In combining the areas of human rights and multiculturalism, this MSc-program at Buskerud University College, Norway is unique in Europe.
The MSc-program in Human Rights and Multiculturalism is a two years (120 ECTS) interdisciplinary program focusing on human rights and culture at local, national, regional and international levels.
The program is designed to accommodate students with degrees in different academic disciplines.
It is also a post graduate degree course in teacher education.
Because human rights knowledge and awareness of the public issues are crucial elements in the realization of human rights, the study of human rights education and human rights in professional practice are important elements in the program.
Through the course of study, the students will look at human rights from the perspectives offered by different cultures as well as academic disciplines and how human rights are to be perceived in the light of cultural diversity.
Students with a Master's degree in Human Rights and Multiculturalism from Buskerud University College will be able to work in public services and administration, education, media, humanitarian organisations, private corporations and as consultants.
The students gain experience in interdisciplinary research, and will also be qualified to pursue academic research in the field of human rights and cultural diversity.
During the first semester the students complete four compulsory courses:
In the second semester the students choose three of the following electives and take part 1 and 2 of the compulsory course: research methodology and thesis development:
In their second year of study, the students develop their master's thesis. The second year also includes two compulsory courses:
While a purely human rights discourse will emphasize rules, rights, norms that apply (more or less) universally assisted by institutions for monitoring and assessment, a purely multiculturalism discourse will focus on culture(s), complexity in culture, a host of exceptions and the interpretation of various cultural practises in society.
However, it is when these discourses are brought together that the debate gets highly complicated and the easy answers seem hard to find.
Individuals have rights, and cultures should not be oppressed.
There is no quick fix regarding how to reconcile such claims.
The processes of globalisation, migration and Western secularisation contribute in making the many questions related to Human Rights and Multiculturalism even more important and relevant.
Civil wars and problems of state- and nation-building in the world may also be addressed and explained by knowledge about the relation between human rights issues and multicultural challenges.
This relation is also important regarding issues at micro levels, such as a local community in for example Scandinavia and the schools there.
Do human rights protect multicultural diversity?
Do human rights give robust guidance for normative and legal assessment of cultural customs, practices and traditions that can prevent unacceptable infringement of human rights within minority groups?
Do human rights, including minority rights, offer legal, institutional and policy mechanisms that may help to reconcile conflicts among groups in multicultural contexts, and between minorities and the majority?
Moreover, the notions about the universality of human rights will be discussed.
The students will examine the concepts of human dignity and human rights as they may or may not be expressed in political, judicial and ethical contexts within selected religions and secular philosophies/ideologies.
Also contemporary integration regimes regarding asylum seekers and labour migration are on the curriculum of the Masters program.
There is more information about contents in the nine course syllabuses.
The Masters program in Human Rights and Multiculturalism offers an interdisciplinary higher education in human rights and multiculturalism for teachers with specialisation within the social sciences and others with a Bachelor degree (BA or the equivalent of a BA) containing at least 90 ECTS studies within the social sciences.
The student will attain good analytical skills in issues related to human rights and multiculturalism both at the micro- and macro-levels, applying methods ranging from social science research to education and hermeneutics.
The masters program in Human Rights and Multiculturalism is a joint program of the School of Business and Social Science and the Department of Teacher Education of Buskerud University College (BUC).
The program pursues an interdisciplinary approach to Human Rights and Multiculturalism, mainly building on the humanities and social science.
The courses will be continually reviewed and developed in response to the furtherance within the Facultyof Business and Social Science and the Faculty of Teacher Education at Buskerud University College.
The curriculum of the degree programme is based on strengths in research and development of the School of Business and Social science and the Faculty of Teacher education of Buskerud University College.
It builds on expertise within the disciplines of religious studies, political science, philosophy, international law, education and social anthropology.
The master degree-program in Human Rights and Multiculturalism is sponored by Sparebanken Øst.
Denne siden ble sist oppdatert: 20.03.2013 13:42
av Jan-Henrik Kulberg
Length: 2 years
Start: August 2014
There is no admission for this programme in 2013
How to apply:
Norwegian students apply online at "Søknadsweb" from February 2014.
International students should read our:
Please fill in and submit:
The application form will be available here as a link from December 2013
Qualification awarded:
Master of Science in Human Rights and Multiculturalism
Location:
Drammen
More info:
Degree programme (pdf)
Folder Human rigths (pdf)
- I chose this program, because it´s very interdisciplinary and unique in many ways.
"This Masters programme covers areas of vital importance to all parts of the world."
Tor Eric, Norway
"The programme might sound theoretical, but it's also turned our attention to real concerns and showed us how we can influence our world."
Anna, Ukraine
"Now I understand the complexity and everyday application of human rights"
Samantha, Argentina
"We are encouraged to think for ourselves. The class environment is great and classmates are supportive."
Nina, Norway
"I think this course will influence not just my career but my life and the lives of others."
Nataliia, Ukraine
"I am pleasantly surprised by both the scope and depth of this programme."
Momodou, UK
"This programme is unique. In our global age it is important to find social justice in diversity and realise to be different is normal."
Kristina, Latvia
"We now have a human rights language for our era, contributing to a more peaceful world."
Zeravan, Kuridstan, Iraq
"Participating in this programme has not only widened my knowledge but broadened my thinking, especially the module on human rights education."
Francisca, Cameroon
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