Public International Law with Human Rights, Second Cycle, 15 credits

Aims and objectives

General aims for second cycle education

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9)

Course objectives

Knowledge and comprehension
After the course is completed the student:

• has an understanding of Public International Law (PIL) as a system, its purpose and function, components and premises,
• has knowledge of the core parts of PIL, such as the sources of law, law of treaties, especially interpretation, and responsibility for breaches of PIL, as well as recent legal developments in those areas,
• understands the interrelationship between various parts of international law and human rights, and
• is familiar with the norms and structures of a few selected areas of international law, such as the law of territory and natural resources, and international criminal law.

Ability and capacity
After the course is completed the student:

• is able to locate the sources of international law and construct legal arguments, and
• is able to identify and analyse issues of international law in specific situations and apply legal norms in these cases. The student’s written and oral capacities are trained.

Valuation and perspective
At the end of the course the student:

• has a critical approach to international legal argumentation and is able to identify and characterise premises within the arguments,
• has a historical perspective on the development of norms of PIL,
• can evaluate the development and application of norms of international law, and
• is able to reflect over the student’s own future role as a lawyer in relation to the protection of human rights.

Main content of the course

The course examines and analyses the system of international law, its basis and components, as well as the relationship and tensions within various areas of international law. During the course methods and sources of international law and perspectives on the system are explored. The special character of human rights as part of international law is examined throughout the course. The student also probes concrete issues in a number of areas within PIL, such as the law of treaties, responsibility of states, international criminal law, and the law of territory and natural resources.

Teaching methods

The methods of study are lectures, seminars, group exercises influenced by problem-based methodology, as well as individual study. Participation in seminars and group exercises is compulsory. Group work constitutes an extensive component of the course.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Examination methods

Compulsory Seminar 1, 4 credits (Code: B011)
Writing of paper on the law of treaties and presenting and discussing the paper at a seminar. Can give up to 25 credit points.

Compulsory Seminar 2, 2 credits (Code: B012)
Participation in seminar (in group) on the rights in relation to territory in a given case. Can give up to 15 credit points.

Compulsory Seminar 3, 1.5 credits (Code: B003)
Participation in seminar (in group) on the right to territory in a given case. Can give up to 10 credit points.

Compulsory Seminar 4, 1.5 credits (Code: B014)
Participation in a seminar that examines protection of human rights. Can give up to 10 credit points.

Compulsory Seminar 5, 6 credits (Code: B015)
Writing of a paper on a individually selected PIL topic including analyzing PIL as a system and presenting and discussing the paper at a seminar. Can give up to 40 credit points.

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other forms of examinations.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Grades

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

In accordance with university regulations regarding grading systems for first and second-cycle courses (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades shall be used: Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). For courses that are included in an international Master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the grading scale of A-F shall be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds.

Grades used on course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Compulsory Seminar 1
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Compulsory Seminar 2
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Compulsory Seminar 3
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Compulsory Seminar 4
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Compulsory Seminar 5
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Comments on grades

The number of credit points from each examination, which reflect the course proportion of each examination, are added together to form the final course grade.

The results from the seminars and presentations are added together to form the final course grade. The student can be given a maximum of 100 credit points during the course. The grade E requires 50 credit points. The grade D requires 60 credit points. The grade C requires 70 credit points. The grade B requires 80 credit points. The grade A requires 90 credit points.

Specific entry requirements

180 credits at the first level of which 90 credits with increasing depth within law, or successful completion of the first level, 180 credits, within the Law Programme. Additional requirements: English Course 6/English Course B.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).

Transfer of credits for previous studies

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

Other provisions

The course is given in English. Some literature and seminar materials are in Swedish.

Transitional provisions

For a course that has been cancelled or significantly changed in content or scope, there may be examinations on three occasions within 12 to 18 months after the changes have been made.

Reading list and other teaching materials

Required Reading

Bauman, Zygmunt (1991)
Modernity and the Holocaust
Polity, Cambridge, 100 pages (selected pages)

Welzer, Harald (latest ed.)
Gärningsmän: Hur helt vanliga människor blir massmördare
Bokförlaget Diadalos, Göteborg, 311 pages (selected pages)

Wouters, Ryngaert, Ryus, De Baere (latest ed.)
International Law: A European Perspective
Hart, Oxford, 1038 pages

Additions and Comments on the Reading List
Relevant articles and materials of approximately 750 pages for the seminars will be listed on Blackboard at the beginning of the course.

Foreign exchange students will read:

Neitzel, S. & Welzer, H. (2013)
Soldaten: On Fighting, Killing, and Dying
Simon & Schuster Ltd, 448 pages (selected pages)

instead of

Welzer, Harald (latest ed.)
Gärningsmän: Hur helt vanliga människor blir massmördare
Bokförlaget Daidalos, Göteborg, 311 pages