2023-2024 Graduate Bulletin

Human Rights, Master of Arts

Program Director: Professor Charlotte Walker-Said

(cwalker-said@jjay.cuny.edu)

The Master of Arts in Human Rights is a professionally-oriented degree program that provides students with a thorough understanding of human rights theory and the practical skills necessary to translate understanding into practice. Students completing the program will be able to demonstrate understanding of substantive concepts in the scholarly and practical field of human rights, conduct methodological research, and engage in practice-oriented work, such as fact-finding, report-writing, media outreach, and advocacy. Program graduates will be highly competitive for a variety of positions including public and media relations, fundraising, social science research, and legal support services.

Admissions. General admissions information for John Jay's graduate programs can be found under the Admissions section of this bulletin along with any Program-specific admissions requirements.

Additional informationStudents who enrolled for the first time at the College or changed to this program in September 2023 or thereafter must complete it in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose the form shown here or the earlier version of the program. A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the 2022-2023 Graduate Bulletin.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Human Rights consists of 36 credits. Students should be able to complete the course of study in two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. 

The program culminates for all students in HR 750: Advanced Seminar in Human Rights, in which students participate in collaborative research and advocacy with a human rights organization serving as a client, and produce a value added original policy paper to serve the organization’s needs. Students also have the option of engaging in an internship or, those with overall GPAs of 3.5 or higher and an A- or better in ICJ 715, may write a thesis with the approval of the program director. Internships and theses can count toward elective credit. 

Core Requirements

HR 700Introduction to Human Rights: Theory, Practice, & Research

3

HR 701International Human Rights: Organizations and Institutions

3

HR 702Human Rights: International and Domestic Legal Frameworks

3

HR 713Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

3

HR 705Philosophy of Human Rights

3

HR 706Human Rights Advocacy and Activism

3

HR 718Health as a Human Right

3

HR 750Advanced Seminar in Human Rights

3

Total Credit Hours:24

Electives

Select four courses:

HR 711Human Rights and Humanitarianism

3

HR 712Civil and Political Rights and Civil Liberties

3

HR 714Human Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility

3

HR 780Internship in Human Rights

6

HR 790Social Entrepreneurship Lab: Practicum and Fundraising Tutorial

6

CRJ 744Terrorism and Politics

3

CRJ 754/PAD 754Investigative Techniques

3

CRJ 765Social Movements, Revolution, and Terrorism

3

CRJ 778Victimology

3

CRJ 784Organized Crime

3

ICJ 703International Criminal Law

3

ICJ 704Crime, Justice, and Cultural Struggles

3

ICJ 705Human Rights and Counterterrorism

3

ICJ 706Transnational Crime

3

ICJ 715Applied Research Methods in International Crime and Justice

3

ICJ 730Human Trafficking

3

PAD 718International Public Policy and Administration

3

PAD 732The Independent Sector: Contemporary Issues in Nonprofits and Philanthropy

3

PSY 705Victimology

3

FOS 761Forensic Anthropology: Osteological & Genetic Identification

3

Total Credit Hours:12

Total Credit Hours: 36