This course will examine the theoretical and empirical basis of the social context of equality and human rights. It aims to:

- examine and expose students to the key debates and theories in equality and human rights;

- provide students with an appreciation of how these debates impact on our understanding of equality and human rights and examine the possibilities and limits therein;

- explore the notion of equality and human rights and examine the extent to which this has impacted on social theory, social policy and practice;

- enable students to acquire an initial expertise in aspects of equality and human rights as a foundation for both a professional and research career in the area;

One hour lecture and one hour seminar per week

This course will examine the theoretical and empirical basis of the social context of equality and human rights. It aims to:

- examine and expose students to the key debates and theories in equality and human rights;

- provide students with an appreciation of how these debates impact on our understanding of equality and human rights and examine the possibilities and limits therein;

- explore the notion of equality and human rights and examine the extent to which this has impacted on social theory, social policy and practice;

- enable students to acquire an initial expertise in aspects of equality and human rights as a foundation for both a professional and research career in the area;

By the end of this course students will be able to:By the end of the course students should be able to:

- identify and discuss the major theoretical approaches and concepts in equality and human rights;

- show an awareness of the inequalities experienced by people and their impact in selected areas of social life;

- engage critically in debate on policy responses to the inequality problem;

- demonstrate their undertanding of the intersection of forms of social inequality;

- assess critically debates in contemporary theoretical, empirical and policy oriented literture.