I. Rationale
Please provide a rationale for the course which explains how the course being proposed fits into this
Cluster based on the Cluster's description. For your convenience, the overall description and rationale for
this component are included below.
Overall Description and Rationale for Thematic Transdisciplinary Cluster on
Human Rights
Globalization has drawn much attention to and roused important debates about human
rights: protections, privileges, powers, and access to resources to which people everywhere are
justly entitled by virtue of being human. Discussions and controversies have proliferated since
the post-World War II UN Declaration on Human Rights and the numerous subsequent
declarations. While there are mechanisms in place to put pressure upon states that violate human
rights, the difficulties of implementing such measures and ensuring human rights protections are
significant. At the same time, globalized communication and exchanges of ideas have fostered a
multitude of popular social movements aimed at drawing attention to human rights abuses and
organizing resistance against the forces, processes, and institutions, as well as the states, that
create them.
This cluster provides students with a comprehensive understanding of human rights
through an integrated cross-disciplinary survey. The theme of human rights will be approached
through different theoretical and critical viewpoints, including but not limited to,
anthropological, philosophical, historical, and humanistic perspectives. Through courses offered
across a range of programs, students will explore the diversity of the world's human rights issues
related to: genocide, refugees and displaced people, tribal sovereignty, cultural survival, social
justice, labor and working conditions, violence against women, human trafficking, child welfare,
health and access to medical care, immigration and citizenship status, transnational migration
flows, political oppression and state use of violence, environmental justice, environmental
degradation, and equitable access to natural resources. By learning about local and global
strategies and solutions to these problems, students will be able to examine more critically and
engage more concertedly the world in which they live.
Brief Statement of Rationale for Course’s Inclusion in Human Rights Cluster
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II. Common Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Each course must address all of the Common Student Learning Outcomes for this Cluster, and list these
Common SLOs along with course-specific SLOs in the model course syllabus (to be attached). For each
Common SLO, list the course SLOs that address the common SLO, describe the opportunities which will
be provided for students to learn the outcome (readings, class discussion and/or activities, applied
projects), and list the means of assessment (exams, papers, projects, quizzes, etc.) that will be used to
determine the level of student understanding.
TTC 1. Students will recognize the wide range of issues that are addressed under the
category of "human rights" and be able to use multiple viewpoints to identify their
underlying factors.
Course SLO(s) to Address TTC 1
Opportunities for Student Learning
(reading, researching, discussing, listening, viewing, etc.)
Means of Assessing Course SLO(s)
(exams, papers, projects, quizzes, etc.)
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TTC 2. Students will understand the different strategies used and the difficulties faced by
popular movements seeking to bring justice for victims and to hold accountable those
responsible for human rights abuses.
Course SLO(s) to Address TTC 2
Opportunities for Student Learning
(reading, researching, discussing, listening, viewing, etc.)
Means of Assessing Course SLO(s)
(exams, papers, projects, quizzes, etc.)
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TTC 3. Drawing upon various perspectives, students will be able to think critically about
the complexities of reaching a global consensus on "universal human rights" that accounts
for cultural, political, and societal differences between nations of the world.
Course SLO(s) to Address TTC 3
Opportunities for Student Learning
(reading, researching, discussing, listening, viewing, etc.)
Means of Assessing Course SLO(s)
(exams, papers, projects, quizzes, etc.)
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Submission instructions:
Please submit cover form, all component forms, a model syllabus, and College/School’s course
action form (if needed) to your department chair. Department chairs should then submit these
forms, syllabus, and course action form (if needed) in one email message to
universitystudies@uncw.edu from their UNCW email address.
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