Human Rights Studies students must complete 30 credit points, including the thesis, to graduate. Of the 30 points, 27 must be at the graduate level (4000 or higher). Students are required to take three specific introductory courses (listed below); two elective courses; and four courses focusing on one area of human rights: economics and development, race and ethnicity, health, religion, or women/gender. The breakdown of requirements is listed on the Human Rights Studies Program checklist. Students are encouraged to print the checklist and use it to track their own degree progress and select appropriate courses each term in consultation with the Program Coordinator.
A list of pre-approved program courses and more information about course selection is available on the Current Students Courses and Credits webpage.
HRTS G4020 Introduction to Human Rights
Three credit points
This course provides a wide-ranging survey of conceptual foundations and issues in contemporary human rights. The class examines the philosophical origins of human rights, their explication in the evolving series of international documents, as well as questions of enforcement through international law and treaty arrangements. The course also examines contemporary topics that are in the forefront of concern, among them - the status of women, refugees, children, the use of torture and the horrors of genocide. Though the course emphasizes political rights, it also recognizes the evolution of the human rights culture, the growing importance of economic rights and tensions related to globalization and multiculturalism. This course is required and offered in the fall term.
HRTS G4800 Human Rights and International Law
Three credit points
This course introduces the fundamental concepts and problems of public international law. What are the origins of international law? Is international law really law? Who is governed by it? How are treaties interpreted? What is the relationship between international law and domestic law? We examine the interplay between law and international politics, in particular with reference to international human rights, humanitarian law, the use of force, and international criminal prosecutions. No prior knowledge of international law is required. While the topics are necessarily law-related, the course will assume no prior exposure to legal studies. This course is required offered in the fall and spring term.
HRTS G4820 Human Rights and International Organizations
Three credit points
This course examines the role of international organizations in the promotion and protection of internationally recognized human rights norms. In particular, the course surveys contending approaches on the importance of international organizations in world politics; explores the constitution, history and function of various international organizations for the promotion/protection of human rights and studies the way in which the human rights discourse has been increasingly intersecting with the peace and security and the sustainable development discourses in the work of these organizations; provides an overview of the growing interaction between international organizations and NGOs; and assesses the record of these organizations’ monitoring and enforcement mechanisms in the area of human rights. This course is required and offered in the fall and spring term.
HRTS G8010 and G8020 Human Rights Graduate Research Colloquium I and II
One to three credit points
This colloquium is offered in two parts in the fall and spring terms. Colloquium I in the fall term introduces students to current research in the field and resources in print and electronic formats fundamental to advanced human rights research. Class meetings include lectures by faculty and researchers in the field and library staff on reference tools and skills. Students will complete the thesis proposal and present their proposals for peer review. The fall term colloquium may be taken for one or two credits.
The spring term is designed for Liberal Studies students writing the thesis and other graduate students completing similar research projects on human rights. The colloquium provides a structured opportunity to research and write in stages. Students review and discuss current research in human rights, review research resources and develop skills required for a successful thesis, present their own and discuss others’ work, and receive constructive advice on their work and the thesis process. The spring term colloquium is taken for two or three credits.
Both colloquiums are optional.
