Course summary

The MSc Human Rights is a unique multidisciplinary programme that provides a concentrated year-long engagement with the foundations of human rights and key contemporary human rights issues. Human rights are not just a set of legal entitlements; they also raise fundamental questions concerning political philosophy. Human rights can be studied sociologically and they are a matter of policy, practice and activism. The programme links theory and practice in a multidisciplinary way and aims to equip you with knowledge of the key sociological, philosophical, and legal issues relevant to human rights. During the programme, you will engage in an academically rigorous way with some of the most compelling issues in contemporary human rights. The core course is unique in linking legal, philosophical, sociological and critical perspectives on human rights though a rigorous and analytical approach. The core course serves as an introduction to the core standards and structures of human rights and discusses a range of key issues in the current, ongoing debates about the role of human rights. While these may change from year to year, thematic issues that the compulsory course covers include: human rights institutions, culture and human rights, genocide, humanitarian intervention, gender and sexuality and human rights, race and apartheid, and transitional justice. The programme is closely connected to LSE Human Rights. In addition to research, LSE Human Rights runs an active public events programme and offers masterclasses and guest practitioner seminars throughout the year exclusively for students on the programme.