Upcoming Human Rights Courses

No prerequisites for taking this discussion-oriented course. Students explore the extent to which an international treaty-based framework derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which 174 of 193 nations recognized by the United Nations including the United States ratified or acceded to can advance the cause of human rights by raising awareness and promoting accountability involving a broad range of human rights interests internationally, and at the federal, state and also local levels domestically by leveraging original source materials and simulating aspects of the corresponding process.

For perspective, the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution provides that ratified treaties essentially are characterized as the “supreme law of the land” and generally accorded the weight of federal law. Informal communication may ensue with the U.N. Human Rights Committee (the “treaty body”) in Geneva, and through the US Department of State’s applicable bureau(s).

This course was inspired by the instructor’s engagement in Geneva during an in-person U.S. review cycle appearance arising out of his prior role and responsibilities within the White House during the Clinton administration, and the U.S. Department of State at the outset of the George W. Bush administration. As noted, instead of relying upon a conventional textbook(s), primary sources will inform class discussions, including various “shadow reports” submitted to the treaty body by US-based human rights NGOs which address a range of human rights concerns. President Jimmy Carter’s observations lend additional insight: “… I signed the Covenant and submitted it to the Senate [in 1977] for advice and consent as required by our Constitution. The Senate gave this consent in April 1992, and in early June, notably after [President] George [H.W.] Bush encouraged Senate leadership to move the treaty forward and ultimately signed its instrument of ratification. [This treaty]… provides an excellent opportunity for the US to strengthen civil liberty provisions in domestic legal codes… to end our country's inconsistency and double standards in dealing with human rights at home and abroad…. We can hardly clamor for justice in other parts of the world if we will not pledge to provide justice for our own citizens.” 

While this is a class not a clinic, this course takes on attributes of a seminar affording students unique opportunity to explore the process surrounding this treaty framework in an effort to facilitate meaningful outcomes that can affect peoples’ lives locally.

Generally speaking, visual rhetoric involves learning to analyze and critique the rhetorical function of imagery, using images to respond to and organize arguments, and creating images that operate across diverse media, are shaped by multiple genres, and are designed to achieve different goals for different audiences—learning how visual symbols act on us, on others, and on our thinking.

This semester, we extend that work into the spatial, investigating genres and sites where the visual and the spatial intersect. Taking our cues from rhetorical ecologists, political geographers, postcolonial scholars, and spatial theorists, we will consider what we might call the “socio-spatial dialectics” of monuments, memorials, archives, maps, and other situated performances related to human rights. We will also examine the many ways in which these spaces can influence people’s attitudes, opinions, emotions, and beliefs.

In sum, our study of visual rhetoric is a study of how images, objects, spaces, and places communicate certain ideas and raise important questions about human rights.

German Society Through Film: The Legacy of Nazi Crimes Against Humanity
IDS3188
Professor: Birgit Maier-Katkin
Course Section: Section 1: general students, Section 2: honors students
College of Arts & Sciences

Gender, Law and Religion
REL 3936
Professor: John Cole
Course Section: 1
College of Arts & Sciences

This course examines legal issues and religious narratives that have shaped women’s rights and gender identity in American jurisprudence. Particular attention is paid to the philosophical concepts of freedom, citizenship, equality, and neutrality. This is a seminar-style course, capped at 20 students.

Foundations of Human Rights
REL 3498
Professor: Rosemary Kellison
Course Section: 1
College of Arts & Sciences

The language of human rights has become ubiquitous in contemporary discourse and the modern legal regime. In this course, we will examine the historical events that prompted the rise of human rights discourse and law. We will then turn to questions concerning the philosophical and religious foundations of human rights. Finally, we will focus on a particular issue—human migration—to explore ongoing debates about the universality of human rights.

Refugees, Asylees & Migrants
Summer B, Three sections: Undergraduate POS 3931 (14325), Honors POS 3931 (14328) and Graduate POS 5698 (14390)
Professor: Mark Schlakman
College of Social Sciences & Public Policy

This is an optimal window to take this course which is framed to clarify and explain the difference among a range of terms like refugee, asylee and migrant and challenge essentially all givens and surrounding popular narratives even if not always well-founded. Students aren’t evaluated based upon their individual opinions or collective sensibilities rather emphasis is placed upon critical analysis -- spotting issues, identifying the implications of the issues and reconciling with corresponding legal, policy, ethical and other frameworks. Students will explore the applicability of pertinent treaties, laws and policies that establish the basis of the refugee protection system arising out of a global commitment to afford those fleeing a well-founded fear of persecution with safe haven. 

Emerging issues and contemporaneous events will be addressed against a historical backdrop. Discussions will unpack key terms frequently conflated by officials and credible sources alike, involving refugee protection and migration in both international and domestic settings. The broader implications of forced migration will be addressed insofar as international affairs, and affected communities and individuals. Both the humanitarian dimensions of refugee protection and national security implications are among areas of emphasis. 
Additional goals and objectives for this course include raising awareness re: the current status of refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, stateless individuals as well as primary source countries, host countries and destination countries and related processes – exploring how they’re similar and how they’re different. 

Other aspects that will be explored include issues involving the continuum of care the extent to which trauma informed responses are applied, underlying causes of forced migration, today and historically both involving the U.S. and international obligations relating to refugee protection irrespective of partisan or other positions on point, as well as the roles of international organizations and voluntary organizations.

Human Rights & National Security
Summer B, Three sections: Undergraduate POS 3931 (14329), Honors POS 3931 (14330) and Graduate POS 5698 (14392)
Professor: Mark Schlakman
College of Social Sciences & Public Policy

Students will explore some of the tensions that can arise between human rights interests and purported national security imperatives with emphasis on but not limited to the period since September 11, 2001. This class examines legal, policy, ethical, to some extent doctrinal and other frameworks including some of the applicable case law for purposes of attempting to reconcile purported national security imperatives and human rights interests. Critical analysis will encompass exploring whether/the extent to which taking an “any means necessary” approach in furtherance of purported national security interests can comport with the Rule of Law. Compelling/ historically significant guest speakers who were directly involved in certain scenarios will engage with the class periodically.  

Overarching course objectives essentially are to challenge all givens including various popular if not always well-founded narratives. Emphasis is upon spotting issues, identifying the implications thereof and reconciling within applicable legal, policy, ethical and other frameworks. Toward these ends students explore divergent views, as well as the influence of fear and uncertainty (whether arguably well-founded or unfounded) noting also separation of powers considerations. Moreover, highly credible guest speakers typically join.

Students aren’t evaluated based upon their individual opinions or collective sensibilities rather emphasis is placed upon critical analysis -- spotting issues, identifying the implications of the issues and reconciling with corresponding legal, policy, ethical and other frameworks. The roles, responsibilities and codes of conduct pertaining to particular professions also are evaluated.

SPRING 2027

Race, Law and Religion
REL 3936
Professor: John Cole
Course Section: 3
College of Arts & Sciences

This course engages with the laws, cases, and religious narratives in American jurisprudence that have shaped the role of race in American society. While particular attention is paid to the African American experience, landmark cases and policies related to other racial groups are also considered, alongside key concepts such as social justice, equality, and the significance of intent versus lived experience in systems and structures that produce racial hierarchy and caste. This is a seminar-style course, capped at 20 students.