Human Rights

Director:  Richard A. Wilson
Office:  152 Human Rights Institute, Dodd Research Center

125. Introduction to Human Rights

(Also offered as POLS 125.) Either semester. Three credits.

Exploration of central human rights institutions, selected human rights themes and political controversies, and key political challenges of contemporary human rights advocacy. CA 2. CA 4-INT.

205. The Theory of Human Rights

(Also offered as POLS 205.) Either semester. Three credits. Hiskes

Various theories of human rights, both historical and contemporary. Conceptual arguments both in favor and critical of the theory and practice of human rights will be considered, with literature taken primarily from philosophy and political theory.

215. Human Rights in the United States

(Also offered as SOCI 215.) Either semester. Three credits.

Sociological analyses of human rights issues in the United States, including economic, racial, and gender justice; prisoner's rights and capital punishment; the role of the United States in international human rights agreements and treaties; and struggles on behalf of human rights.

219. Topics in Philosophy and Human Rights

(Also offered as PHIL 219.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: One three-credit course in Philosophy or instructor consent . With a change in content, may be repeated for credit.

What are human rights? Why are they important? Topics may include the philosophical precursors of human rights, the nature and justification of human rights, or contemporary issues bearing on human rights.

220. Latinos/as and Human Rights

(Also offered as HIST 284 and PRLS 221.) Either semester. Three credits. Silvestrini

Latino/a issues related to human, civil and cultural rights, and gender differences.

221. Sociological Perspectives on Asian American Women

(Also offered as AASI 221 and SOCI 221.) Either semester. Three credits. Open to sophomores or higher. Purkayastha

An overview of social structures, inter-group relations, and women's rights, focusing on the experience of Asian American women. CA 4.

222. Asian Indian Women: Activism and Social Change in India and the United States

(Also offered as AASI 222 and SOCI 222.) First semester. Three credits. Prerequisites: SOCI 107, 115 or 125. Purkayastha

How gender, class and ethnicity/race structure everyday lives of Asian Indian women in both India and the United States.

225. International Organizations and Law

(Also offered as POLS 225.) Either semester. Three credits.

The role of intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and international law in world affairs with special attention to contemporary issues.

226. International Human Rights

(Also offered as HIST 226.) Either semester. Three credits. Open to sophomores or higher.

Historical and theoretical survey of the evolution of human rights since 1945.

228. Indigenous Rights and Aboriginal Australia

(Also offered as ANTH 228.) Either semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: ANTH 220.

An introduction to the study and understanding of Aboriginal ways of life and thought. An exploration of the complexity of contemporary indigenous social orders and land rights issues. CA 4-INT.

235. African Americans and Social Protest

(Also offered as AFAM 235 and SOCI 235.) Either semester. Three credits. Cazenave

Social and economic-justice movements, from the beginning of the Civil Rights movement to the present.

236. White Racism

(Also offered as AFAM 236 and SOCI 236.) Either semester. Three credits. Cazenave

The origin, nature, and consequences of white racism as a central and enduring social principle around which the United States and other modern societies are structured and evolve. CA 4.

238. African American History to 1865

(Also offered as HIST 238 and AFAM 238.) Either semester. Three credits. Campbell, Ogbar

History of African-American people to 1865, from their West African roots, to their presence in colonial America, through enslavement and emancipation. Adaptation and resistance to their conditions in North America. Contributions by black people to the development of the United States.

241. Topics in Literature and Human Rights

(Also offered as ENGL 241.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250 or both 105 and 109. May be repeated for credit with a change of topic.

Study of literature from various historical periods and nationalities concerned with defining, exploring, and critiquing the idea of universal human rights.

245. Human Rights Internship and Portfolio

(Formerly offered as INTD 245.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Consent of Director of Human Rights Minor.

Internship with a human rights-related agency, organization, or group, and preparation of a portfolio synthesizing the internship experiences with Human Rights Minor course work.

249. Sociological Perspectives on Poverty

(Also offered as SOCI 249.) Either semester. Three credits. Cazenave, Villemez

Poverty in the U.S. and abroad, its roots, and strategies to deal with it.

253. The History of Human Rights

(Also offered as HIST 253.) Either semester. Three credits.

Case studies in the emergence and evolution of human rights as experience and concept.

256. Constitutional Rights and Liberties

(Also offered as POLS 256.) Either semester. Three credits.

The role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Bill of Rights. Topics include freedoms of speech and religion, criminal due process, and equal protection.

258. Comparative Perspectives on Human Rights

(Also offered as POLS 258.) First semester. Three credits.

Cultural difference and human rights in areas of legal equality, women's rights, political violence, criminal justice, religious pluralism, global security, and race relations.

263. Women and Violence

(Also offered as WS 263.) Either semester. Three credits.

A discussion of the various forms of violence against women in our society, including rape, battering, incest and pornography; treats the social, political and personal meaning of violence.

268. Class, Power, and Inequality

(Also offered as SOCI 268.) Either semester. Three credits. Bernstein, Glasberg , Villemez, Wallace

Inequality and its consequences in contemporary societies.

269. Political Sociology

(Also offered as SOCI 269.) Either semester. Three credits. Glasberg

Social analysis of power, democracy and voting, society and the state, and political economy.

280W. Human Rights in Democratizing Countries

(Also offered as ANTH 280W.) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 105 or 110 or 111 or 250; Open only with consent of instructor.

Human rights, political violence, political and legal anthropology, prosecutions of human rights offenders, truth and memory, reconciliation, international justice. CA 4-INT.