The field of concentration in Human Rights gives students an understanding of the legal instruments, norms, and institutions that constitute contemporary human rights law, as well as the social movements, cultural practices, and literary and artistic representations that have and continue to imagine the human rights ethic in various ways. In recent years, the human rights dimensions of many of the most vexing and pertinent issues at the global, national, and local level have gained prominence – including the problems of environmental deterioration, economic inequality, and ethnic and religious conflict. Students who major in Human Rights will be better equipped not only to understand the complex nature of these and other issues, but also to develop and pursue novel approaches toward a better world. In addition to studying the manifold histories, theories, and practices of human rights in a systematic and comprehensive manner, students majoring in Human Rights will also develop more specialized methodological and topical expertise in a second discipline.
To complete the Major in Human Rights, students are required to complete an additional, primary major offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or an additional degree program offered in another University School or College. For students completing a double major within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, a minimum of 48 credits without overlap is required to earn both majors and students will receive one degree appropriate to their primary major.
For students completing a dual degree, all requirements for each degree must be met and at least 18 unique additional credits more than the degree with the higher minimum-credit requirement must be completed (e.g. School of Nursing and CLAS, CLAS requires 120 credits to graduate, 120 + 18 = 138 credits to graduate with both degrees) and students will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights along with another degree appropriate to their second program. All 18 credits for the additional degree must be at the 2000 level or higher.
It is recommended that Human Rights majors declare their primary major by the end of their third semester.
Recommended course: HRTS 1007
Requirements for the Major in Human Rights
Undergraduate majors must complete a total of 36 credits: nine credits of core courses with at least one course in each of groups A, B and C; 12 credits of elective courses from the lists of core courses (A, B and C) or elective courses; 12 credits of related courses as approved by the Director of the Human Rights Major; and HRTS 4291 or 4996W.
Core Courses
A. Institutions and Laws
ANTH/HRTS 3230/W; HIST/HRTS 3202; HRTS 3050, 3055, 3200/W, HRTS/POLS 3212, HRTS 3420, 3428; HRTS/SOCI 2800, 2845/W.
B. History, Philosophy and Theory
ANTH/HRTS 3326; ANTH/HRTS/LLAS 3327; DMD/HRTS 3828; ENGR/HRTS 2300, ENGL/HRTS 3631; HIST/HRTS 3201, 3207, 3232; HRTS 2100W; HRTS/LLAS 2450; HRTS 2100W; HRTS/LLAS 2450; HRTS/POLS 3042; HRTS/PHIL 3220/W; HRTS 2100/W, 2200, 3460, 3710.
C. Applications and Methods
BADM or BLAW or HRTS 3252; BADM or BLAW or HRTS 3254; DMD/HRTS 3640, 3641; DRAM/HRTS 2150, 3139; ENGR or HRTS 3257; HRTS 2400, 3149/W, 3250/W, 3401, 3475, 3540; POLS/HRTS 3256/W, 3430; SOCI/HRTS 3835/W.
D. Elective Courses
Any HRTS course numbered 2000 or above; AAAS/HRTS/SOCI 2220; AFRA/HRTS/SOCI 2520; AFRA/HRTS/SOCI 2530; ANTH/HRTS 3028/W, 3153W; ANTH 3150/W; ANTH/WGSS 3350; ARTH/HRTS 2210, 3575; DRAM/HEJS/HRTS 2203; ECON 2120, 3473/W; ECON 2445/HRTS/WGSS 3445; EDCI 2100, 3100; ENGL/HRTS 3619; ENGL 3629; GEOG 2400, 3240; HDFS 3251; HIST/AAAS 3531; HIST/WGSS 3562; HIST/HRTS/AFRA 3563; HIST 2456, 3100W, 3418, 3570; LLAS/HRTS 3221/HIST 3575; LLAS 3271/POLS 3834; NRE 2600E; NURS 3225; PHIL/HRTS 2170W, 3219/W; PHIL 2215/W, 3218; POLS/HRTS 3418/W, 3807; POLS/WGSS 3249; POLS 3672/WGSS 3052; POLS 3211, 3214, 3240; POLS/ENGR/HRTS 3209; SOCI/HRTS 2830/W; SOCI 2503/W, 2898; WGSS/HRTS 2263; WGSS 2255, 3105, 3257, 3269.
E. Related Courses
A minimum of 12 credits of related courses (2000 level or above) must be approved by the director of the Human Rights major.
F. Capstone Course (Three credits)
HRTS 4291 or HRTS 4996/W.
Information Literacy and Writing Requirements
The following courses satisfy the Information Literacy Competency and Writing in the Major requirements: ANTH/HRTS 3028W, 3153W, 3230W; ANTH 3150W; ARTH 3575W; ECON 3473W; EDCI 3100W; HIST 3100W; HRTS 2100W, 3149W, 3200W, 3250W, 4996W; HRTS/PHIL 2170W, 2215W, 3219W, 3220W; PHIL 2215W; POLS 3211W; POLS/HRTS 3256W, 3418W; SOCI 2503W, 2830W; SOCI/HRTS 2845W, 3835W; and WGSS 2255W, 3105W, 3257W.
Human Rights and Sustainability Specialization in Multidisciplinary Engineering
A Multidisciplinary Engineering major with a specialization in Human Rights and Sustainability is open to those enrolled in the College of Engineering. The program draws substantively on the courses offered through the Human Rights Institute, but the requirements are tailored to Engineering.
A minor in Human Rights is described in the Minors section.