UMass Boston

Human Rights Certificate

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Become equipped to examine human rights frameworks that lead to the political, economic, and social inclusion of individuals and groups.

Students in the UMass Boston School for Global Inclusion and Social Development (SGISD) examine key issues that lead to the political, economic, and social inclusion of individuals and groups of people worldwide in their societies. In response to growing national and international interest in human rights education, we are offering a human rights certificate through SGISD.

Human rights is an increasingly important field of study in the United States and around the world. On every level, from local to international, people are using human rights to mobilize grassroots movements, organize coalitions, and analyze policies and procedures. Studying this discipline also empowers us to advocate for social justice, measure progress in advancing human well-being, and, as a last resort, litigate to advance the rights to health, education, and decent work for all.

Human rights provides a legal and ethical framework for changing our societies and organizations to make them more inclusive of everyone, including people who are marginalized and disadvantaged.

Human rights involves scholarly work in law, applied ethics, international relations, economics, social policy, and international development. Our students may also choose to focus on a specialized area, such as religious minorities, children, workers, women, or people living in poverty.

Our faculty has expertise in:

  • Economic, social, and cultural rights
  • The rights to education, health, and decent work
  • Indigenous rights
  • Gender and women's rights
  • Human security and development
  • International disability rights advocacy
  • United Nations human rights mechanisms
  • Human rights impact assessment and indicators

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Plan Your Education

How to Apply

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

  • Statement of purpose - Please discuss in 1,200 words or less your reasons for pursuing a graduate certificate in human rights, and your academic, personal, and professional goals.
  • Transcripts - Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Applicants must possess a four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university, and must have a GPA of 3.0 or above.
  • Letter of recommendation - This letter should come from someone who can speak to your academic and professional preparation for program success.
  • Résumé or curriculum vitae - Please make sure all educational background and professional history is current with degrees earned, institutions attended, majors, and GPAs.

Deadlines & Cost

Deadlines: June 15 for fall, November 1 for spring

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.

Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, please visit the Bursar's website.

Curriculum

Core Courses (9 Credits)

  • WGS 110 - Gender in Global Context 3 Credit(s)

    or

    ENGL 293L - Literature and Human Rights 3 Credit(s)

  • WGS 295L - Introduction to Human Rights 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 401 - Advanced Topics in Human Rights 3 Credit(s)

Electives (9 Credits)

Take three electives from the list below. At least two courses must be at the 300-level or higher.

  • CINE 412L - Gender, Human Rights, and Global Cinema 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 293L - Literature and Human Rights 3 Credit(s)
  • HIST 346 - Women & Gender in African History 3 Credit(s)
  • LABOR 315 - Labor, Community, and Social Justice Organizing 3 Credit(s)
  • LABOR 335 - Globalization and Labor 3 Credit(s)
  • LATAM 270 - Human Rights in Latin America 3 Credit(s)
  • PHIL 450 - Rights 3 Credit(s)
  • POLSCI 252 - Modern Political Thought (D) 3 Credit(s)
  • POLSCI 265L - World War II Internment of Japanese Americans (A) 3 Credit(s)
  • POLSCI 332 - Civil Liberties in the United States (A) 3 Credit(s)
  • POLSCI 369 - Politics of the Middle East (C) 3 Credit(s)
  • POLSCI 404 - The Politics of the Arab-Israeli Conflict 3 Credit(s)
  • POLSCI 406 - Politics of Food Security 3 Credit(s)
  • POLSCI 450 - Decolonial Theory 3 Credit(s)
  • POLSCI 451 - Queer Theory & Politics 3 Credit(s)
  • SOCIOL 230 - Race, Incarceration, and Deportation 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 268 - Global Bodies: Sex, Families, and Reproductive Rights in Transnational Perspective 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 270 - Native American Women in North America 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 345L - Gender, Religion, and Politics in South Asia 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 355L - Gender, Development, & Globalization 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 360 - Gender, Culture, and Power 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 412L - Gender, Human Rights, and Global Cinema 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 490 - Internship in Women's Studies 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 491 - Internship Placement 3 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Graduation Criteria

Complete 18 credits from six courses including three core courses and three electives.

Pass/fail:No more than one course taken pass/fail may be applied toward the minor.
Residency:At least three courses applied toward the minor must be completed at UMass Boston.

Contact

Graduate Program Director Kaitlyn Siner
kaitlyn.siner [@] umb.edu
(617) 287-3070

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