Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Arguments concerning perceived problems of justice and injustice usually reveal conflicting ideas about what justice actually means both theoretically, and in practice. Justice and human rights go hand in hand both theoretically and in the practice of law enforcement and other criminal justice professions. You will require a sophisticated level of understanding of theories of justice and human rights in a social and criminal context if you are to effectively apply in practice the content knowledge you have acquired in the course of your post graduate study.

Aims

The aims of this unit are to provide:

• A framework for clarifying the assumptions and underlying beliefs about justice and human rights; and


• A foundation upon which to evaluate the relative usefulness of various theories of justice and human rights, their implications and their practical applications within contemporary Australian society.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Describe a range of theoretical perspectives on justice and human rights;
2. Identify the philosophical assumptions underlying competing conceptions of justice and human rights and demonstrate the postgraduate attribute of a social justice orientation;
3. Demonstrate an ability to better understand problems and issues encountered by justice professionals in the course of their work and demonstrate the postgraduate attribute of difference and diversity;
4. Evaluate the ideas, assumptions, and beliefs that underlie personal notions of justice and human rights and demonstrate the postgraduate attribute of critical thinking; and
5. Communicate the results of your research, critical analysis and evaluation of these matters and demonstrate the postgraduate attribute of written communication.

Content

• Enlightenment foundations of contemporary notions of justice and human rights


• Reasoning about Justice: Theorists, Themes, Forms of Justification


• Major contemporary Models of Justice: Fairness, Desert, Rights


• UN Declaration of Human Rights and other institutionalised codes outlining minimum requirements for human rights


• Law, justice and human rights


• Application of theories to contemporary global and local injustices.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is taught in external mode only.

External mode delivery requires weekly engagement with materials contained in the study guide. You will be able to access all unit materials and will also participate in a weekly online discussion forum and two online chats. Times/dates can be negotiated with the Unit Coordinator. You are required to take responsibility for your own learning under the guidance of the Unit Coordinator.

Assessment

There are two pieces of assessment in this unit.
Written feedback will be provided on all assessment items.Written feedback will be provided on all assessment items.

Assessment name: Discussion Forum
Description: You are required to participate weekly in an online discussion forum to discuss the unit material. Weekly questions for discussion are provided in the Study Guide and you will be expected to contribute at least three posts, or approximately 2-300 words per week. As externals, you will benefit from regular interaction with fellow students, which will assist in developing your understanding of the unit material and develop and discuss your ideas for assessment item 2. Your contributions will be marked each week and feedback provided.
Word Limit: 2-3000 words (approx).
Relates to objectives: This assessment item is summative and will assess objectives 1 - 4.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 2-12

Assessment name: Essay
Description: You are required to participate weekly in an online discussion forum to discuss the unit material. Weekly questions for discussion are provided in the Study Guide and you will be expected to contribute at least three posts, or approximately 2-300 words per week. As externals, you will benefit from regular interaction with fellow students, which will assist in developing your understanding of the unit material and develop and discuss your ideas for assessment item 2. Your contributions will be marked each week and feedback provided.
Word Limit: 2-3000 words (approx).
Relates to objectives: This assessment item is summative and will assess objectives 1 - 4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Set Text:

Churchill, Robert Paul, 2006. Human Rights and Global Diversity. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Other Resources:
Gaus, Gerald F. 1999. Social Philosophy. This book is out of print and is therefore available in toto on the Course Materials Database for this unit.

Churchill, R.P. 2006. Human Rights and Global Diversity. Pearson.

Other materials and weekly readings will also be available on the Blackboard site and the Course Materials Database.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 07-Aug-2012