20 Master of Art Programs in Human Rights

Our MAs from our new Master's in Law suite of programmes are designed for non-law graduates who want to explore the practical application of a particular, specialist area of law.

Students must possess an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in any subject at 2:2 or above.

Our MAs from our new Master's in Law suite of programmes are designed for non-law graduates who want to explore the practical application of a particular, specialist area of law.

Master of Arts in Human Rights

No philosophical idea has had a more profound impact on international relations and world politics than human rights. Within half a century since World War II and the Holocaust, human rights developed into the only universally accepted value system of our times. The recognition of states as democratic, developed and peace-loving nations today depends on their capacity and willingness to protect human rights. Long-term dictators and brutal military rulers are increasingly being ousted and held accountable for gross and systematic violations of human rights before international criminal tribunals. Even business corporations and international organisations are judged by their human rights performance. In post-conflict situations and transitions from totalitarian to democratic rule, human rights constitute an essential element of peace-building, development and good governance. Human rights open the doors to a better world for all.... [-]

Our School is located in one of the most beautiful cities in the United States: San Diego, California, right at the Mexico-U.S border.

The MAPJ offers a curriculum where students will gain:

A rich course portfolio includes human rights, conflict resolution, leadership and organizations, development, technology, and social change, and social entrepreneurship to shape professionals equipped to work effectively for peace and justice across multiple organizational settings.... [-]

How we live with difference is the key issue of our time. Issues relating to race and ethnicity, whether immigration, Islamophobia, #blacklivesmatter, or media diversity, are at the forefront of public debate. The MA in Race, Media and Social Justice will equip you with critical and theoretical tools to unpack and deepen your understanding of contemporary debates on race, ethnicity and racism.

Goldsmiths is a centre of pioneering critical race scholarship and you will be taught by leading figures in the field. This interdisciplinary degree will introduce you to a range of different theoretical and philosophical approaches to race and ethnicity, including postcolonial and critical race theories, poststructuralist approaches, and theories of intersectionality.... [-]

The unique, multidisciplinary MA Program in Holocaust Studies is dedicated to creating and nurturing a new generation of Holocaust researchers and educators. In addition to a rigorous and varied curriculum with leading academics and researchers, our students gain professional experience through internship opportunities at a variety of Holocaust-related institutions, seminars, a foreign study tour, and volunteering opportunities with Holocaust survivors to help foster personal relationship and dedication to the field of Holocaust Studies.

The program offers courses on the history of the Holocaust period and WWII as well courses on psychological aspects of trauma, the anthropology of memory, genocide and crimes against humanity, international law, museum studies, Holocaust education, and cultural expressions of the Holocaust in film and literature. Language instruction in Yiddish and German is also offered. Both thesis and non-thesis tracks are available.... [-]

The MA in International Human Rights provides students with the opportunity to explore issues of human dignity while critically examining the norms, processes, and institutions designed to promote and protect human rights in our globalizing world. The program is unique among its peers for its interdisciplinary nature, linking human rights to development, health, security and humanitarian assistance, and for its emphasis on theory and practice. For breadth, the core curriculum offers courses in human rights theory, history, law, foreign policy and economic development. Courses with thematic perspectives link human rights to security, economic development, administration, gender and other issues.... [-]

Grounded in the practice of critical pedagogy, this program provides a dynamic learning community where students benefit from rigorous experience both in the classroom and in the community.

The only opportunity in the US to receive a master’s degree in human rights education. Rich in-class learning experiences with expert faculty blended with opportunities for practical work in schools and community organizations in the Bay Area.

Pedagogy aimed at addressing inequities based on race, class, gender, sexual identity, religion, and nation.

Our students arrive at USF as educators, filmmakers, community organizers, after-school program directors, and more, eager to explore new ways of reading the world using a human rights framework.... [-]

The MA in Development and Human Rights examines the comparatively new interface between Human Rights and International Development.

This MA is a multi-disciplinary programme combining insights from the fields of development studies, politics, political theory and international law. It examines some of the key issues confronting twenty-first-century global societies through a dynamic programme that combines theoretical and applied perspectives and is taught by a team of leading academics in their fields.

Students will be encouraged to apply legal theory, social and political theory and research tools in analysing and understanding development and human rights, as well as being taught key historical and policy dimensions and concepts.... [-]

The topic of human rights is a staple of contemporary politics, philosophy and law, and is one of the key discourses of our times. The primary aim of the MA in Human Rights, Globalisation and Justice (HRGJ) Course is to provide you with an intensive period of study in which to develop practical and theoretical understandings of human rights law, politics and philosophy, at domestic, regional and international levels. The course also aims to provide key critical perspectives on human rights theory and practice, drawing in particular on feminist and postcolonial critiques to engage with issues of gender, sexuality, race, class, ethnicity, religion and power in relation to human rights realisation. Jointly taught by the School of Law and School of Politics, Philosophy, International Relations and Environment (SPIRE), the HRGJ course takes an interdisciplinary and intersectional approach to the study of human rights.... [-]

Engage with human rights practice by linking the legal, theoretical and technical skills and knowledge needed to work for international organizations fighting injustice, oppression, and persecution.

You will study contemporary debates in human rights promotion and protection, researching the stories of violations, asylum, surveillance, peacekeeping and torture that are behind many of today's news headlines.

Working with your tutors and alongside industry professionals, you will develop the skills to be able to investigate claims of human rights abuses, gather evidence and build cases for legal proceedings.

Your course will also hone your research and project management skills and develop your ability to write compelling funding applications and formulate budgets - essential requirements for a career in this area.... [-]

The Master of Arts Degree in International Law and Human Rights Degree offers students an in-depth review of the procedures and practice of international human rights bodies, at the global and UN level as well as at the regional level. Students will gain an understanding of the various judicial and non-judicial bodies that are at the frontline of questions of interpretation, the development of international human rights standards, and enforcement. In addition, students receive training in hands-on skills in the realm of reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of human rights. Finally, as the globalization of business and investment is increasing in force and speed, with important human rights implications, this specialization explores the interaction between economics and rights, asking critical questions about this process and potential solutions.... [-]

The MA programme in “Human Rights and Multi-level Governance” is a contribution to developing a universal culture of human rights, as recommended by Unesco and the United Nations. Accordingly, it has a strong policy- and action-oriented approach. This master's degree is in full continuity with previous post-graduate programmes in human rights that the University of Padua has been delivering since 1988.

The MA aims at developing knowledge and skills to promote and fulfil human rights within the broader context of legal and political processes and multi-level policies. Human rights law, the multi-level governance framework, and the concepts of “sustainable human development” and “human security” are reference paradigms throughout the course.... [-]

This MA is based on an established programme developed in collaboration with leading human rights activists to provide training for future human rights professionals.

The cutting-edge content looks at human rights issues from a practical perspective as well as a theoretical and legal one. We offer a wide range of elective modules. The topics address emerging issues in human rights, such as the impact of environmental destruction on human rights; human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals; or cultural genocide.

Note: this course was previously referred to as Understanding and Securing Human Rights.

Study with us for an interdisciplinary approach, with a vibrant, global mix of students and chances to learn from human rights professionals from around the world.... [-]

Why has ’nationalist’ violence erupted in Ukraine? Will cities become the war zones of the future? How is the term ‘human rights’ used and abused in times of violent conflict? What role did social media play in the rise and subsequent collapse of the Arab Spring? What are the ethical and political issues associated with the use of drones in zones of conflict - and what impact does this have on the subjects of surveillance? Who defines ‘evil’ and what does ‘doing good’ mean? How do ‘humanitarian wars’ affect the everyday lives of the ‘victims’ they protect?

These are just some of the pressing questions arising from the complex interconnectedness of today’s world. A solution to these questions can only be found through systematic analysis of processes of inclusion and exclusion, mobilization, and collective violence. Addressing these topics properly demands critical reflection on the national and international policies developed to contain, manage, resolve, or transform violent conflict.... [-]