Human Rights and Islam (ISLM90013)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2020
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
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The subject considers the conceptualization of human rights in classical and contemporary Islam in theory and practice. The methodology is interdisciplinary in nature combining aspects of historical, religious, philosophical, international and legal studies.
The subject will consider the implications of conceptualizing human rights under sharia (Islamic law and norms) and Western and/ or international conceptualization of human rights.
Main themes covered are: the relationship of the sharia with modern international law and human rights law; the relationship of sharia with several of the controversial subjects within human rights law; and the possibility of reform and greater compatibility of sharia with human rights values.
A number of specific substantive issues, most notably freedom of religion and the rights of women will be studied in depth to illustrate the complexity of the contemporary debate on human rights and Islam.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed the subject should have an understanding of:
- the Islamic foundations of human rights;
- international human rights law;
- the relationship between sharia with modern international law and human rights law; and
- the challenges of the promotion and protection of human rights at the international, regional and national level from an Islamic perspective.
The student should be able to:
- explain the different foundations of human rights, in particular regarding religious and secular grounding of human rights;
- illustrate the cultural relativism argument in the context of Islam;
- discuss the discourse of the appropriateness of applying international human rights standards in different contexts; and
- critically examine the practise of human rights in various societies.
Generic skills
Students who sucessfully complete this subject should demonstrate:
- familiarization with key research methods in Islamic Studies;
- a developing ability to read and analyse a wide range of sources on Islam;
- a developing capacity to communicate knowledge in Islamic studies with confidence in self-expression, both written and oral;
- the ability to analyse and systematically evaluate complex cultural phenomena through examination of primary texts;
- the ability to employ textual evidence in constructing scholarly argumentation;
- the ability to examine complex and important cultural materials from a scholarly perspective and present arguments in structured formats;
- an understandin of major global cultural phenomena through examination of primary texts; and
- a developing ability to work independently and in groups.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Additional details
- A 1000 word equivalent (per student) class presentation due during the teaching period (20%)
- A 1000 word class test due in the last week of teaching (20%)
- A 3000 word research paper due in the first week of the examination period (60%)
- Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 100% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2020
Time commitment details
170 hours total
Additional delivery details
Please note: students should be admitted to the Master of International Relations, or Honours program in Islamic Studies to enrol in this subject
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Arabic Studies Specialisation (formal) Islamic Studies Informal specialisation PD-ARTS Arabic Informal specialisation PD-ARTS Islamic Studies - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 3 November 2022