NEWS! New Study Abroad Course Offered for Summer 2012
Peace, Justice & Human Rights (PHL 397) 6 credits
To begin the process of applying to enroll in this class, click here.
Genocide. Crimes against humanity. War crimes. The typical response to these emotionally charged terms is one of moral outrage. But can the perpetrators of these crimes be held accountable in a court of law? Can the international community prosecute individuals who are guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes? In 1998, a number of nations agreed to establish the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is charged with prosecuting the most serious violators of the aforementioned crimes. Located in The Hague, Netherlands, the ICC is an historical achievement, as it expresses universal norms which all nations indeed all individuals --are obliged to obey. Put bluntly, the ICC is a court of humanity, and as such, is charged with enforcing and protecting human rights through the rule of law.
This class is not just for students interested in law. In fact, the primary objective of this six week, six credit course is to have the student understand the non-legal complexities involved in the ICC's protection and enforcement of human rights and its role in creating peace. Human rights are somewhat easy to talk about in theory, but in practice, the enforcement of human rights is a very complicated affair. The fact is, the ICC is not just a court of law, but is an innovative "human rights operation" which has a number of different "non-legal" departments such as outreach, public relations, and witness counseling. To appreciate the ICC's complex operation, students will not only attend trial proceedings at the ICC, but will also learn from lawyers, psychologists, journalists and other personnel from various divisions of the ICC. Students will also have access to, and be able to study in the library at the historical Peace Palace, which houses both the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the judicial arm of the United Nations, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which was created in the early 20th century in an effort to replace war with a peaceful means to settle international disputes.
The first two weeks of this course will be held on the Mt. Pleasant campus of CMU and will focus on philosophical theories that are pertinent to human rights. The student will also be introduced to the basics of the Court and its jurisprudence. The last 4 weeks will be spent in The Netherlands. Students will live in the dorms of Leiden University, The Netherlands' oldest and most prestigious university which was home to Rembrandt and Descartes. Leiden university is about a 12 minute train ride to The Hague, and about 30 minutes via train to Amsterdam.
The faculty leader of this course is Dr. Hope May. Dr. May is a Professor of Philosophy and the Director of the Center for Professional and Personal Ethics. She received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2001. She earned her Juris Doctorate (law) degree in 2008, graduating magna cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law. She is also a member of the Michigan Bar. As a law student, Dr. May won awards for her work in Legal Interpretation, International Law & Weapons of Mass Destruction, First Amendment Law, and Law and Literature. She is the author of several books and articles including On Socrates (Wadsworth, 2000). Her most recent book is Aristotle’s Ethics: Moral Development and Human Nature (Continuum, 2010), which demonstrates the deep affinities between Aristotle’s ethics and a theory of motivation known as Self-Determination Theory. She is currently working on a book project that connects the ethical theory of Aristotle to International Criminal Law.
Dr. May is the recipient of Central Michigan University’s Excellence in Teaching Award. As Director of the University's Center for Professional and Personal Ethics, she has envisioned and designed a number of student centered projects such as the CMU Redbook, CMU Vote, Ethics Talk: A weekly internet radio show that is archived on ITUNES and aired on Modern Rock 91.5. Hope has also envisioned and created Inspire Michigan! an ideas competition for visionary students that helps them to develop and grow their social entrepreneurial ideas for Michigan.
Dr. May has spent time at the International Criminal Court and Leiden University. She has contacts with both the Court and the Grotius Centre of International Law in The Hague. She has worked at the International Criminal Court in the office of the Prosecutor, as a visiting professional. Her background in both philosophy and law, and her commitment to her students and to excellence in teaching will provide an enriching educational experience for students who enroll in PHL 397.
Course Credit
Participants will earn PHL 397 (6 credits) for successful completion of this program.
Dates
May 16-27 class held on CMU campus; May 31-July 1 in The Netherlands.
Eligibility Requirements
Peace, Justice & Human Rights (PHL 397) 6 credits
To begin the process of applying to enroll in this class, click here.
Genocide. Crimes against humanity. War crimes. The typical response to these emotionally charged terms is one of moral outrage. But can the perpetrators of these crimes be held accountable in a court of law? Can the international community prosecute individuals who are guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes? In 1998, a number of nations agreed to establish the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is charged with prosecuting the most serious violators of the aforementioned crimes. Located in The Hague, Netherlands, the ICC is an historical achievement, as it expresses universal norms which all nations indeed all individuals --are obliged to obey. Put bluntly, the ICC is a court of humanity, and as such, is charged with enforcing and protecting human rights through the rule of law.
This class is not just for students interested in law. In fact, the primary objective of this six week, six credit course is to have the student understand the non-legal complexities involved in the ICC's protection and enforcement of human rights and its role in creating peace. Human rights are somewhat easy to talk about in theory, but in practice, the enforcement of human rights is a very complicated affair. The fact is, the ICC is not just a court of law, but is an innovative "human rights operation" which has a number of different "non-legal" departments such as outreach, public relations, and witness counseling. To appreciate the ICC's complex operation, students will not only attend trial proceedings at the ICC, but will also learn from lawyers, psychologists, journalists and other personnel from various divisions of the ICC. Students will also have access to, and be able to study in the library at the historical Peace Palace, which houses both the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the judicial arm of the United Nations, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which was created in the early 20th century in an effort to replace war with a peaceful means to settle international disputes.
The first two weeks of this course will be held on the Mt. Pleasant campus of CMU and will focus on philosophical theories that are pertinent to human rights. The student will also be introduced to the basics of the Court and its jurisprudence. The last 4 weeks will be spent in The Netherlands. Students will live in the dorms of Leiden University, The Netherlands' oldest and most prestigious university which was home to Rembrandt and Descartes. Leiden university is about a 12 minute train ride to The Hague, and about 30 minutes via train to Amsterdam.
The faculty leader of this course is Dr. Hope May. Dr. May is a Professor of Philosophy and the Director of the Center for Professional and Personal Ethics. She received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2001. She earned her Juris Doctorate (law) degree in 2008, graduating magna cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law. She is also a member of the Michigan Bar. As a law student, Dr. May won awards for her work in Legal Interpretation, International Law & Weapons of Mass Destruction, First Amendment Law, and Law and Literature. She is the author of several books and articles including On Socrates (Wadsworth, 2000). Her most recent book is Aristotle’s Ethics: Moral Development and Human Nature (Continuum, 2010), which demonstrates the deep affinities between Aristotle’s ethics and a theory of motivation known as Self-Determination Theory. She is currently working on a book project that connects the ethical theory of Aristotle to International Criminal Law.
Dr. May is the recipient of Central Michigan University’s Excellence in Teaching Award. As Director of the University's Center for Professional and Personal Ethics, she has envisioned and designed a number of student centered projects such as the CMU Redbook, CMU Vote, Ethics Talk: A weekly internet radio show that is archived on ITUNES and aired on Modern Rock 91.5. Hope has also envisioned and created Inspire Michigan! an ideas competition for visionary students that helps them to develop and grow their social entrepreneurial ideas for Michigan.
Dr. May has spent time at the International Criminal Court and Leiden University. She has contacts with both the Court and the Grotius Centre of International Law in The Hague. She has worked at the International Criminal Court in the office of the Prosecutor, as a visiting professional. Her background in both philosophy and law, and her commitment to her students and to excellence in teaching will provide an enriching educational experience for students who enroll in PHL 397.
Course Credit
Participants will earn PHL 397 (6 credits) for successful completion of this program.
Dates
May 16-27 class held on CMU campus; May 31-July 1 in The Netherlands.
Eligibility Requirements
- An intrinsic interest in human rights and tangible evidence of this interest.
- Interview with the faculty leader.
- Minimum 3.25 GPA.
The Prosecution Team at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
Beautiful Leiden. Home of Leiden University, the oldest University in The Netherlands, where students of PHL 397 will live.
The Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice and the Peace Palace Library. Students will be able to study in the beautiful library
