Certificate in Human Rights
Human rights represents a central principle in the missions of many international and non-governmental organizations, and informs the social responsibility mandates adopted by many private sector organizations.
Students in any major will find this certificate enhances their credentials. The certificate provides distinctive interdisciplinary training and knowledge in preparation for an ever-competitive job market, in which organizations in both the public and private sectors are increasingly concerned with the human rights impact of their activities.
Gain recognition from this specialized training whether you are pursuing a career in human rights, law, international business, the nonprofit sector, or any other field.
The certificate curriculum reflects the expertise of CAL faculty working on topics that address historical as well as contemporary human rights issues. Benefit from this collective knowledge through courses that expose you to a range of disciplinary perspectives and topics.
The courses in this certificate program address the complex challenges of advancing human rights in a range of evolving social and regional contexts. Acquire critical skills and insights by analyzing the multiple dimensions of human rights issues in order to discern the impact of different practices, policies, and structural conditions.
Students share their insights on how the Interdisciplinary Human Rights Certificate Program inspires forward thinking. Read the story.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Describe human rights as defined in international human rights conventions
- Discuss how human rights has been invoked in support of different causes
- Identify when individuals and/or communities are deprived of their human rights
- Explain the human rights dimensions of various issues
- Examine the struggle for human rights in various contexts
A total of 15 unitsis required to complete this certificate.
Required Course (3 units)
- POLS 380: Human Rights in a Global Perspective
Select Courses (12 units)
- AFRAS 322: African American Political Thought
- AFRAS 380: African Americans and the U.S. Justice System
- AFRAS 422: Modern Civil Rights Movement
- CCS 405: Performing Transnational Citizenship*
- CJ 401: A Racialized History of Policing in America
- EUROP 440: Human Trafficking in Europe
- GEOG 440/POLS 440: Food Justice
- HIST 404: History of Human Rights
- HIST 440: The Holocaust and Western Civilization
- HIST 548: Race and Ethnicity in United States History
- HIST 557: Dictatorships & Human Rights in Latin America
- ISCOR 324: Politics of Global Resistance and Solidarity
- LATAM 350: Globalization and the Americas
- LATAM 430/POLS 430: Immigration and Border Politics
- LGBT 321: LGBT Identities in the Modern World
- PHIL 340: Morality of War and Peace
- PHIL 344: Global Justice
- PHIL 510: Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 512: Political Philosophy
- POLS 104: Introduction to Global Politics
- POLS 333: Race and Politics
- POLS 347: American Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (GE/AI)
- POLS 364: Political Change in Modern Africa
- POLS 430/LATAM 430: Immigration and Border Politics
- POLS 435: Power and Poverty in the United States
- POLS 440/GEOG 440: Food Justice
- SOC 355: Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
- SOC 457: Protests, Reforms, and Revolutions
- SOC 458: Nonviolence, Peace, and Social Change
- SOC 531: Work and Society*
- SOC 555: Immigrants and Refugees in Contemporary American Society
- WMNST 520: Reproductive Rights and Justice
- WMNST 530: Women’s Movements and Activism
*Courses now retired, but will count toward the certificate if you have previously taken it.
Other Details
- Students may take no more than 6 units in any program area listed in the courses above.
- Students must obtain a grade of “C” (2.0) or better in each of the certificate courses.
- Courses taken for a major or minor may apply to the certificate.
- Students may obtain the Certificate in Human Rights without majoring in political science or another major in the College of Arts and Letters.
- See the Certificate in Human Rights Homeroom for information and the form to complete for the Certificate in Human Rights.
Advising
Dr. Grace Cheng
Email: [email protected]
Important Links: Certificate Flyer | General Catalog | Class Schedule