B.A. Human Rights Practice

About the Online Program

Degree Requirements

The B.A. in Human Rights Practice offers you an interdisciplinary program designed to equip you with the knowledge, insights, and skills necessary to address human rights challenges and opportunities worldwide. In addition to the BA minor, it is also possible to study Human Rights Practice as an undergraduate minor or certificate.

Through this course of study, you gain a comprehensive understanding of global human rights issues while also having the flexibility to focus on specific topics, groups, and locations that align with your interests and concerns.

The curriculum emphasizes practical capabilities essential for working with organizations committed to human rights principles and social justice. Upon graduation, you'll be prepared for careers in governmental and non-governmental organizations at local, national, and international levels, as well as further studies in law or graduate programs focusing on human rights.

One of the program's distinguishing features is its extensive interaction between students and leading practitioners through video conferences, allowing for a global perspective on human rights issues. Project-based learning is central to the curriculum, providing opportunities for you to engage in real-world projects alongside community members, internships, and the Capstone course.

The program fosters a focus on community engagement and mentoring in best practices for working with marginalized groups. Through project-based learning, you'll produce various forms of human rights work such as white papers, webinars, and shadow reports. Additionally, you'll acquire specific skills like grant writing, testimonial gathering, and op-ed writing, enhancing your employability in the human rights job market.

By the end of the program, you’ll graduate with a portfolio of applied work, a network of contacts, and marketable skills necessary for advancing human rights globally. The curriculum's real-world learning approach ensures that you can apply course concepts to address human rights issues in your communities, thus contributing to a more just and equal world.

 Sample Plan

Areas of Study

Key populations: Human rights are universal, but affect different groups in distinctive ways. Many Human Rights Practice courses place an emphasis on impacted populations including women and girls, ethnic and religious minorities, migrants and refugees, LGBT+ people, and other vulnerable groups.

Human Rights Crises: From Myanmar to Ukraine, the US-Mexico borderlands to Sub-Saharan Africa, people in many regions of the world experience crises in their human rights. Human Rights Practice courses regularly focus on these hotspots and also on related phenomena including warfare, trauma, and cultural heritage destruction.

Fundamentals of Practice: Human Rights Practice equips students to be real-world practitioners. The program applies interdisciplinary approaches to building skills for advocacy, outreach, community engagement, communications, project management, and many other applied fields.

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Outcomes

Earning the B.A. in Human Rights Practice will build core capabilities including:

Career Pathways