Human Rights (HUMR)
Human Rights (HUMR) Courses
Institute of Interdisc.St.
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
HUMR 1001 [1.0 credit]
Introduction to Human Rights
Human rights from an interdisciplinary perspective. Topics may include the foundations and nature of rights, roots of inequality and oppression, aboriginal rights, racism, women and rights, sexual orientation, state and corporate power, economic exploitation, the environment and rights, warfare, torture, and social movements.
Introduction to Human Rights
Human rights from an interdisciplinary perspective. Topics may include the foundations and nature of rights, roots of inequality and oppression, aboriginal rights, racism, women and rights, sexual orientation, state and corporate power, economic exploitation, the environment and rights, warfare, torture, and social movements.
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1104 and ISSC 1001/ANTH 1010/SOCI 1010 (no longer offered).
Lecture and discussion groups three hours a week.
Lecture and discussion groups three hours a week.
HUMR 2001 [0.5 credit]
Human Rights: Theories and Foundations
Historical overview of the theoretical and philosophical approaches underlying the human rights movement and relevant to the normative ideals and aspirations of human rights and to the strategies of their implementation.
Human Rights: Theories and Foundations
Historical overview of the theoretical and philosophical approaches underlying the human rights movement and relevant to the normative ideals and aspirations of human rights and to the strategies of their implementation.
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HUMR 2202 [0.5 credit]
Power Relations and Human Rights
The study of power from a critical, transnational perspective; the impact on human rights of different forms and modalities of power, including those emanating from the state and corporations and those implicated in socio-economic and other hierarchical relations.
Power Relations and Human Rights
The study of power from a critical, transnational perspective; the impact on human rights of different forms and modalities of power, including those emanating from the state and corporations and those implicated in socio-economic and other hierarchical relations.
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HUMR 2301 [0.5 credit]
Human Rights and Sexualities
Human rights issues in various cultural contexts concerning sex and/or gender, with attention to sexual minorities such as gay, lesbian, and transgendered persons. Forms of discrimination against sexual minorities and the mechanisms and strategies for redress.
Human Rights and Sexualities
Human rights issues in various cultural contexts concerning sex and/or gender, with attention to sexual minorities such as gay, lesbian, and transgendered persons. Forms of discrimination against sexual minorities and the mechanisms and strategies for redress.
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HUMR 2401 [0.5 credit]
Political Repression: Impacts and Responses
Canada is home-in-exile to many who have faced severe and often life-threatening political repression such as imprisonment, torture, surveillance, population transfer, etc. This course examines the impacts on survivors of political repression, and strategies used to overcome its legacies.
Political Repression: Impacts and Responses
Canada is home-in-exile to many who have faced severe and often life-threatening political repression such as imprisonment, torture, surveillance, population transfer, etc. This course examines the impacts on survivors of political repression, and strategies used to overcome its legacies.
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HUMR 2402 [0.5 credit]
Agents of Political Violence
The processes used in preparing individuals to commit torture, murder and other forms of violence on behalf of a state or associated organizations, and how such violence is justified by its direct perpetrators, their commanders (police/military and political), and members of their society.
Agents of Political Violence
The processes used in preparing individuals to commit torture, murder and other forms of violence on behalf of a state or associated organizations, and how such violence is justified by its direct perpetrators, their commanders (police/military and political), and members of their society.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3402 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HUMR 2502 [0.5 credit]
Social and Political Movements
The underlying conditions and developments of historical and contemporary social and political movements; specific social movements such as civil rights or gay rights.
Social and Political Movements
The underlying conditions and developments of historical and contemporary social and political movements; specific social movements such as civil rights or gay rights.
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HUMR 3001 [0.5 credit]
Contemporary Issues in Human Rights
This advanced seminar will cover current and topical issues and/or debates in human rights, and will enable students to engage in focused discussions and analyses of these issues. Topics will vary from year to year.
Contemporary Issues in Human Rights
This advanced seminar will cover current and topical issues and/or debates in human rights, and will enable students to engage in focused discussions and analyses of these issues. Topics will vary from year to year.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Lectures three hours a week.
HUMR 3202 [0.5 credit]
Human Rights and Resistance
This course problematizes human rights paradigms and critically examines the limitations of the political within liberal democracies. Bringing together theory and politics, alternative approaches to activism are explored. Topics may include struggles grounded in radical democracy, anti-capitalism, and social justice perspectives.
Human Rights and Resistance
This course problematizes human rights paradigms and critically examines the limitations of the political within liberal democracies. Bringing together theory and politics, alternative approaches to activism are explored. Topics may include struggles grounded in radical democracy, anti-capitalism, and social justice perspectives.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Lectures three hours a week.
HUMR 3301 [0.5 credit]
Racialization, Racism and Human Rights
The forms and effects of systemic race-based human rights abuses. Topics may include immigration and refugee policies and practices, anti-apartheid regimes, racial profiling, the racial politics of "nationhood" and armed conflict, civil rights and resistance movements in differing cultural contexts.
Racialization, Racism and Human Rights
The forms and effects of systemic race-based human rights abuses. Topics may include immigration and refugee policies and practices, anti-apartheid regimes, racial profiling, the racial politics of "nationhood" and armed conflict, civil rights and resistance movements in differing cultural contexts.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Lectures three hours a week.
HUMR 3302 [0.5 credit]
Culture, Religion, and Women's Human Rights
The impact of cultural and religious traditions on women's human rights. Topics may include the impact of gender roles on the status of women, cultural relativism, and strategies used to advance women's human rights such as NGOs engagements with CEDAW.
Culture, Religion, and Women's Human Rights
The impact of cultural and religious traditions on women's human rights. Topics may include the impact of gender roles on the status of women, cultural relativism, and strategies used to advance women's human rights such as NGOs engagements with CEDAW.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Lectures three hours a week.
HUMR 3303 [0.5 credit]
Child Rights in Context and Practice
This course profiles the global human rights issues of children and relates them to the international treaties and mechanisms to address them. Topics may include children in armed conflict; child sex tourism; the rights of indigenous children; and gender-based violence against children.
Child Rights in Context and Practice
This course profiles the global human rights issues of children and relates them to the international treaties and mechanisms to address them. Topics may include children in armed conflict; child sex tourism; the rights of indigenous children; and gender-based violence against children.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Lectures three hours a week.
HUMR 3401 [0.5 credit]
Histories of Persecution and Genocide
Case studies in persecution and/or genocide in different cultural contexts. The social, political, and legal conditions that have enabled the institutional or state-sanctioned persecution of targeted groups, and the circumstances that had an impact on their decline.
Histories of Persecution and Genocide
Case studies in persecution and/or genocide in different cultural contexts. The social, political, and legal conditions that have enabled the institutional or state-sanctioned persecution of targeted groups, and the circumstances that had an impact on their decline.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Lectures three hours a week.
HUMR 3501 [0.5 credit]
Social, Economic and Cultural Rights
The development of social, economic and cultural rights, including rights to housing, healthcare, education and employment. Topics may include the international geopolitics of the historical tension between these rights and civil and political rights.
Social, Economic and Cultural Rights
The development of social, economic and cultural rights, including rights to housing, healthcare, education and employment. Topics may include the international geopolitics of the historical tension between these rights and civil and political rights.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Lectures three hours a week.
HUMR 3502 [0.5 credit]
Corporations and Human Rights
Corporate involvement in human rights violations, with attention to how corporations encourage, participate in, and benefit from political repression and warfare. How the relationship between corporate and state interests affects the implementation of measures for corporate accountability.
Corporations and Human Rights
Corporate involvement in human rights violations, with attention to how corporations encourage, participate in, and benefit from political repression and warfare. How the relationship between corporate and state interests affects the implementation of measures for corporate accountability.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Lectures three hours a week.
HUMR 3503 [0.5 credit]
Global Environmental Justice
Overview of critical debates on environmental issues from a global social justice perspective. Topics may include corporate mining, food sovereignty, poverty, economic exploitation, Indigenous cosmologies and environmental justice, militarization and environmental degradation, privatization of water and climate change.
Global Environmental Justice
Overview of critical debates on environmental issues from a global social justice perspective. Topics may include corporate mining, food sovereignty, poverty, economic exploitation, Indigenous cosmologies and environmental justice, militarization and environmental degradation, privatization of water and climate change.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Lectures three hours a week.
HUMR 4201 [0.5 credit]
Citizenship and Human Rights
The relationship between citizenship and human rights; how large groups of people, including non-citizens and refugees, are excluded from entitlements to rights. Why human rights rest on citizenship, and with what implications.
Citizenship and Human Rights
The relationship between citizenship and human rights; how large groups of people, including non-citizens and refugees, are excluded from entitlements to rights. Why human rights rest on citizenship, and with what implications.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4203 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Critical Principles of Human Rights
Detailed study of a selected topic relating to normative questions and/or debates concern specific rights claims and/or to the international human rights system in general.
Special Topic in Critical Principles of Human Rights
Detailed study of a selected topic relating to normative questions and/or debates concern specific rights claims and/or to the international human rights system in general.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4301 [0.5 credit]
Sex, Politics, and the State
The role of the state in the social, moral and legal regulation of sex, and the human rights claims that state policies give rise to. Topics may include the politics of personal and social relationships, and approaches to addressing gender-based discrimination.
Sex, Politics, and the State
The role of the state in the social, moral and legal regulation of sex, and the human rights claims that state policies give rise to. Topics may include the politics of personal and social relationships, and approaches to addressing gender-based discrimination.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4302 [0.5 credit]
Transgender Human Rights
Critical analyses of human rights through an examination of transgender subjectivities. The systemic erasure of trans people within society and the struggles of some activists to normalize trans identities.
Transgender Human Rights
Critical analyses of human rights through an examination of transgender subjectivities. The systemic erasure of trans people within society and the struggles of some activists to normalize trans identities.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4303 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in the Identities and Diversities
Detailed study of a selected topic relevant to the rights claims and/or needs of specific marginalized groups, such as immigrants, refugees, persons with disabilities, sexual minorities, etc.
Special Topic in the Identities and Diversities
Detailed study of a selected topic relevant to the rights claims and/or needs of specific marginalized groups, such as immigrants, refugees, persons with disabilities, sexual minorities, etc.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4402 [0.5 credit]
Terror and Human Rights
The human rights implications of terror, terrorism and/or the "war on terror." Topics may include the use of terrorism as a justification for the use of military force, and the impact of racial profiling, arrest warrants, security certificates; detentions; and deportations.
Terror and Human Rights
The human rights implications of terror, terrorism and/or the "war on terror." Topics may include the use of terrorism as a justification for the use of military force, and the impact of racial profiling, arrest warrants, security certificates; detentions; and deportations.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4403 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Civil and Political Rights
Detailed study of a selected topic relevant to civil and political rights, including studies on specific rights claims and/or on the work of national or international commissions or tribunals.
Special Topic in Civil and Political Rights
Detailed study of a selected topic relevant to civil and political rights, including studies on specific rights claims and/or on the work of national or international commissions or tribunals.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4404 [0.5 credit]
Rights of Refugees and Displaced Persons
Contemporary issues concerning the rights of refugees and displaced persons, from social, political, and legal perspectives; Canadian and international dimensions of these issues.
Rights of Refugees and Displaced Persons
Contemporary issues concerning the rights of refugees and displaced persons, from social, political, and legal perspectives; Canadian and international dimensions of these issues.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4501 [0.5 credit]
Human Rights and Economic Development
The impact of globalization and international development on human rights in specific regions. Topics may include the right to development and alternative measures employed by international organizations and NGOs for assessing human development, including the capabilities approach and human-rights based approaches.
Human Rights and Economic Development
The impact of globalization and international development on human rights in specific regions. Topics may include the right to development and alternative measures employed by international organizations and NGOs for assessing human development, including the capabilities approach and human-rights based approaches.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4503 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Social and Economic Rights
Detailed study of a selected topic concerning issues in social justice, globalization and development, and social and economic rights.
Special Topic in Social and Economic Rights
Detailed study of a selected topic concerning issues in social justice, globalization and development, and social and economic rights.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4905 [0.5 credit]
Practicum Placement in Human Rights I
This course provides students with the opportunity to spend one day per week (6-8 hours) working and learning at a human rights-related government, research or advocacy organization. A written report is required at the end of the placement. Graded as Sat/Uns.
Practicum Placement in Human Rights I
This course provides students with the opportunity to spend one day per week (6-8 hours) working and learning at a human rights-related government, research or advocacy organization. A written report is required at the end of the placement. Graded as Sat/Uns.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing in Human Rights or permission of the Institute.
HUMR 4906 [0.5 credit]
Practicum Placement in Human Rights II
This course provides students with the opportunity to spend one day per week (6-8 hours) working and learning at a human rights-related government, research or advocacy organization. A written report is required at the end of the placement. Graded as Sat/Uns.
Practicum Placement in Human Rights II
This course provides students with the opportunity to spend one day per week (6-8 hours) working and learning at a human rights-related government, research or advocacy organization. A written report is required at the end of the placement. Graded as Sat/Uns.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing in Human Rights or permission of the Institute.
HUMR 4907 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Human Rights
This course features a detailed study of a special topic in any area of Human Rights. Topics and themes will vary from year to year.
Special Topic in Human Rights
This course features a detailed study of a special topic in any area of Human Rights. Topics and themes will vary from year to year.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing or permission of the Institute.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar three hours a week.
HUMR 4908 [0.5 credit]
Independent Study
Essays and/or examinations based on a bibliography constructed by the student in consultation with an instructor.
Independent Study
Essays and/or examinations based on a bibliography constructed by the student in consultation with an instructor.
Prerequisite(s): normally restricted to students with at least 3.0 credits of Human Rights courses with at least a CGPA of 9.0 or better in Human Rights courses and permission of the Institute.
Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca
Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca