Program Overview

Human Rights Studies explores the subject of human rights as a set of important academic questions rather than as a doctrine. The program critically examines the ethical frameworks that have shaped the emergence of human rights as an important idea in global politics. It considers diverse cultural, ideological, and political perspectives on the universality of human rights. Students who complete the program will recognize the contested nature of human rights. Because competing viewpoints shape the notion of human rights, the program is not based on a settled definition of human rights. However, all students who complete the program will become familiar with the philosophical roots of human rights discourse and the codification of human rights norms in international law.

The program examines human rights in both domestic and international contexts, engaging with human rights challenges in the United States as well as in other countries. The primary goal of the program is not to train human rights professionals. Instead, the program seeks to educate students who recognize the importance of human rights issues in their personal, civic, and professional lives, whatever their professional path.

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
POLS 133	CASE STUDIES IN COMPARATIVE AND TRANSNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS	3
POLS 150	HUMAN RIGHTS AND WORLD POLITICS	3
POLS 151	TRANSNATIONAL ADVOCACY NETWORK	3
Select nine credits of approved courses by the Department of Political Science 1		9
Total Hours		18

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Students must complete 9 credit hours of electives from an approved course list that will be shared with advisors and students who have declared the minor prior to registration each semester. At least 12 credit hours must be taken that are not counted towards a second major, minor, or concentration.