Bachelor of Arts with Human Rights

Program Overview

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Entry Points (2022) 353

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Arts with Human Rights is an exciting, four year interdisciplinary degree programme offered by the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies in conjunction with the Irish Centre for Human Rights.

The programme is unique in several respects, chiefly because it is the only undergraduate programme of its kind in the Republic of Ireland that allows undergraduates to specialise in a field that was previously reserved to postgraduate study.

During the course, students engage with human rights discourse through class-based teaching at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, which is one of one of the world's premier academic human rights institutions, dedicated to the study and promotion of human rights, international criminal law and international humanitarian law.

Finally, students will have the opportunity to undertake work placement or study abroad. The placement provides a unique opportunity to develop practical skills and experience the reality of a career in the field of human rights. Placements have been secured around the world, from Dublin to London, Genève, Madrid, Mexico, Peru and the Philippines.

Watch our introductory video from our May 2021 Virtual Open Day

Program Outline

Course Outline

The programme explores the human rights legal framework, along with the philosophical basis and historical development of human rights. It provides students with both theoretical and practical understanding of how the human rights system works at international, regional and national level.

The programme covers the role of different actors in the promotion and protection of human Rights, including the human rights work undertaken by the United Nations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and Regional and National systems.

Year 1

First Year modules provide an introduction to human rights and analyse the philosophical basis and historical development of human rights. During the first year students become acquainted with the normative foundations of International Human Rights and the various international human rights mechanisms of promotion.

Year 2

In the second year

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students undertake the study of the regional human rights systems, structures and instruments, including the Inter-American, the European, the African and Asian Systems of Human Rights. Other modules will have more thematic approach providing students with knowledge and understanding of some contemporary human rights issues such as migrants and refugees rights, LGBTIQ+ rights and women’s rights.

Year 3

In the first semester, students have a number of optional modules from which they can chose, including, EU Law, Criminal Law Administrative Law, Health Law and Policy, Irish Legal Systems, Constitutional Law and Legal Methods and Research.

In the second semester, students will have the opportunity to either undertake work placement with a human rights organisation, study abroad or undertake an Applied Human Rights Project.

Year 4

Students will complete their studies in their two core degree subjects and may, if suitable, incorporate the specialist skills and knowledge they have gained in human rights over the previous three years in their final year projects

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Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).

Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

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Glossary of Terms

Credits

You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.

Module

An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.

Subject

Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.

Optional

A module you may choose to study.

Required

A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).

Required Core Subject

A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.

Semester

Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

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Year 1 (60 Credits)

Optional Subject: Ancient Classics (15 Credits):

Optional

CC230:

Beginning Latin Part 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

CC1101:

Mythology and the City in Ancient Greece

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

CC114:

Written Words & Spoken Languages in the Ancient World

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

CC1100:

Classics in 20 Objects

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

CCS205:

Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part One)

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

CC232:

Beginning Latin Part 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

CC1102:

Empire and Literature in Ancient Rome

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

CCS206:

Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part Two)

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Archaeology (15 Credits):

Optional

AR1104:

Material Culture and Museums

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

AR113:

Prehistoric Ireland & Europe

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

AR1102:

Recording Monuments in the Landscape

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

AR1105:

Medieval Ireland and Europe

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Economics (15 Credits):

Required

EC1108:

Skills for Economics I

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

EC135:

Principles of Microeconomics

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

EC136:

Principles of Macroeconomics

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: English (15 Credits):

Required

ENSK1100:

Exploring English

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

EN124:

Introduction to English 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

EN125:

Introduction to English 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: French (15 Credits):

Required

FR1100:

Introduction to French Language and Culture

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Gaeilge (15 Credits):

Optional

NG1107:

Scéal agus Pobal na Gaeilge

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

NG1105:

An Teanga Bheo

- 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

NG1106:

Litríocht agus Cultúr na Linne

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Geography/Tíreolaíocht (15 Credits):

Required

TI1101:

Geography in Practice

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

TI150:

Principles of Human Geography

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

TI151:

Principles of Physical Geography

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: German (Advanced) (15 Credits):

Required

GR1100:

German Language and Culture (Advanced)

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: German (Beginners) (15 Credits):

Required

GR1101:

German Language and Culture (Beginners)

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Global Media:

Required

AJ1104:

Digital Literacy Essentials

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

AJ1100:

History of Media

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

AJ1102:

Introduction to Media and Communication Studies

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: History (15 Credits):

Required

HI1103:

Europe and Ireland 1789 - 1918

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

HI1100:

Skills for Historians (BA Connect)

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

HI1104:

Europe: From Medieval to Modern

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required Core Subject: Human Rights (15 Credits):

Required

HR101:

Introduction to Human Rights I

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

HR102:

Introduction to Human Rights II

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

HR103:

Introduction to Human Rights III

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Information Technology (15 Credits):

Required

CT1101:

Programming I

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CT1100:

Computer Systems

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CT1102:

Programming II

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Italian (15 Credits):

Required

IT1100:

Italian Language and Culture

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Léann an Aistriúcháin (15 Credits):

Required

LN1103:

Bunscileanna Gramadaí

- 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required

LN105:

Bunscileanna Aistriúcháin

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Léann na Cumarsáide (15 Credits):

Required

CG1100:

Scéalaíocht Dhigiteach

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CG1105:

Bunús na hIriseoireachta

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CG1104:

Na Meáin agus an tSochaí

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Mathematics (15 Credits):

Optional

MA131:

Mathematical Skills

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

MA133:

Analysis and Algebra 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

MA185:

Analysis and Algebra 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

MA135:

Analysis and Algebra 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

MA187:

Mathematical Skills

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

MA186:

Analysis and Algebra 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Modern Irish Culture Studies: Literature and Music (15 Credits):

Required

ISSK1100:

Introducing Modern and Contemporary Irish Literature

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

IS1103:

Introducing Irish Traditional Music & Dance since 1893

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

IS1104:

The Migrant Experience in Modern Irish Writing

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Philosophy (15 Credits):

Required

PISK1100:

Critical Thinking & Persuasive Writing

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

PI107:

Introduction To The History Of Philosophy

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

PI108:

Introduction To Practical Ethics

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Sociological & Political Studies (15 Credits):

Required

SP160:

Problems in Politics & Sociology

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

SP1125:

Introduction to Politics

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

SP1126:

Introduction to Sociology

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Spanish (Beginners) (15 Credits):

Required

SH1100:

Intensive Beginners Spanish Language and Culture

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Spanish (Intermediate) (15 Credits):

Required

SH1101:

Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

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Year 2 (60 Credits)

Optional Subject: Ancient Classics (25 Credits):

This subject is available if you studied Classics in the previous year / semester.

This subject is available if you studied Ancient Classics in the previous year / semester.

Optional

CC2103:

Mediterranean Origins

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

CC230:

Beginning Latin Part 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

CCS205:

Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part One)

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

CCS315:

Intermediate Latin 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

CC3103:

Intermediate Ancient Greek Part One

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

CCS311:

Advanced Classical and Medieval Latin 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

CCS201:

Studies in the Ancient Imagination

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

CC2105:

Heroic Epic

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

CC2104:

The City-State

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

CC232:

Beginning Latin Part 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

CCS206:

Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part Two)

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

CCS207:

Studies in Ancient Literature and Thought

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

CCS316:

Intermediate Latin 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

SG217:

A Field of Gods & Men: Celtic Myths

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

CC2102:

Classical Mythology and Drama

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

CC3104:

Intermediate Ancient Greek Part Two

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

CC321:

Latin Texts from Medieval Ireland and Britain

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional Subject: Archaeology (25 Credits):

This subject is available if you studied Archaeology in the previous year / semester.

Optional

TI254:

Space, Place and the Irish Landscape

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

AR2101:

Early Kingship: From Chaos to Cosmos

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required

AR246:

Castles, Colonists & Crannogs 1100-1350

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required

AR2102:

People, Ritual and Death: Life in Early Prehistoric Europe

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

AR2105:

Early Medieval Archaeology of Western Ireland

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

AR2103:

Archaeology and Irish Identity – Celts, Christians, Vikings

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Required

AR245:

Archaeology in Practice

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Required

AR236:

Interpretation in Archaeology

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

AR334:

Ancient Civilisations: The Rise of Complex Societies

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

AR2100:

Making Sense of Art: Style, Symbol and Story

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional Subject: Economics (25 Credits):

This subject is available if you studied Geilleagar in the previous year / semester.

This subject is available if you studied Economics in the previous year / semester.

Optional

EC207:

Irish Economic History

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EC219:

Comparative Economic Thought

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required

EC273:

Mathematics for Economics

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required

EC269:

Intermediate Microeconomics

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EC247:

Introduction to Financial Economics

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

EC259:

Economics of Public Policy

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Required

EC268:

Intermediate Macroeconomics

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Required

EC275:

Statistics for Economics

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

EC400.V:

University of Villanova: Economics

- 15 Credits - Semester 4

Optional Subject: English (25 Credits):

This subject is available if you studied English in the previous year / semester.

Optional

EN448.I:

Stories Told and Re-Told

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EN2166:

Seduction, Sexuality, and Race: Early Modern Identities

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EN2102:

Renaissance Drama

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EN2106:

Shakespearean Comedies

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EN2107:

Shakespearean Comedies

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EN2154:

Exploring Shakespeare (S1)

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EN298.I:

Spenser: The Faerie Queene

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EN3154:

Literature, Empathy and Estrangement (S1)

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EN3101:

Allusion, Adaptation and Appropriation

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

ENG230.I:

19th Century Detective Fiction

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

EN2121:

Media Industries A

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

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