11Jan
PostgraduateCourse summary
Why study MA Human Rights, Culture & Social Justice at Goldsmiths This MA examines contemporary issues concerning justice. You will learn how to conceptualise and study the possibilities of human rights, going beyond legal formulations to look at the conditions in which human rights claims are made.
- In this Masters you will learn about how human rights are constructed, exploring framings of human rights through case studies. You will begin to practise some of the methodologies and methods that are currently used in NGOs and grassroots activist networks trying to remedy global injustices.
- The focus on culture that runs through the programme makes for an emphasis on concrete, situated practices and meanings. Can human rights contribute to a global culture in which injustices figure as ‘wrongs’? Or are human rights invariably skewed, constructing injustices in ways that suit international elites better than they suit people who are suffering? Do human rights do violence to local cultures? Are they an appropriate response to local violence? In this MA we contextualise the study of how human rights are constructed in micro-processes, in the media and face-to-face in relation to debates over macro-structures, processes of globalisation and the institutions of global governance.
- In terms of social justice, the MA is set up to study human rights beyond narrow, legalistic definitions. We look at what really makes a difference in terms of realising human rights in practice. Can human rights really be constructed in ways that challenge and overturn established social structures? Can rights be claimed in such a way that they can really protect us as human beings against the ‘creative destruction’ of global capitalism, state repression, the subjugation of women, and hatred and violence against minorities of all kinds – sexual, ethnic, religious?
- This course covers the disciplines of sociology, politics, anthropology, law, geography, English, literature, cultural studies, and criminology.
- You'll be joining our world-leading Department of Sociology. We've been rated in the top 10 for Sociology in the UK by QS World University Rankings 2023.
Modules
Compulsory modules In the first part of your degree, you will study the following compulsory modules. These will introduce you to key debates concerning human rights and teach you practical skills relevant to the field. You will also write a dissertation. Constructing Human Rights Researching Human Rights Dissertation You will write a 12,000-word dissertation (60 credits) based on your own research, which may be related to the NGO or network you have worked in and which makes use of a range of concepts and methods taught in the Department. You will be supervised by someone with expertise and interest in the topic you are studying and the methodologies you plan to use. Option modules In the second term, you will choose 2 option modules (60 credits) from the departmental list. This includes Practising Human Rights, which is available to Human Rights students only. This is not a compulsory module, but is strongly recommended for students on this programme. Option modules are subject to change year to year. Recent examples have included: Practising Human Rights Gender, Culture, Rights Race Critical Theory and Social Justice Cultural Ecologies You can also choose option modules from the following Departments across Goldsmiths. Not all modules are suitable for students from all academic backgrounds; you will discuss your choices with the Programme Convenor at the start of your degree. Department of Media, Communications, and Cutltural Studies Department of Anthropology Department of Politics and International Relations Department of English and Creative Writing Department of Music Department of Educational Studies *Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Assessment method
Assessment consists of coursework, extended essays, reports, presentations, practice based projects or essays/logs, group projects, reflective essays, and seen and unseen written examinations.
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant/related subject. You might also be considered if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level. We accept a wide range of international qualifications. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW