Spring 2026 Graduate Level Courses in Human Rights Practice
Fully online
Spring 2026 Graduate Level Courses in Human Rights Practice
Spring I (Jan 14 – Mar 06, 2026)
HRTS 501 - Advancing Human Rights Organizations (3 units)*
Mette Brogden, Ph. D.
The course focuses on the practical aspects of advancing human rights through civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a special emphasis on some of the dramatic transformations they have undergone in the past couple of decades. The course will cover such critical issues as: management of resources, relationships with personnel and boards of directors, marketing human rights issues, fundraising and financial management, accountability, navigating governmental corruption, program evaluation, and delivering outputs such as shadow reports and white papers.
* The 501 class is required for MA students, and it can fulfill a requirement for Certificate students. For the Certificate, you must take 500, and then either 501 or 510 as your two required classes.
HRTS/JUS 562: Cultural Heritage Protection, Memorialization, and Human Rights (3 units)
Leonard Hammer, Ph.D., LL.M.
From Syria to Ukraine, to Afghanistan to Myanmar, and beyond: cultural heritage is under threat of destruction and erasure worldwide. Artefacts, monuments, buildings, sites, and museums are among the most endangered forms of cultural heritage, reflecting a diversity of values and societies. This course will examine the meaning and scope of cultural heritage protection, what that means in practice, and how it can preserve the traditions of peoples around the world, including indigenous and minority groups. This course also shall focus on memory and approaches to memorialization with a focus as well on the Holocaust and beyond. Student work will center on how human rights practitioners apply cultural heritage protection in different contexts. Of particular interest to students of art, architecture, languages, urban planning, geography, law, religion, Judaic studies, history, international relations, human rights practice, and more...
*******The following courses require permission to enroll**********
Certificate Projects courses 3 units each (required for Certificate students, by Certificate Type)
HRTS 598a Certificate Project in HRTS and Technology
HRTS 598b Certificate Project in Gender Based Violence
HRTS 598c Certificate Project in Human Rights and Doc Media
Arrange a project with a professor with whom you want to work, and then fill out an independent study form (599 form) and send to the professor. The professor will forward the request to Mette Brogden to provide permission to enroll.
HRTS 599: Independent Study (1-3 units, elective)
Arrange a project with a professor with whom you want to work, and then fill out an independent study form (599 form) and send to the professor. The professor will forward the request to Mette Brogden to provide permission to enroll. Independent studies are useful for helping to explore a literature or a topic that prepares you for undertaking your MA capstone or Certificate Project.
HRTS 909: MA Capstone (3 units, required for MA Students)
Arrange a project with a professor with whom you want to work, and then fill out an independent study form (599 form) and send to the professor. The professor will forward the request to Mette Brogden to provide permission to enroll.
Spring II (Mar 16 – May 06, 2024)
HRTS 530: Understanding Gender-Based Violence (3 Credits, required for GBV certificate, elective for others)
Amalia Mora, Ph.D.
This course introduces students to the nature and scope of gender-based violence, in the US and globally, providing students with an overview on demographics, legal policies and advocacy efforts, and strategies for prevention and response. Through an intersectional framework, students will learn about the psychology and root causes of gender-based violence and will be introduced to trauma- and healing- informed prevention and response approaches and techniques. Examples from a range of cultural/geographical contexts will highlight the need for culturally sensitive and specific work.
HRTS 596b: Cutting Edge Advances in Human Rights – Legal Advocacy for Human Rights (3 units, elective)
Elisa Marchi, Ph.D., LL.M.
This course provides an overview of legal advocacy with a focus on using litigation and other law-based approaches both inside and beyond the classroom. The focus is on practical and applicable methods for engaging a particular movement or human rights goal that can include norm enforcement, public awareness, social mobilization, or achieving other goals of an organization or movement through efficient and available means. The course will consider litigation and its alternatives, providing the student with the necessary tools to make an educated decision as to how to best mobilize an organization or movement into action to achieve its goals. This includes working within existing frameworks, with other organizations, and with authorities, depending on the means available and the best route for achieving desired ends. External input from experienced legal advocates will further sharpen our approach to strategic litigation methods.
FTV 544: Documentary Production (3 units, req for HRTS/Doc Media Certificate, for others, elective)
Lisa Molomot, MFA
An introduction to documentary filmmaking for students with diverse academic backgrounds and research interests. The course is designed to serve students with no prior production training, as well as those with experience. Students will acquire and further strengthen camera, sound and editing skills, and learn to conceptualize, develop, shoot and edit short documentary projects geared toward their research interests.
The course is structured primarily as a workshop to support the development, production and post-production of your projects. A significant amount of time will be devoted to individual meetings to develop and workshop your work in progress. We will also have video lectures, class discussions, weekly readings, production exercises and assignments to strengthen your knowledge of documentary filmmaking.
*******The following courses require permission to enroll**********
Certificate Projects courses 3 units each (required for Certificate students, by Certificate Type)
HRTS 598a Certificate Project in HRTS and Technology
HRTS 598b Certificate Project in Gender Based Violence
HRTS 598c Certificate Project in Human Rights and Doc Media
Arrange a project with a professor with whom you want to work, and then fill out an independent study form (599 form) and send to the professor. The professor will forward the request to Mette Brogden to provide permission to enroll.
HRTS 599: Independent Study (1-3 units, elective)
Arrange a project with a professor with whom you want to work, and then fill out an independent study form (599 form) and send to the professor. The professor will forward the request to Mette Brogden to provide permission to enroll. Independent studies are useful for helping to explore a literature or a topic that prepares you for undertaking your MA capstone or Certificate Project.
HRTS 909: MA Capstone (3 units, required for MA Students)
Arrange a project with a professor with whom you want to work, and then fill out an independent study form (599 form) and send to the professor. The professor will forward the request to Mette Brogden to provide permission to enroll.