Human Rights Studies Certificates
Certificate directors: Bonnie Weir and David Simon; https://jackson.yale.edu/academics/human-rights-certificate/
Human Rights Studies certificateS
The Human Rights Studies Certificates present human rights as a rich and interdisciplinary field of study. The certificates aim to provide students with the analytical, conceptual, and practical skills necessary for human rights study; connect students to affiliate faculty and peers; and offer guidance for post-graduate careers and studies related to human rights.
Students seeking to engage with Human Rights Studies can pursue one of two pathways alongside their major: the Intensive Human Rights Certificate, which is capped and requires an application, or the uncapped Human Rights Certificate, which offers an individualized pathway to develop expertise through related coursework. Students may choose either one, but not both of these pathways.
- To apply for the Intensive Human Rights Certificate, see the Human Rights website.
- To pursue the Human Rights Certificate, go to Declare Major, Concentration within the Major, Certificate on Yale Hub.
No more than two course credits fulfilling the requirements of either of the Human Rights Studies certificates may overlap with a major, a simultaneous degree, or another certificate. Additionally, no course credit may be applied toward the requirements of more than two curricular programs. For example, the same course credit may not be used to fulfill the requirements of two certificates and a major.
Intensive Certificate in Human Rights
This certificate accepts students by application during the spring term of their sophomore year.
Requirements
See Links to the attributes indicating courses approved for the certificate requirements.
To fulfill the certificate requirements, students complete a gateway lecture course (HMRT 1000), five electives, and participate in a non-credited senior colloquium. The gateway course equips students with the theoretical tools necessary for studying human rights, their evolution, and their justification. It introduces several contemporary issues such as gender disparities, racial discrimination, climate change, global health, human trafficking, refugees, world poverty, and humanitarian intervention.
Elective courses The number of courses at Yale College that touch on human rights is large, and we encourage a diversity of perspectives and methodologies across departments and disciplines. The formal criterion for a program elective is that a course “engage with the language, ideas, and methods of human rights.” The elective should have a substantial focus on Human Rights issues, with four or more of the thirteen (or six to eight of the twenty-six) course meetings focusing on these issues (per the syllabus). Approved electives are divided into two categories: (1) Domestic and (2) International, and students are expected to take at least one course in each of the categories. Graduate and professional school courses may count, with approval from the certificate director(s) or if tagged with one of the attributes listed below.
Credit/D/Fail No courses taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the requirements of the certificate.
Outside credit Courses taken at another institution or during an approved summer or term-time study abroad program may count toward the certificate requirements with the approval of the certificate director(s). An on-topic summer internship can replace one elective, again with the approval of the certificate director(s).
Additional information is available on the Human Rights program website.
Summary of REQUIREMENTS
Number of courses 6 course credits
Specific courses required HMRT 1000
Distribution of courses at least 1 course credit in each of two area categories: (1) domestic (2) international for a total of 5 electives
Other requirements non-credited senior colloquium
CERTIFICATE IN HUMAN RIGHTS
See Links to the attributes indicating courses approved for the certificate requirements.
This certificate, available to all interested Yale Students, provides the opportunity for students to pursue an interdisciplinary study of human rights.
To earn the certificate, students must take the gateway course, HMRT 1000, and 4 electives, with at least one elective chosen from each of the two area categories: (1) Domestic and (2) International. Graduate and professional school courses may count, with approval from the certificate director(s) or if tagged with one of the attributes listed below.
Credit/D/Fail No courses taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the requirements of the certificate.
Outside credit Courses taken at another institution or during an approved summer or term-time study abroad program may count toward the certificate requirements with the approval of the certificate director(s). An on-topic summer internship can replace one elective, again with the approval of the certificate director(s).
Additional information is available on the Human Rights program website.
Declaration of Candidacy
Students must declare their intention to earn a Certificate on the Declare Major, Concentration within the Major, Certificate page on Yale Hub, as early as possible, but at the very latest, by the 15th of January or September in their last semester at Yale. Once declared, Degree Audit tracks students' progress toward completion of the certificate.
SUMMARY OF Requirements
Number of courses 5 course credits
Specific course required HMRT 1000
Distribution of courses 4 electives with at least 1 from each of the 2 area categories