Overview
The undergraduate human rights certificate program inspired by UC/21 is an interdisciplinary partnership of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights in the College of Law. A network of nearly thirty faculty offer over forty courses from sixteen departments in five colleges -- A&S courses from the social sciences, humanities, and the natural sciences as well as military science, the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services, the College of Business, DAAP, and the College of Applied Science. Students outside A&S may take at least one certificate course in their own college in conjunction with the A&S requirements and electives.

International human rights proclaimed in the 1948 Universal Declaration go beyond the political and civil liberties of the U.S. Constitution to include economic, social, and cultural rights. Since World War II, the U.N., nongovernmental and regional intergovernmental organizations have established institutions and global norms to address genocide, torture, racism, violence against women, forced labor and other gross violations of human rights.

Courses selected for the certificate program focus primarily on post WWII international and comparative human rights in General Education classes that satisfy Breadth of Knowledge Requirements in either Diversity and Culture or Social and Ethical Issues. Nine or more of the thirty credit hours required for the certificate may also count toward a department major. In addition to pre-approved department courses listed for the certificate, candidates request approval for a senior project in the major with a human rights focus and/or appropriate departmental internship, service learning, or study abroad credits. Honors special topics courses on human rights and appropriate transfer credits may also be approved for the certificate.

Governance
The Program Director, appointed by the A&S Dean, chairs a steering committee of faculty appointed by participating departments. Notice of quarterly committee meetings that are open to all will be sent to the program listserv of participating faculty and certificate candidates.

Admission
Certificate candidates should enroll in the program prior to their senior year, but the director will consider exceptions for applicants six months prior to graduation. For registration as a certificate candidate, print the enrollment form provided on this website and submit to the program director. A special application form is also available to request approval for a senior project with a human rights focus or appropriate internship, service learning, or study abroad credits.