Human rights in reality are couched within and thus presented in this course as being within a larger socio-political context. National and international systems are covered. Special emphasis is given to refugee and IDP issues emergent in the Horn of Africa, the Balkans, and Central America. Van Arsdale has worked in each of these regions, and presents audio-visual materials derived from these experiences. Ties to career opportunities are clearly illustrated in this course.
Theory is covered.
However, the applied component, geared toward the notion of global response, is emphasized. The course draws upon information from the fields of international development, aid, and relief. For the term project, each student is required to assess one disaster is detail, emphasizing how it unfolded, the damage done, the human response, and lessons learned.