Human Rights Program Committee
(Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
Human Rights and Social Justice (HRSJ) Courses
HRSJ 1101 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Human Rights & Social Justice
Human rights and social justice from an interdisciplinary perspective. Topics include the foundations of rights, roots of inequality and oppression, Indigenous rights, structural violence based on race, gender, sexuality and ableism, State and corporate power, economic exploitation, the environment and rights, warfare, torture,and social movements.
Introduction to Human Rights & Social Justice
Human rights and social justice from an interdisciplinary perspective. Topics include the foundations of rights, roots of inequality and oppression, Indigenous rights, structural violence based on race, gender, sexuality and ableism, State and corporate power, economic exploitation, the environment and rights, warfare, torture,and social movements.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1104, HUMR 1001 (no longer offered).
Lecture and discussion groups/tutorials three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1104, HUMR 1001 (no longer offered).
Lecture and discussion groups/tutorials three hours a week.
HRSJ 1102 [0.5 credit]
Critical Issues in Social Justice Activism
A critical study of social justice approaches and concepts to examine political and social struggles, resistance, and activism in historical and contemporary contexts. Emphasis is placed on the connection between social justice approaches and human rights as tools in activist work.
Critical Issues in Social Justice Activism
A critical study of social justice approaches and concepts to examine political and social struggles, resistance, and activism in historical and contemporary contexts. Emphasis is placed on the connection between social justice approaches and human rights as tools in activist work.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1104.
Lectures and discussion groups/tutorials three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1104.
Lectures and discussion groups/tutorials three hours a week.
HRSJ 2001 [0.5 credit]
Human Rights: Theories and Foundations
Historical overview of the theoretical and philosophical approaches underlying the human rights and social justice movements. Includes Experiential learning activity.
Human Rights: Theories and Foundations
Historical overview of the theoretical and philosophical approaches underlying the human rights and social justice movements. Includes Experiential learning activity.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2001 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups/tutorials three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2001 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups/tutorials three hours a week.
HRSJ 2102 [0.5 credit]
Sexuality, Gender, and Security
Historical and contemporary analysis of surveillance, security, and regulation of sexuality, race, class, and gender. Students will critically examine how ‘subversives’ were created through discourse and administrative logics such as policy and law.
Sexuality, Gender, and Security
Historical and contemporary analysis of surveillance, security, and regulation of sexuality, race, class, and gender. Students will critically examine how ‘subversives’ were created through discourse and administrative logics such as policy and law.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also listed as SXST 2102.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2102 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second year standing or permission from the Institute.
Lectures and discussions three hours a week.
Also listed as SXST 2102.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2102 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second year standing or permission from the Institute.
Lectures and discussions three hours a week.
HRSJ 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.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2202 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups/tutorials three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2202 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups/tutorials three hours a week.
HRSJ 2301 [0.5 credit]
Human Rights and Sexualities
An examination of human rights discourses, sexualities, and gender identities from an intersectional approach.
Human Rights and Sexualities
An examination of human rights discourses, sexualities, and gender identities from an intersectional approach.
Also listed as SXST 2301.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2301 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2301 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HRSJ 2401 [0.5 credit]
Political Repression
This course examines the impacts of political repression on survivors and strategies used to overcome imprisonment, torture, surveillance, migration, etc.
Political Repression
This course examines the impacts of political repression on survivors and strategies used to overcome imprisonment, torture, surveillance, migration, etc.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2401 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2401 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HRSJ 2502 [0.5 credit]
Social and Political Movements
An exploration of historical and/or contemporary social movements that challenge and transform laws or legal regimes, cultural and educational institutions, and political regimes or governments.
Social and Political Movements
An exploration of historical and/or contemporary social movements that challenge and transform laws or legal regimes, cultural and educational institutions, and political regimes or governments.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 2502 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): Second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): Second-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HRSJ 3001 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Human Rights and Social Justice
An advanced seminar on current topics covering human rights and social justice issues. This course features a detailed study of a special topic in any area of Human Rights & Social Justice. Topics and themes will vary from year to year.
Special Topics in Human Rights and Social Justice
An advanced seminar on current topics covering human rights and social justice issues. This course features a detailed study of a special topic in any area of Human Rights & Social Justice. Topics and themes will vary from year to year.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3001 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
HRSJ 3002 [0.5 credit]
Right to the City
“The right to the city” as an emerging focus of advocacy and analysis in urban movements for social justice focused on the local and transnational dimensions of the “right to the city” movement.
Right to the City
“The right to the city” as an emerging focus of advocacy and analysis in urban movements for social justice focused on the local and transnational dimensions of the “right to the city” movement.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3001 if taken prior to 2013-14, HUMR 3002 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
HRSJ 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.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3202 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
HRSJ 3301 [0.5 credit]
Structural Racism
The forms and effects of systemic race-based human rights abuses. Topics may include racial capitalism, 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.
Structural Racism
The forms and effects of systemic race-based human rights abuses. Topics may include racial capitalism, 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.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3301 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Seminar and discussion groups three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3301 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Seminar and discussion groups three hours a week.
HRSJ 3302 [0.5 credit]
Culture, Religion, and Gender Rights
The impact of cultural and religious traditions on gender, race, ethnicity and sexuality. Topics may include debates related to power dynamics, historical issues, geopolitics, and cultural relativism.
Culture, Religion, and Gender Rights
The impact of cultural and religious traditions on gender, race, ethnicity and sexuality. Topics may include debates related to power dynamics, historical issues, geopolitics, and cultural relativism.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3302 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
HRSJ 3303 [0.5 credit]
Children's Rights
This course examines children’s rights from a range of historical, cultural, and global perspectives. Topics may include the rights of Indigenous children, disabled children, female, trans, non-binary, and queer children, children in armed conflict and refugees in Canada and transnational contexts.
Children's Rights
This course examines children’s rights from a range of historical, cultural, and global perspectives. Topics may include the rights of Indigenous children, disabled children, female, trans, non-binary, and queer children, children in armed conflict and refugees in Canada and transnational contexts.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also listed as CHST 3303.
Precludes additional credit for CHST 3901 (no longer offered), HUMR 3303 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Also listed as CHST 3303.
Precludes additional credit for CHST 3901 (no longer offered), HUMR 3303 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HRSJ 3304 [0.5 credit]
Disability Rights
A critical approach to the study of disability rights that explores the intersections of disability with race, sexuality, gender, colonialism, ‘health’, and other discourses.
Disability Rights
A critical approach to the study of disability rights that explores the intersections of disability with race, sexuality, gender, colonialism, ‘health’, and other discourses.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4303 (no longer offered), HUMR 3304 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lecture three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lecture three hours a week.
HRSJ 3305 [0.5 credit]
Anti-Black Racism
The course examines conceptual linkages between race, racism and anti-black racism and how anti-Blackness racial prejudice is rooted in Black people’s experience of enslavement and colonization.
Anti-Black Racism
The course examines conceptual linkages between race, racism and anti-black racism and how anti-Blackness racial prejudice is rooted in Black people’s experience of enslavement and colonization.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3305 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lecture three hours a week
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lecture three hours a week
HRSJ 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.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3401 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3401 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
HRSJ 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.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3501 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
HRSJ 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.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3503 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures and discussion groups three hours a week.
HRSJ 3504 [0.5 credit]
Public Health and Human Rights
Through a social-scientific analysis of AIDS, this course explores HIV/AIDS as a case study for understanding the politics of public health. Students will critically interrogate the authority of science and explore avenues for democratizing biomedicine and public health policy in various national and policy contexts.
Public Health and Human Rights
Through a social-scientific analysis of AIDS, this course explores HIV/AIDS as a case study for understanding the politics of public health. Students will critically interrogate the authority of science and explore avenues for democratizing biomedicine and public health policy in various national and policy contexts.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3001 Section "A" if taken in 2013-14 and 2014-15, HUMR 3504 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 3001 Section "A" if taken in 2013-14 and 2014-15, HUMR 3504 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
HRSJ 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.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4201 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
HRSJ 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.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4302 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
HRSJ 4305 [0.5 credit]
Disability and Social Justice
An intersectional national/transnational approach to social justice issues such as poverty/exploitation, labour, representation, decolonization, race/racism, sexuality and gender from a critical disability studies perspective.
Disability and Social Justice
An intersectional national/transnational approach to social justice issues such as poverty/exploitation, labour, representation, decolonization, race/racism, sexuality and gender from a critical disability studies perspective.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4305 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing in Human Rights and Social Justice or Disability Studies.
Seminar three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing in Human Rights and Social Justice or Disability Studies.
Seminar three hours a week.
HRSJ 4401 [0.5 credit]
Gender, Citizenship and Social Justice in a Transnational World
This seminar critically engages with transnational, gendered, classed, and racialized discursive practices of citizenship, human rights, the geopolitics of knowledge and processes of dehumanization through the lenses of decolonial social justice.
Gender, Citizenship and Social Justice in a Transnational World
This seminar critically engages with transnational, gendered, classed, and racialized discursive practices of citizenship, human rights, the geopolitics of knowledge and processes of dehumanization through the lenses of decolonial social justice.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4401 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
HRSJ 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.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4404 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar and discussion groups three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4404 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar and discussion groups three hours a week.
HRSJ 4405 [0.5 credit]
Digital Dis-information and Human Rights
The course examines the phenomenon of disinformation or ‘fake news’ in the era of digital technology, its intent and links to structures of power and oppression, and its impacts on human rights and the social justice.
Digital Dis-information and Human Rights
The course examines the phenomenon of disinformation or ‘fake news’ in the era of digital technology, its intent and links to structures of power and oppression, and its impacts on human rights and the social justice.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4405 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4405 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
HRSJ 4409 [0.5 credit]
Counter-terrorism and Human Rights
Examines policies and strategies states and international organizations use to combat global terrorism and the challenges these initiatives pose to the international human rights regime, democratic norms, and social justice.
Counter-terrorism and Human Rights
Examines policies and strategies states and international organizations use to combat global terrorism and the challenges these initiatives pose to the international human rights regime, democratic norms, and social justice.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4409 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar and discussion groups three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4409 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar and discussion groups three hours a week.
HRSJ 4502 [0.5 credit]
Global Indigenous Knowledges and Movements
Indigenous Peoples contributions to world knowledge through community resistance, social movements and scholarship. How processes of corporate globalization impact Indigenous Peoples lives as an ongoing process of normalizing a reconfigured modern coloniality of power.
Global Indigenous Knowledges and Movements
Indigenous Peoples contributions to world knowledge through community resistance, social movements and scholarship. How processes of corporate globalization impact Indigenous Peoples lives as an ongoing process of normalizing a reconfigured modern coloniality of power.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4502 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
HRSJ 4504 [0.5 credit]
Black Health
The course examines conceptual linkages between race, racism and anti-black racism and how anti-Blackness racial prejudice is rooted in Black people’s experience of enslavement and colonization.
Black Health
The course examines conceptual linkages between race, racism and anti-black racism and how anti-Blackness racial prejudice is rooted in Black people’s experience of enslavement and colonization.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4504 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week
HRSJ 4505 [0.5 credit]
Precarity in Labour and Work
This course explores how precarious employment and labour arises; the nature and forms of precariousness; how race, citizenship, gender, religion, and location impact precarity; the link between labor and social movements; and types of political and economic initiatives in response to the deepening precarity.
Precarity in Labour and Work
This course explores how precarious employment and labour arises; the nature and forms of precariousness; how race, citizenship, gender, religion, and location impact precarity; the link between labor and social movements; and types of political and economic initiatives in response to the deepening precarity.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4505 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
HRSJ 4602 [0.5 credit]
Is Religious Freedom a Human Right?
Legal, theoretical, and theological interconnecƟons between religion and human rights. Evaluation of concepts including religious freedom, secularism, public sphere, accommodaƟon and neutrality.Examination of religion and culture, interdependence of legal and religious perspectives, boundaries of religion and state, and religious compulsion. Use of case studies.
Is Religious Freedom a Human Right?
Legal, theoretical, and theological interconnecƟons between religion and human rights. Evaluation of concepts including religious freedom, secularism, public sphere, accommodaƟon and neutrality.Examination of religion and culture, interdependence of legal and religious perspectives, boundaries of religion and state, and religious compulsion. Use of case studies.
Also listed as LAWS 4602, RELI 4602.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4602 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminars three hours a week.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4602 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminars three hours a week.
HRSJ 4905 [0.5 credit]
Practicum Placement in Human Rights
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
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.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4905 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing in Human Rights and Social Justice or permission of the Institute. Students MUST submit an application and obtain approval before registering in the practicum.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4905 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing in Human Rights and Social Justice or permission of the Institute. Students MUST submit an application and obtain approval before registering in the practicum.
HRSJ 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.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4907 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing.
Seminar three hours a week.
HRSJ 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.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4908 (no longer offered).
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.
Precludes additional credit for HUMR 4908 (no longer offered).
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.
Note: 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.
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