Program

Master’s Program in Human Rights and Democracy

The M. A. Program in Human Rights and Democracy provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary human rights studies, with a specialization in the relation between human rights and democracy. The program examines the history, theoretical development and practical realization of norms pertaining to human rights and democracy. It provides students with a solid grounding in how these norms – and the practical issues they stimulate – are addressed especially within the fields of law, philosophy and politics as well as other social sciences. The program also offers students excellent possibilities to improve their transferable skills in areas like project planning and evaluation, problem-solving, professional writing and oral presentation.

The program is an international program, organized on a two-year basis (120 higher education credits). The program, which is on a full time schedule, is accessible for both foreign and Swedish students and is taught on site in Bromma, Stockholm. The language of instruction is English.

The program provides knowledge that is valuable in a number of different professional sectors where expertise in human rights and democracy is necessary, including national and international institutions, private companies and non-governmental organizations. The education is carried out in an international environment and provides students with opportunities to cultivate skills in intercultural communication. The education can also serve as preparation for doctoral studies in human rights and a number of related fields within the humanities and social sciences.

Knowledge and understanding
For the master’s degree, the student should:
– demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary human rights studies, with a specialization in the relation between human rights and democracy, as well as deep insight into current research and practice.
– demonstrate advanced knowledge of methodology in interdisciplinary human rights studies.

Skills and Abilities
For the master’s degree, the student should:
– demonstrate the ability to critically integrate knowledge and to analyze, assess and manage complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information;
– demonstrate the ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues for research, to plan and execute qualified tasks within given time frames, thereby contributing to the development of knowledge and to evaluate this work;
– demonstrate the ability, in both national and international contexts, to clearly and verbally and in writing give an account of and discuss conclusions and the knowledge and arguments that underlie them in dialogue with different groups;
– demonstrate the skills required to participate in human rights research and practice, or to work independently in other qualified activities.

Evaluation ability and approach
For the master’s degree, the student should:
– demonstrate the ability to make judgments with regard to relevant scholarly, social and ethical aspects within Human Rights and Democracy and show an awareness of ethical aspects of human rights research and practice;
– show insight into the possibilities and limitations of the current topic, its role in society and people’s responsibility for how it is used;
– demonstrate the ability to identify needs for additional knowledge and to take responsibility for further knowledge development.

First Courses
5MR436 Human Rights and Democracy as Ideas in History, 7,5 credits
5MR437 Human Rights and Democracy in Legal Perspective, 7,5 credits
5MR438 Human Rights and Democracy in Politics and Practice, 7,5 credits
5MR439 Human Rights and Democracy Clinic, Part I, 7,5 credits

Study abroad and internship
During the master’s program, you have the opportunity to choose to study a semester abroad. This means that you can study courses of 30 ECTS credits at another university abroad, which will be included in your master’s degree.

Internship is not included in the master’s program, but as a student at University College Stockholm, you can apply for the internship course after completing a master’s degree.

Exam
The program leads to a Master’s Degree (M. A.) in Human Rights with a focus on Human Rights and Democracy. The master’s degree is obtained after the student has completed the course requirements for 120 higher education credits including a degree project on 30 higher education credits in the same subject and chosen profile.

READ MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM: Master’s program