Theology & Religious Studies BD/MA
Law, Religion and the Rights of the Child TRS4115
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Critical Studies
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
The course will focus on the right of the child to freedom of religion, conscience, opinion and belief as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. It will look at how the Convention works through the Committee on the Rights of the Child to advance and vindicate rights. It will examine the ways in which some State Parties have implemented the Convention's principles.
Timetable
2 x 2.5 hour seminars a week, over four weeks, as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Theology and Religious Studies and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
The standard assessments for this course are:
■
Two 2,000 word essays - 50% each
If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:
■ There is no alternative to the essays, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)
Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.
Main Assessment In: April/May
Course Aims
The aim of this course is to:
■ familiarise students with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) regarding children's rights to freedom of religion, conscience, opinion and belief;
■ introduce students to the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC);
■ examine some of the issues and problems which have arisen in implementing the UNCRC's provisions in confessional and non-confessional State Parties (subscribing political units, e.g. nations);
■ examine in detail the interface between the UNCRC and the sole State Party which is a faith system, the Holy See (Vatican).
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
■ evaluate international public law provisions regarding the rights of children to freedom of religion, conscience, opinion and belief;
■ assess the structure and processes of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC);
■ effectively access and utilise the State Party reports to the CRC;
■ analyse how the CRC has dealt with children's rights to freedom of religion, conscience and belief, and associated issues.