Human rights is a critical field within the study of social justice, as it explores both the roots of human rights violations and possible responses to them. Students in this stream come to understand how human rights issues arise by understanding their structural basis, and, through wide-ranging case studies and innovative teaching, they examine possible responses, including tools and analysis relevant to the international system (like the UN and international advocacy organisations), regional bodies (like ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum), and national and local bodies (like the Australian Human Rights Commission and grassroots organisations). 

The Social Justice program comprises a full master’s degree as well as shorter courses, allowing students the flexibility to enter or exit at any level, subject to meeting the relevant criteria:

• Graduate Certificate in Social Justice (24 credit points, no stream);
• Graduate Diploma in Social Justice (48 credit points, including a stream); and
• Master of Social Justice (72 credit points, including a stream and capstone).

In addition to Human Rights, the Graduate Diploma and Master’s are available in the following streams:

• Development Studies
• Peace and Conflict Studies.

Students complete units of study in the following categories, as appropriate to their level of study:

• Core: provides students the opportunity to study together in the same classes and gain the same conceptual grounding, relating to all three stream topics and also environmental justice. It is recommended that students take these units early (first and second semesters) in their course.
• Stream core: covers conceptual material and empirical examinations, as well as considerations of possible effective responses.
• Stream selective: related units, including those from other stream cores, that allow students to draw links between various social justice dynamics.
• Elective (optional): choice of units in Gender and Cultural Studies, International Politics, Political Economy, and Sociology and Criminology.
• Capstone: application of the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the master’s to a choice of:
  • (i) independent research project: students pursue a specific topic of interest to them, assisted by an academic supervisor.
  • (ii) vocational placement: one or two units in which students can deepen insights into the social justice work environment or undertake a vocational placement, or both. While gaining a vocational placement is not guaranteed, we make every effort to place students.
  • (iii) supervised dissertation: provides a pathway to higher degree by research (e.g., PhD) studies. This option is only available to high-achieving students with a strong research proposal.

Admission criteria and course requirements

Please refer to the course resolutions for admission criteria and course requirements. 

The requirements of the Human Rights stream are listed in the unit of study table.

Contacts and further information