All Human Rights

There’s an unspoken consensus that some legal privileges and prerogatives are more important than others. In fact, they’re considered self-evident and innate to all people. These are called human rights.​A degree in human rights explores these concepts and their relation to social justice in some detail: their philosophical and legal background, their limitations, how they are seen in different cultures and legal systems, and how they are practically enforced. This leads to a discussion of several current and controversial issues, including matters related to race, gender, migration, and international relations.​To inform this discourse, it is necessary to study several social sciences. A course of study in human rights generally includes subjects like history, anthropology, sociology, and political science. A degree in human rights, whether gained in the United States or abroad, is often used as a springboard to law school, so legal studies are often included as a minor or elective.​Students of human rights have to be compassionate but also objective. As much of the research they’ll do during undergraduate study and beyond is statistical in nature, it’s best if they’re comfortable with numbers. Just as importantly, they need to be capable of rigorous analytical thought, able to structure coherent arguments, and be skilled at verbal and written communication. These same attributes are strengthened by studying human rights and are often valued by employers outside that specific field.