You have the opportunity to examine human rights in historical context. Examine how ideas of human rights have developed historically and choose optional modules that relate to the field of human rights. Our course allows you to experience both disciplines, and to graduate with a strong competence in history and the study of human rights.
Within your history modules you discover both the early modern and modern periods, and explore challenging questions concerning the impact of political, social and cultural change on individuals, social groups, and regions.
Engage in a discourse on human rights, from political, sociological, philosophical, economic and historical perspectives. You are presented with the theoretical foundations, substantive knowledge, and evaluative tools for you to understand, respond to, and help shape national, regional, and international legal and political developments.
At Essex we are actively engaged in debates about the meaning of justice in the UK and beyond. Our Human Rights Centre is a recognised international leader. Through our work with the United Nations, governments, human rights organisations and corporations all over the world, we bring a global outlook to our teaching.
You have the opportunity to indulge your interests in history and human rights by selecting modules from a wide range of specialisms, including:
- Colonialism and the British Empire
- Urban life in Germany
- Global distributive justice and human rights
- The protection of human rights in the UK
- Freedom of thought and expression
Our Department of History has developed a strong research and teaching profile, with a strong focus on public and social history. We provide you with opportunities to explore local history, and have strong links with the Essex Record Office, one of the best county record offices in the UK. You can also explore more international topics; our corridors are truly cosmopolitan. Our students love us too - 92% of our History students expressed overall satisfaction with their course (NSS 2020).
At Essex we specialise in business law, public law, criminal justice, health law, law and technology, socio-legal studies and human rights law.
Our
School of Law is ranked top 20 in the UK for research excellence (REF 2014, mainstream universities, THE 2014), and we are ranked among the top 200 departments in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2020).