 2 15PLAH035 Gender, armed 22.5 (part- conflict and time international law students only) 7 1 or 2 15PLAH019 International 22.5 (part- Law and Global time Orders (intensive students course) only) 7 1 or 2 15PLAC123 Justice, 45 (part- Reconciliation & time Reconstruction in students Post-Conflict only) Societies 7 1 or 2 15PLAC133 Law, Human 45 (part- Rights and Peace time Building: The students Israeli- only) Palestinian Case 7 1 or 2 15PLAH023 Migration, 22.5 (part- Gender and the time Law in South students East Asia and only) Beyond 7 1 or 2 15PLC139 Modern Chinese 45 (part- Law and Human time Rights students only) 7 1 or 2 15PLAC119 International 45 (part- Protection of time Human Rights students only) 5 7 1 or 2 15PLAH022 The Law of 22.5 (part- Armed Conflict time students only) AND ONE further course or TWO half courses, to a total value of 45 credits, either from the list above, an approved language or the Law optional list below** AND 1 or 2 or 15PLAC999 Dissertation in 45 Should 3 (part- Law be on a time topic students relating only) to human rights law ** Students may be permitted to select one full course, or one half course, or two half courses in place of the equivalent number of Law course(s) as follows: (a) a complementary non-Law SOAS Masters level course, if the MA Law Convenor is satisfied that the complementary course is academically appropriate and is closely related to the specialism of the MA Law programme; OR (b) a complementary SOAS postgraduate language acquisition course at the appropriate level, if the MA Law Convenor is satisfied that the complementary language is closely related to either to the specialism of the MA Law programme or to the regional focus of the student's other courses. 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