Course Syllabus

RE/POL 347: Justice, Development, and Human Rights

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Spring 2012

 

 

 

Instructor:             

 

        Terrence Monroe

        [email protected]

        808.941-7140

        Office hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Mon. - Fri. (not available weekends or holidays)

 

Consultation: 24/7 (leave a message if I am unable to answer, and I'll return the call at my earliest opportunity)

 

Course Overview:                                                                                             

 

This course examines the inter-relationships between justice, development and human rights norms and institutions at the global level. Students will explore the historical development of these concepts and their application and evolution from the 19th century to the present. Particular emphasis will be placed on the contemporary dialogue between Catholic Social Thought and secular international institutions that sets global norms for justice, human development and the international human rights regime. Cross-listed as POL 347 and RE 347. Offered annually. This course satisfies the 300-level religion general education requirement, but it cannot be used to satisfy both the “Ethics” requirement for the International Relations concentration and the general education requirement.

 

Learning Outcomes:

 

Program Learning Outcomes:

 

Upon successful completion of the program, students will demonstrate an understanding of:

 

·            The social and cultural contexts and issues which influence the conduct of international relations and trade. (PLO 1)

·            The political, legal, and value systems and issues which influence the conduct of international relations and trade. (PLO 3)

 

Students who pursue a concentration in International Studies will further demonstrate:

 

·            An enhanced comprehension of politics, governance, culture, history, and/or religion as they concern particular regions of the world. (PLO IR 1)

 

As indicated in the catalog, students may use this course to satisfy the 300-level Religion general education requirement. However, they cannot use the course to satisfy both the general education requirement AND the ethics requirement for the International Relations track of the International Studies major.

 

General Education Core Learning Outcome:

 

Within the context of this course, the student will demonstrate a capacity to articulate the fundamental questions of ultimate meaning that will intellectually and spiritually engage them throughout their lives.

 

Course Learning Outcomes linked to the Program and General Education Learning Outcomes:

 

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

 

·         Compare and contrast the teachings of the Catholic Church with those advanced ecumenically on the questions of justice, development, and human rights considered by this course.

·         Demonstrate the ability to perceive any given event from more than one cultural viewpoint.

·         Show how a given enterprise or living being affects, depends upon, and influences the larger natural, economic, or social systems of which it is a part.

·         Show how the behavior of individuals, groups, and nations affects others, in terms of human rights and economic well-being.

·         Demonstrate ways of handling environmental resources that will help or hurt future generations’ ability to meet their own needs.

·         Demonstrate critical thinking abilities and skills in geography, other cultures, international relations, and global issues.

·         Demonstrate open-minded attitudes and an absence of ethnocentrism (including an awareness of racial, ethnic, and international issues).

·         Demonstrate willingness to learn and practice critical thinking skills that will develop the competencies required to live in a global community. 

 

Texts:

 

Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations
Edited by Kenneth R. Himes; Associate Editors: Lisa Sowle Cahill, Charles E. Curran, David Hollenbach, Thomas A. Shannon
ISBN: 9781589010536 (1589010531)

For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights
John S. Nurser
ISBN: 9781589010598 (1589010590)

Course Requirements:

 

Successful completion of this course depends upon:

 

·            Participation in weekly Discussion Forums

·            Completion of a series of four Essays Assignments

 

*Please be sure to carefully read the Orientation Addendum for guidance on these assignments.

 

Grading Policy:

 

Your Essays Assignments must be submitted by their stipulated due dates. Discussion postings should be posted throughout the week and must be posted before the week closes each Sunday night. Discussion postings may not be made up once the weekly discussion forum closes; if you miss a particular week’s discussion forum, you may not go back in after the Sunday night deadline for that week and post. Please bear in mind that an Incomplete is generally not an option, since there is no way to make up the Discussion Forum participation element of your grade once the course is finished (after all, the group will have moved on, and there wouldn’t be anyone to discuss anything with).

 

Your Discussion Forum and Essays Assignment grades will be posted in the Grade book within 7 days of their due dates. Each week’s Discussion Forum will have a maximum value of 25 points (for a total of 375 points). The Essays Assignments will each have a maximum value of 100 points (for a total of 400 points). Total points for this course: 775.

 

Grading Scale:                  

 

A:       90 - 100 (698 - 775 points)

B:       80 - 89 (620 - 597 points)

C:       70 - 79 (543 - 619 points)

D:       60 - 69 (465 - 542 points)

F:       less than 60 (less than 465 points)

 

Grading Rubric for Essays Assignments:

 

 

Beginning

Developing

Accomplished

Quality of analysis of the impact on the development of justice, development, and human rights in international relations and trade

0-5 points

6-10 points

11-20 points

Relevance of insight to the subject material

0-5 points

6-10 points

11-20 points

Quality of writing (see rubric, below)

0-5 points

6-10 points

11-20 points

Quality of comparative analysis of Catholic and ecumenical teachings on questions considered by this course

0-5 points

6-10 points

11-20 points

Use of Resources

0-5 points

6-10 points

11-20 points

Total Score: --/100

 

 Quality of Writing Rubric:

 

 

Beginning

Developing

 

 

Accomplished

 

Quality of Writing: Development

(6, 24%) HI-CHAM-GE-LO.EL.3 HI-CHAM-GE-LO.PHIL.3

No researched examples (non narrative) are present to support the thesis.

The examples logically support the thesis; however, further research is needed (additional articles, follow up studies on old data, etc) to adequately prove the thesis.

The thesis is clearly stated and the rhetorical techniques are logical and effective

 

Quality of Writing: Clarity

(4, 16%) HI-CHAM-GE-LO.EL.3

The thesis is neither implicit nor explicit

The thesis is clearly stated, but additional rhetorical techniques (definition, narration, etc) may be needed to logically or effectively prove the specific thesis

The writer provided a sufficient number of researched examples to support the thesis and the examples logically connect to that thesis.

 

 

Grading Rubric for Discussion Forum Assignments:

 

 

Beginning

Developing

Accomplished

Quality of analysis of the impact on the development of justice, development, and human rights in international relations and trade

0-2 points

3-4 points

5 points

Relevance of insight to the subject material

0-2 points

3-4 points

5 points

Quality of writing (see rubric, above)

0-2 points

3-4 points

5 points

Quality of comparative analysis of Catholic and ecumenical teachings on questions considered by this course

0-2 points

3-4 points

5 points

Use of Resources

0-2 points

3-4 points

5 points

Total Score: --/25

 

Assessment

 

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Context

This rubric is used to assess and grade the written exams for POL/RE 347 Justice, Development and Human Rights.

 

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Purpose

The purpose of the assessments is to evaluate the learner's progress in developing and articulating critical and analytical thinking skills about justice, development, and human rights in the modern global economy, and to compare and contrast Catholic and ecumenical thinking on these issues.

 

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Assessor

The assessment will be done by the instructor.

 

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Performance Assessment

Performance Assessment

 

Unacceptable

Beginning (5 pts)

Developing (10 pts)

Accomplished (20 pts)

Identication of points (2, 20%) HI-CHAM-HFA.IS.1

Essay fails to identify any minor or major points that affect social, cultural, political, and economic development of contemporary civilization

While identifying some minor points of impact, the essay fails to identify any major points that affect social, cultural, political, and economic development of contemporary civilization

Essay identifies some but omits some or many major points that affect social, cultural, political, and economic development of contemporary civilization

Essay identifies most or all major points that affect social, cultural, political, and economic development of contemporary civilization

Impact on the development of justice, development, and human rights in international relations and trade (2, 20%) HI-CHAM-HFA.IS.1

Response draws no conclusion and is inappropriate or unrelated to the task.

Response draws no conclusion but is appropriate or related to the task.

Response draws some conclusions but may be brief, somewhat lacking in clarity, or have minor errors in logic.

Response draws logical, clear conclusions which are somewhat developed.

Relevance of insight to the subject material (2, 20%)

Response draws no conclusion or is appropriate or unrelated to the task.

Response draws no conclusion but is appropriate or related to the task.

Response draws some conclusions but may be brief, somewhat lacking in clarity, or have minor errors in logic.

Response draws logical, clear conclusions which are somewhat developed.

Succinctness of expression (1, 10%)

 

 

 

 

Quality of comparative analysis of Catholic and ecumenical teachings on questions considered by this course (2, 20%) HI-CHAM-HFA.IS.3 HI-CHAM-HFA.IS.IR.1

Response draws no conclusion or is appropriate or unrelated to the task.

Response draws no conclusion but is appropriate or related to the task.

Response draws some conclusions but may be brief, somewhat lacking in clarity, or have minor errors in logic.

Response draws logical, clear conclusions which are somewhat developed.

Use of Resources (1, 10%)

Learner has not used any relevant resources.

 

Learner has made some use of relevant resources.

Learner has made extensive use of relevant resources.

 

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Standards

HI-CHAM-HFA.IS.1

Upon successful completion of the program, students will demonstrate an understanding of the social and cultural contexts and issues which influence the conduct of international relations and trade.

HI-CHAM-HFA.IS.3

Upon successful completion of the program, students will demonstrate an understanding of the political, legal, and value systems and issues which influence the conduct of international relations and trade.

HI-CHAM-HFA.IS.5

Upon successful completion of the program, students will demonstrate an understanding of the distinctive features and challenges of conducting business internationally.

HI-CHAM-HFA.IS.IR.1

Students who pursue a concentration in International Studies will further demonstrate an enhanced comprehension of politics, governance, culture, history, and/or religion as they concern particular regions of the world.

 

 

 

 

Outcome to be assessed: Development of creative thinking skills in the subject. Specifically, development of the learner's ability to identify the main points of a given topic; to describe how those points affected the social, cultural, political, and economic context of those points; and to describe the relevance of those insights to the evaluation of the overall development of justice, development, and human rights in international relations and trade.

 

Tasks: The learner is required to write a series of four Essays Assignments that demonstrate the outcomes discussed above.

 

Assessment rubric: Assessment of the learner's Essays Assignments.

 

Feedback: The instructor will provide specific guidance for each of the Essays Assignments as to their implications for the development of justice, development, and human rights in international relations and trade.

 

Justification: The criteria selected are essential for the development of the ability to derive the essential points from often overwhelming volumes of material and to ascertain their importance and relevance. Scoring is limited to 0-20 points, and the format used has been chosen because of the very generalized nature of assessing the development of such thinking skills. Although the rubric is posted online, the assessment itself is done individually by the instructor.

 

Point Scale:

 

Identification of main points:

 

Accomplished: Essay identifies most or all major points that affect social, cultural, political, and economic development of contemporary civilization

Developing: Essay identifies some but omits some or many major points that affect social, cultural, political, and economic development of contemporary civilization

Beginning: Essay fails to identify any major points that affect social, cultural, political, and economic development of contemporary civilization

 

Impact on the development of justice, development, and human rights in international relations and trade:

 

Accomplished: Response draws logical, clear conclusions which are somewhat developed.

Developing: Response draws some conclusions but may be brief, somewhat lacking in clarity, or have minor errors in logic.

Beginning: Response draws no conclusion or is appropriate or unrelated to the task.

 

Relevance of insight to the subject material:

 

Accomplished: Response draws logical, clear conclusions which are somewhat developed.

Developing: Response draws some conclusions but may be brief, somewhat lacking in clarity, or have minor errors in logic.

Beginning: Response draws no conclusion or is appropriate or unrelated to the task.

 

Quality of comparative analysis of Catholic and ecumenical teachings on questions considered by this course:

 

Accomplished: Response draws logical, clear conclusions which are somewhat developed.

Developing: Response draws some conclusions but may be brief, somewhat lacking in clarity, or have minor errors in logic.

Beginning: Response draws no conclusion or is appropriate or unrelated to the task.

 

Use of Resources:

 

Accomplished: Learner has made extensive use of relevant resources.

Developing: Learner has made some use of relevant resources.

Beginning: Learner has not used any relevant resources.

 

Assignment Schedule:

                              

Week 1 (Jan. 17 - Jan. 22):            

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

Chap. 1: The Bible and Catholic Social Teaching: Will This Engagement Lead to Marriage?
John R. Donahue, S.J.
Chap. 2: Natural Law in Catholic Social Teaching
Stephen J. Pope

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 1: The Idea: To Universalize "Christendom"

 

Participate in Week 1 Discussion Forum

 

Week 2 (Jan. 23 – Jan. 29):           

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 3: The Ecclesiological Foundations of Modern Catholic Social Teaching
Richard R. Gaillardetz

 

Participate in Week 2 Discussion Forum

 

Week 3 (Jan. 30 – Feb. 5): 

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 4: Early Modern Roman Catholic Social Thought, 1740-1890
Michael J. Schuck

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 2: The Man: Fred Nolde

 

Participate in Week 3 Discussion Forum

 

Week 4 (Feb. 6 – Feb. 12): 

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 5: Rerum Novarum
Thomas A. Shannon
Chap. 6: Quadragesimo Anno
Christine Firer Hinze

 

Participate in Week 4 Discussion Forum

Submit Essays Assignment 1

          

Week 5 (Feb. 13 – Feb. 19):          

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 7: The Christmas Messages of Pius XII
John P. Langan, S.J.
Chap. 8: Mater et magistra
Marvin L. Mich

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 3: To Write a Just and Durable Peace

 

Participate in Week 5 Discussion Forum

 

Week 6 (Feb. 20 – Feb. 26):          

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 9: Pacem in terris
Drew Christiansen, S.J.
Chap. 10: Dignitatis humanae
Leslie Griffin

 

Participate in Week 6 Discussion Forum

 

Week 7 (Feb. 27 – Mar. 4):

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 11: Gaudium et spes
David Hollenbach, S.J.
Chap. 12: Populorum progressio
Allan Figueroa Deck, S.J.

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 4: Mobilizing Christian Forces

 

Participate in Week 7 Discussion Forum

 

Week 8 (Mar. 5 – Mar. 11):

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 14: Justicia in mundo
Kenneth R. Himes, O.F.M.

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 5: The Joint Committee on Religious Liberty

 

Participate in Week 8 Discussion Forum

Submit Essays Assignment 2

 

Week 9 (Mar. 12 – Mar. 18):         

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 15: Familiaris consortio
Lisa Sowle Cahill

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 6: Preparing for San Francisco

 

Participate in Week 9 Discussion Forum

 

Week 10 (Mar. 19 - Mar. 25):        

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 16: Laborem exercens
Patricia A. Lamoureux

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 7: The Charter of the United Nations Organization

 

Participate in Week 10 Discussion Forum

 

Week 11 (Mar. 26 – Apr. 1): Spring Break         

 

Week 12 (Apr. 2 - Apr. 8): 

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 
Chap. 17: Sollicitudo rei socialis
Charles E. Curran, Kenneth R. Himes, O.F.M., and Thomas A. Shannon

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 8: An Ecumenical Instrument

 

Participate in Week 12 Discussion Forum

Submit Essays Assignment 3

 

Week 13 (Apr. 9 - Apr. 15):

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 18: Centesium annus

Daniel Finn

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 9: Finding a Text

 

Participate in Week 13 Discussion Forum

 

Week 14 (Apr. 16 - Apr. 22):

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 19: The Reception of Catholic Social and Economic Teaching in the United States

Charles E. Curran

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 10: Declaring Human Rights

 

Participate in Week 14 Discussion Forum

 

Week 15 (Apr. 23 - Apr. 29):

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 20: The Reception of Catholic Approaches to Peace and War in the United States

Todd D. Whitmore

 

Reading: For All Peoples and All Nations: The Ecumenical Church and Human Rights

 

Chap. 11: Conclusion: Faith and Human Rights Need Each Other

 

Participate in Week 15 Discussion Forum

 

Week 16 (Apr. 30 – May 4 ):

 

Reading: Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations

 

Chap. 21: The Future of Catholic Social Thought

John A. Coleman, S.J.

 

Participate in Week 16 Discussion Forum

Submit Essays Assignment 4