Graduate Programs

Chicago, IL

Adler University

Type of program: Master of Public Policy: Human Rights Advocacy Concentration

Our Master of Public Policy program offers an academically rigorous curriculum that prepares students to be public policy leaders, with a choice of two concentrations: Community Health or Human Rights. With a focus on developing, implementing, and evaluating policy interventions that promote not only health, but also political, social, and economic justice, our program emphasizes the interconnected sociocultural, physical, economic and political factors that shape our society. 
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Washington, D.C.

American University

Type of program: M.A. in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs or Graduate Certificate in Peacebuilding or LL.M. in International Legal Studies or LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

M.A. in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs: American University’s MA in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs (EPGA) offers an ethical response to some of the world’s most pressing problems. Founded as part of an effort to deepen the ethical context for international studies, the purpose of this interdisciplinary program is to prepare students broadly in the practical application of ethical theory and policy analysis to complex issues in global affairs. 
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Graduate Certificate in Peacebuilding: The certificate includes three concentrations-conflict resolution, conflict and development, and human rights-corresponding to summer institutes. Institute courses cover both theory (concepts, models) and practice (analytical and behavioral skills) necessary for professional practitioners. Students must complete at least one summer institute to fulfill the requirements of the certificate. 
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LL.M. in International Legal Studies: With over 190 students from 63 countries, the International Legal Studies Program at the American University Washington College of Law is one of the most intellectually and culturally diverse programs in the nation. The program incorporates a rich array of international law courses and seminars, experiential learning, and special events which allow our students to interact and network with esteemed faculty, international attorneys, diplomats, business leaders, and policy makers. 
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LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law: The LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law is currently the only program in the United States to offer a hybrid program of its kind in a U.S. law school. This unique hybrid program, with online and residential course components, is designed for practitioners and other human rights advocates who wish to pursue advanced studies in international human rights law and humanitarian law alongside their existing work responsibilities. 
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Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University

Type of program: M.A. in Social Justice and Human Rights or Ph.D. in Justice Studies

M.A. in Social Justice and Human Rights: The MA in social justice and human rights addresses urgent social issues related to human security, labor, migration, children, family, education and the environment. The coursework in this theoretically and methodologically rigorous program examines social issues in contexts defined by multiple and intersecting forms of social identity and disadvantage, including gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality and nationality. The program requires an internship to be completed domestically or internationally, where students typically work alongside other advocates for social justice to help refugees, migrants, workers, and survivors of violence or human trafficking. 
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Ph.D. in Justice Studies: Join us in the Justice Studies PhD program at the nation’s first School of Social Transformation. Our diverse community of scholars unites students and faculty across academic boundaries to strategically create social change that is democratic, inclusive and just. Our inclusive doctoral program in justice studies prepares future scholars and change agents to address complex social problems and become tomorrow’s leaders. We take a unique approach to the study of justice by examining the intersecting forms of injustice, engaging multiple visions of justice -­ knowing that no one solution works for all – ­ and transforming communities by empowering those silenced by inequality. 
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Boston, MA

Boston College

Type of program: Graduate Certificate in Human Rights

The Graduate Certificate in Human Rights is pursued in conjunction with a graduate or professional degree at Boston College, such as a J.D., M.Ed., or Ph.D. Successful completion of the rigorous and interdisciplinary curriculum certifies the student’s training in an area of human rights and international justice. The program nurtures a new generation of scholars and practitioners in the United States and abroad who draw upon the strengths of many disciplines, and the wisdom of rigorous ethical training in the attainment of human rights and international justice. 
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Boston, MA

Boston University

Type of program: M.P.H. Concentration in Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights

The Master of Public Health degree program, with a concentration in health law, bioethics & human rights, provides foundational instruction in public health law, which students may complement with advanced studies in bioethics or human rights. This concentration is appropriate for those who plan to work in government agencies, health care institutions, advocacy groups, and nongovernmental organizations, and, for those who pursue further education, it provides a foundation for specialized academic training in law, ethics, or human rights. 
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London, England

City University of London

Type of program: M.A. in International Politics and Human Rights

On City’s International Politics & Human Rights MA you will study the development of human rights, the way they have altered international politics and how rights influence current events. This MA gives you a theoretically and historically informed understanding of the role of human rights in contemporary politics. You will develop a strong grasp of contemporary global issues, enabling you to view world events from an informed and knowledgeable position. The course will prepare you for a career in human rights organizations, NGOs, government agencies, international organizations, journalism and other fields requiring a critical understanding of international politics. 
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Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Type of program: M.A. in Public Administration

At the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA), we educate the public policy leaders of tomorrow. We offer a remarkably flexible but challenging academic curriculum, blended with substantial hands-on, practical experience. Some of our Fellows are focused on food security issues. Others are dedicated to studying environmental policy. Still others wish to develop the necessary skills to manage a government or nonprofit organization, to shape the future of science and technology, or to enter the world of international development. 
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Chicago, IL

DePaul University

Type of program: LL.M. in International Law

The LL.M. in International Law emphasizes the theoretical background and practical skills that lawyers need to excel in international law practice. The program is designed for both experienced attorneys and recent law school graduates from the United States and abroad who wish to earn an advanced degree in one of the following concentrations: International Aviation Law & Policy; International Business, Commercial & Trade Law; International Cultural Heritage Law; International Governance & Rule of Law; International Human Rights Law & Policy and Criminal Justice. 
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Atlanta, GA

Emory University

Type of program: LL.M. in Human Rights Law or Graduate Certificate in Human Rights

LL.M. in Human Rights Law: The LLM concentration in human rights law offers students the opportunity to explore the theory and practice of human rights law in the national and/or international context. Students enrolled in this concentration must complete the required courses and a substantial dissertation. In view of the broad scope and interdisciplinary nature of the human rights field, students will be able to complete their required credit hours by selecting from a wide range of courses at Emory Law. 
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Graduate Certificate in Human Rights: Human rights are inherently interdisciplinary. The Emory Graduate Certificate in Human Rights is an integrated, innovative, and cooperative approach to human rights scholarship and training. The certificate combines the teaching and research strength of Emory University with the applied programs of our professional partners, including CARE USA, The Carter Center, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention among others. The Certificate is open to students in all of Emory’s professional schools. 
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Mexico D.F., Mexico

Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales

Type of program: M.A. in Human Rights and Democracy

The objective of the Master in Human Rights and Democracy is to intervene, through excellent academic training, in the development of professionals who are already highly skilled and trained in handling conceptual and practical tools as they pertain to human rights and democracy. The Master of Human Rights and Democracy is also a job training program, which seeks to strengthen and develop skills of professionals who are constrained by their work areas and wish to incorporate the theme of the Master into their individual careers to gain a fresh perspective. 
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Potsdam, Germany

Freie Universität Berlin

Type of program: M.A. in Childhood Studies and Children’s Rights

The core element of the MA Childhood Studies and Children’s Rights is the active and effective participation of children (and young people) in social processes. Understanding of Childhood (s) as constantly walking social construct forms the basis for this. Particular emphasis is placed on an understanding of children’s rights as culturally integrated and contextualized subjective rights. 
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Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva Academy

Type of program: LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights or The Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and Rule of Law

LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights: This one-year postgraduate degree course provides advanced, comprehensive and practical training in international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL), as well as the interplay between them. 
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The Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and Rule of Law: The Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law (MTJ) combines comprehensive theoretical expertise with practical perspectives. It puts particular emphasis on providing individualized guidance and one-to-one counseling via personalized academic mentoring, career coaching, internships, tutorials and training for international employment. 
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Washington, D.C

Georgetown University

Type of program: Certificate in International Human Rights Law

Georgetown University Law Center has a rich variety of human rights courses and programs which are a natural fit to the Certificate of Study in International Human Rights Law. This program is designed to encourage LL.M. students to attain extensive knowledge in the field of human rights law on both a national and international level. Our renowned full-time faculty teach a variety of courses in the international human rights law area and provide advice on the development of the curriculum. 
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London, England

Glasgow Caledonian University

Type of program: MSc in Citizenship and Human Rights

Created in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), part funded by the Highlands and Islands European Social Fund, and welcomed by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), our course is designed for professionals and volunteers in the Third Sector and Public Sector interested in, or working to promote the principles of human rights – including anti-discrimination, participative democracy, accountability and social responsibility. As well as exploring human rights issues you will gain an understanding of how globalization has altered the labor market and understand valuable leadership and social responsibility practice. 
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Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Type of program: Harvard Law School Human Rights Program

The Human Rights Program seeks to inspire and offer guidance to international human rights learning, scholarship, and research at Harvard Law School. Founded by Professor Emeritus Henry Steiner in 1984, the program helps students, advocates, and scholars deepen and disseminate their knowledge of human rights. In advancing discussions and critical reflection on human rights, the academic program helps build a community of scholars and practitioners at Harvard Law School and beyond. LL.M. Concentration in Human Rights is also offered. 
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Indianapolis, IN

Indiana University

Type of program: Program in International Human Rights Law

The Program in International Human Rights Law furthers the teaching and study of Human Rights law, promotes scholarship in International Human Rights, to assist human rights governmental, inter-governmental, and non-governmental organizations on international human rights projects, and facilitates the placement of students as law interns at international human rights organizations domestically and overseas. 
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Bloomington, IN

Indiana University, Bloomington

Type of program: Ph.D. Minor in Human Rights

The Ph.D. Minor in Human Rights emphasizes that the discourse and practice of human rights has international, global, regional, and local components. The minor requires students to explore the implications and intersection of these components through a holistic and multidisciplinary approach. This approach asks students to be aware of how law, cultural values and practice, social and political institutions, national and supranational bodies, and policy interact, integrate, and conflict with one another to create an international human rights regime. 
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Mexico D.F., Mexico

Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico

Type of program: Human Rights and Politics

As a lawyer, you’ll ensure that the rights of people are respected, especially as it relates to their experiences in criminal, civil, labor, administrative and constitutional procedures. In order to train the best lawyers, ITAM’s LLB incorporates subjects such as Theory of Law, History of Mexican Law, Obligations, Constitutional Law, Theories of Crime, Commercial Law, Labor Law, Administrative Law, Tax Law and Criminal Procedure Law. 
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Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Type of program: Certificate in Health and Human Rights

The Certificate Program in Health and Human Rights is designed to: Increase understanding and foster positive attitudes among health professionals regarding the key linkages among human rights ideals, legal guarantees of human rights, and the promotion and protection of public health; Elaborate and explain details regarding the vital roles of health professionals in promoting human rights, especially the right to health, and building a “culture” of human rights; Build familiarity with international human rights standards, instruments, and the numerous state-based and international laws related to human rights, especially those that impact upon the health of populations and individuals; Introduce some skills needed to investigate, analyze, and document abuses of human rights as they relate to health and public health practice. 
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Leuven, Belgium

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Type of program: European M.A. in Human Rights and Democratisation or LL.M. Specialisation Human Rights Law 

European M.A. in Human Rights and Democratisation: E.MA is an intensive one-year advanced master’s course aimed at preparing professionals to work in international organisations, field operations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, and academia. E.MA offers an action- and policy-oriented approach to learning that combines interdisciplinary perspectives with skill building activities. 
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LL.M. Specialization Human Rights Law: Located in the heart of Europe—20 minutes from the seat of the main EU institutions in Brussels—the KU Leuven Faculty of Law offers a unique international learning environment with a cosmopolitan student body and an authoritative faculty. LL.M. students can choose from the rich assortment of courses offered to international students in Leuven. For its select group of LL.M. students, though, the Faculty of Law has also developed a specific set of innovative courses with a particular focus on European and international law. These courses are organised around three distinct tracks: International and European Business Law, International and European Public Law, and International and European Jurisprudence. 
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London, England

Kingston University London

Type of program: M.A. in Human Rights

This course examines the human rights actors, activities and mechanisms used to define and protect human rights. A key concept is the role of practitioners/activists in the field. The course deals with political developments in the UK, in Europe and internationally, and explores the extent to which human rights are enshrined in and supported by deeper politics and culture, and by institutions, structures, movements and values. 
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Berlin, Germany

Leuphana University Lüneburg

Type of program: M.A. in Go­ver­nan­ce and Hu­man Rights

The Mas­ter’s Pro­gram in Go­ver­nan­ce and Hu­man Rights con­nects the theo­ry of sci­ence with its practical application. In se­ven mo­du­les, the stu­dents will learn to ana­ly­ze and un­der­stand le­gal and po­li­ti­cal theo­ries of governance and in­ter­na­tio­nal and re­gio­nal human rights regimes and how they are in­ter­re­la­ted. The stu­dents and scho­lars of the Mas­ter of Go­ver­nan­ce and Hu­man Rights will de­sign, plan, or­ga­ni­ze, and rea­li­ze their own project ad­dres­sing a prac­tical chal­len­ge re­la­ted to the field of go­ver­nan­ce and hu­man rights. 
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Salaya, Thailand

Mahidol University

Type of program: Master of Human Rights and Democratisation or Ph.D. in Human Rights and Peace Studies (International Program) or M.A. in Human Rights (International Program)

Master of Human Rights and Democratisation: Many of those coming into the degree will already be working in the field of human rights, democratisation or related sectors such as development, peace, humanitarian, democracy, and environment. It is anticipated that the research and advocacy skills, as well as the expanded knowledge base that students will acquire through the degree, will significantly assist graduates when working in the internationalized context of rights and democracy. Graduates will be qualified to work in policy, advocacy and research positions in non-governmental, governmental and inter-governmental organisations. 
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Ph.D. in Human Rights and Peace Studies (International Program): As the only Ph.D. in human rights and peace in Asia, this program offers its students a unique opportunity to engage, in depth, with the important issues of human rights and peace in the world today. The Ph.D. in Human Rights and Peace Studies (International Program) provides mid-career professionals or researchers and opportunity to deepen their knowledge in human rights and peace studies and to undertake a major research project in these areas. The Ph.D. Program, which began in 2006, is one of the few interdisciplinary Ph.D.s in human rights and peace in the world, and is recognized for its innovative study program. The medium of teaching is English. 
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M.A. in Human Rights (International Program): The M.A. in Human Rights (International Programme), which began in 1999, is the first social science graduate program in human rights in Southeast Asia. The International Masters of Arts in Human Rights program aims to produce graduates who are capable of applying human rights knowledge to their fields of work, be they academics, policy makers, human rights practitioners or activists. Graduates will learn to acquire knowledge independently, a skill necessary for the advancement of academic studies and promotion of human rights in society. The curriculum is designed to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of human rights issues. Since its establishment, the program has attracted students from Asia and other regions. The Program’s medium of teaching is English. 
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Kildare, Ireland

Maynooth University

Type of program: LL.M. in International Justice

The LLM (International Justice) provides students with critical insights into the international legal system and how it operates to promote and secure justice. It analyses how the international legal order works and how it seeks to protect vulnerable groups, including minorities, migrants and peoples with disabilities. The programme draws on law and other disciplines, including sociology, anthropology and politics, to provide students with a comprehensive examination of the challenges facing international justice mechanisms today. 
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Saint Paul, MN

Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Type of program: LL.M. in Human Rights

Mitchell Hamline’s LL.M. introduces foreign law graduates to the legal system of the United States. The program brings together a global community of lawyers who receive the specialized training and education they need to practice law and compete on an international level. LL.M. students attend classes with Mitchell Hamline J.D. students, choosing courses and seminars that reflect their individual practice interests. The Human Rights specialization is designed to provide educational and research opportunities in observance of and respect for international human rights and fundamental freedoms. 
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Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Type of program: LL.M. Concentration in Human Rights or Public Interest Law or Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy  or Social Justice Program

Candidates for the LL.M. degree have the opportunity to concentrate in Human Rights. Both US- and internationally-trained lawyers are invited to join in the School of Law’s commitment to promote social, cultural and economic rights. All LL.M. students concentrating in Human Rights take four human rights-related courses: Human Rights and the Global Economy (or an equivalent introductory Human Rights course), International Law, plus two additional human rights-related courses (see sample list of offerings). 
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Public Interest Law: Grounded in social justice, our curriculum offers a broad range of courses — from Welfare Law to Problems in Public Health Law — focused on legal areas that disproportionately affect the underrepresented and minorities in our society. Make sure to check out our list of Public Interest and Advocacy courses. 
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Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy : The Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) is at the center of the School of Law’s human rights efforts and works closely with scholars, institutions and advocates nationally and internationally to address issues of human rights and economic development. Reflecting our faculty’s interests, PHRGE is particularly engaged with the international movement to promote economic, social and cultural rights. 
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Social Justice Program: Starting early in the first year, each LSSC “law office” participates in a closely supervised clinical experience, representing and assisting a nonprofit community-based or advocacy organization in solving a societal problem involving issues of diversity, the law and social justice. We encourage all nonprofit community-based or advocacy organizations, government agencies and state legislators to apply to work with LSSC on a social justice project. 
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Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Type of program: J.D. or LL.M. in International Human Rights

Northwestern Law and its Center for International Human Rights offers a four-year joint degree program leading to both a JD and an LLM in International Human Rights, with a focus on both international human rights law and international criminal law. Northwestern Law remains the only law school in the country to offer a joint JD-LLM in International Human Rights (JD-LLM IHR) program. Students enrolled in the JD-LLM IHR program will receive a thorough grounding in the norms and mechanisms of international human rights law and international criminal law. A distinctive feature of the new program will be the requirement that students complete a semester-long externship with one of a number of designated international and hybrid criminal tribunals, foreign supreme courts, and international human rights organizations. 
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White Plains, NY

Pace Law School

Type of program: J.D. in International Law

The international and comparative law program at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is designed to prepare future international lawyers for success in the public and private spheres. Students benefit from the distinguished credentials and professional achievements of the Pace Law faculty in areas as diverse as international arbitration, environmental regulation, international sales, trade law and human rights. 
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Cambodia

Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia

Type of program: Master Program in International Human Rights Law

The Master Programme has been jointly developed by PUC and RWI and offers a unique opportunity for committed individuals to obtain an international level postgraduate qualification in international human rights law in Cambodia. 
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Prescott, AZ

Prescott College

Type of program: M.A. in Social Justice and Human Rights

The Social Justice and Human Rights (SJHR) curriculum combines a unique focus on theories and practices that equip our graduates with the skills, connections, and knowledge to participate effectively in social justice movement building. Courses offer an intensive emphasis on comparative critical theory (both scholarly and grassroots movement-based) with direct participation in organizing and mobilization as powerful tools for understanding the complex relations of culture, power, systems of oppression, and the history and future of movements for social and environmental justice. 
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London, England

Queen Mary University of London- School of Law

Type of program: LL.M. in Human Rights Law

The LLM in Human Rights Law programme is designed to enable you to form an advanced conceptual understanding of international law relating to the promotion and protection of human rights at the international, regional and domestic levels. Your fellow students will come from the UK and more than 80 other countries, each able to draw on prior academic and in many cases professional experiences from different jurisdictions to enrich discussion and debate in class. 
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Belfast, Ireland

Queen’s University Belfast

Type of program: MSc in Children’s Rights or  LL.M in Human Rights and Criminal Justice or LL.M in Human Rights Law

MSc in Children’s Rights: This Masters degree is linked to the Centre for Children’s Rights (CCR), which has an international reputation in the area of children’s rights with a focus on the implementation of children’s rights, child participation, education, social care and the children with disabilities. It will meet the increasing demand for a postgraduate qualification in Children’s Rights, explicitly focused on interdisciplinary research and child rights-based research methods. The aim of the programme is to provide high-level knowledge and skills in children’s rights law and practice of value to those working with and for children, including public officials and NGOs as well as educators, social workers and health care providers. 
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 LL.M in Human Rights and Criminal Justice: This LLM programme is an exciting and rewarding degree course which attracts a diverse student body: students who are qualified legal practitioners and students with extensive experience in the statutory, community or voluntary sectors nationally and internationally. The diversity among both staff and students allows the students and teachers on the programme to learn from each other and makes for a vibrant academic experience. The Human Rights element of this programme focuses on both international human rights law, including at regional levels in Europe, Africa and the Americas, and concentration on the practice of human rights, especially in the contexts of discrimination, armed conflicts, terrorism and migration. 
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LL.M in Human Rights Law: The protection of human rights at the international level is a relatively new branch of law. Since World War Two, there has been a huge growth in the number and variety of human rights standards set out in international treaties and in other so-called ‘soft law’ documents. These standards are not always fully implemented and the international mechanisms for trying to get them implemented are defective. This LLM provides students with an opportunity to gain an in-depth appreciation of what has gone right or wrong and to suggest ways in which human rights could be protected more effectively so that human beings everywhere can realise their full potential. 
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Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University

Type of program: LL.M. in Human Rights  or M.A. in Law with a Concentration in Human Rights

LL.M. in Human Rights: Regent Law’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) with a concentration in Human Rights provides an advanced understanding of international, regional, and domestic human rights protection and promotion from a biblical perspective. This human rights degree is ideal for students with a passion for change who want to combine their legal education and Christian values to make a lasting difference. 
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M.A. in Law with a Concentration in Human Rights: Gain the tools you need to seek justice and serve as an advocate for those who are oppressed and vulnerable in the United States and around the world. Focused on the rule of law and grounded in a Christian foundation, the Human Rights concentration blends essential legal insights with practical application and policy discourse, giving you comprehensive knowledge of human rights, abuses and on-going litigation. 
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Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski

Type of program: European M.A. in Human Rights and Democratisation

Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski and the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC) are accepting applications for the 19th edition of the European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA). E.MA provides students with the opportunity to share knowledge and skills with leading scholars from 41 prestigious European Universities and renowned Human Rights experts. E.MA is an intensive one-year advanced master’s course aimed at preparing professionals to work in international organisations, field operations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, and academia. E.MA offers an action- and policy-oriented approach to learning that combines interdisciplinary perspectives with skills building activities. 
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Miami Gardens, FL

St. Thomas University School of Law

Type of program: LL.M. Program in Intercultural Human Rights or J.S.D. in Intercultural Human Rights

LL.M. Program in Intercultural Human Rights: This innovative LL.M. program is designed to offer in-depth instruction on the critical issue of our time: the protection of human dignity across political, social, economic, and cultural lines. Lawyers, government officials, teachers, human rights activists, and businessmen and women with a commitment to human rights and social justice are invited to St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami to pursue an advanced degree in one of the most dynamic fields of international law: intercultural human rights. 
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J.S.D. in Intercultural Human Rights: The Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) Program in Intercultural Human Rights aims to provide a premier opportunity for promising human rights scholars to make a lasting contribution to the dynamic and action-oriented field of human rights, through researching, analyzing, and offering solutions to pertinent, cutting-edge issues, both globally and domestically. In particular, the J.S.D. program will be a powerful tool in meeting the diverse interests and career aims of top-quality students. 
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Boston, MA

Suffolk University Law School

Type of program: Area of Focus in Civil Rights and Human Rights Law

Civil rights and human rights litigation is often highly stressful and frequently enormously frustrating. It seldom leads to great material rewards. It is, however, extremely rewarding. Significant civil rights and human rights cases demand consideration of a complex matrix of political, policy, humanitarian and legal factors. Not only persistence and passion, but also creativity and imagination are required. This work provides an unparalleled opportunity to be of service and to employ one’s talents and skills on behalf of clients whose legal needs are not met in the marketplace. 
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Albany, NY

SUNY Albany

Type of program: Graduate Certificate in International Health and Human Rights

The Graduate Certificate in International Health and Human Rights is a program for students and professionals who hope to gain practical knowledge in the fields of health and human rights. The primary objective of the program is to provide professionals and students with a framework for understanding health and human rights as a single issue area and for advocating that access to quality health care is a human right – regardless of wealth, power, status, standing or tradition. 
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New York, NY

The New School

Type of program: M.A./M.S. in International Affairs, Concentration in Governance and Rights

The Governance and Rights Concentration focuses on the principles, institutions, actors, and discourses that animate these new governance mechanisms. It prepares students to critically engage with these evolving trends in how societies are organized and (re)ordered alongside new norms, within new structures and networks. Within the concentration there is currently a special emphasis on the nature of power and agency and the legitimacy of governance structures at the local, national, and transnational levels. 
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Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Type of program: Graduate Certificate in Disasters, Displacement, and Human Rights

The Disasters, Displacement, and Human Rights Program (DDHR) promotes holistic training, collaborative research, rigorous theoretical approaches, and applied work on historical and contemporary problems broadly associated with human rights concepts and norms. We foster critical and nuanced perspectives on the substantive concepts of human rights and the international legal norms and institutions that embody and enact them. Through innovative, inter-subdisciplinary work in cultural, biological/forensic and archaeological anthropology we contribute to the development of anthropology as a science, as an art, and as a tool for improving the human condition. 
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Austin, TX

The University of Texas, Austin

Type of program: LL.M. Concentration in Human Rights and Comparative Constitutional Law

This innovative concentration provides students with a robust, critical, and comparative foundation in both human rights and constitutional law. It offers students a comprehensive understanding of contemporary human rights practices, including uses of constitutional law, in both domestic and international settings. The concentration builds on two strengths of Texas Law — its constitutional law faculty, often considered to be among the best in the country, and the internationally recognized Rapoport Center, which serves as a focal point at the University for critical, interdisciplinary analysis and practice of human rights and social justice. 
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Davis, CA

UC Davis

Type of program: J.D. in Human Rights and Social Justice Law

The UC Davis School of Law Human Rights and Social Justice Law curriculum provides education on some of the most pressing social issues of our time. Laws regarding race, gender, class, and sexual orientation profoundly affect the lives of individuals, the growth of social institutions, the substance of culture, and the workings of political economies. UC Davis School of Law offers an outstanding array of classes in many different human rights and social justice fields including civil rights, disability rights, education, feminist jurisprudence, and immigration. 
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San Francisco, CA

UC Hastings School of Law

Type of program: LL.M. Specialization in International Law and Human Rights

The International Law and Human Rights specialization allows students to take advantage of UC Hastings’ thriving international law community while taking courses on public international law and human rights. LL.M. students may be eligible to participate in the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic in which students work directly with clients facing immigration issues including defense against removal proceedings, seeking political asylum, and pursuing U.S. citizenship. LL.M. students may also be eligible to participate in the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic which presents students with a unique opportunity to develop a range of skills relevant to legal advocacy in refugee and human rights issues. 
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Los Angeles, CA

UCLA Law

Type of program: J.D. in International Human Rights Law Program

The program’s rigorous research frames and addresses critical questions about international and comparative law, including international human rights law, its development and application, and its rich offerings to the public include seminars, workshops and lectures that shed light on the gamut of complex issues. Our students can tailor their education to many areas of interest in international and comparative law, such as international human rights, international criminal law, international trade law and international business law, among many others. Click to learn more.

Santiago, Chile

Universidad de Chile

Type of program: M.A. in Human Rights, Women and Gender Studies, or Democracy and Human Rights Studies

The Centre for Human Rights at the Faculty of Law of the University of Chile (CDH) is an academic unit created in 2002 that provides effective and insightful education and, from a legal perspective, promotes and ensures respect for human rights through its research and extensive investigation in the field of human rights. The HRC is able to nurture student research by awarding grant funds and later publishing researchers’ findings, many of which have been validated by other third parties. 
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Guadalajara, MX

Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara

Type of program: M.A. in Human Rights and Peace

The Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Peace encompasses a professional community that is committed to the promotion of human rights and the construction of peace, social actors who work to promote and defend human rights, and work with those who have suffered violations of their most basic rights and cannot satisfy their hopes for a peaceful existence. This degree program trains professionals who are committed to serving society; professionals in an ongoing search for the truth, who are capable of proposing and developing viable and pertinent solutions to transform systems and institutions. 
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Guatemala City, Guatemala

Universidad Mariano Galvez

Type of program: M.A in Human Rights

The University of Mariano Galvez teaches law related to civil process, constitutional law, family law, and social justice. 
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Buenos Aires, Argentina

Universidad Nacional de la Plata

Type of program: Pro-secretary of Human Rights

The program’s mission is to coordinate and promote scientific activities in teaching and research with the goal of improving the exercise and enjoyment of human rights. The Pro-secretary utilizes a holistic approach in conducting research in the field of human rights. In supporting a universalist claim of human rights, the program deepens the struggle against impunity for serious violations and heinous crimes occurring in our recent history, some of which persist and breed in our present. 
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Buenos Aires, Argentina

Universidad Nacional de Lanus

Type of program: M.A. in Human Rights

The Master of Human Rights has provisional official recognition and national validity by Ministry of Education No. 783/08 (CONEAU). The program’s general objective is training in human rights with special consideration in public policy. Its priority areas include the administration of justice, social policy and public security policies. 
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Guatemala City, Guatemala

Universidad Rural de Guatemala

Type of program: M.A. or Ph.D. in Human Rights

The Masters and Doctorate Program is a unit of the Academic Council of the Rural University of Guatemala. It gives students who have received their bachelor degrees, with special consideration for B.A.s in the fields of social science and law, the opportunity to continue their masters studies, whose main themes are human rights and scientific research. The program also accepts professionals from foreign universities, duly incorporated to the University of San Carlos of Guatemala at the undergraduate level. 
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Goias, Brazil

Universidade Federal de Goias

Type of program: M.A. in Human Rights

 Click to learn more about the Masters degree offered at Universidade Federal de Goias. Disclaimer: the website is written in Portuguese.

London, England

University College London

Type of program: M.A. in Human Rights

The Human Rights MA develops the skills and theoretical tools needed to carry out human rights research. It provides an understanding of the foundations, nature, limits and implementation of human rights. Students are introduced to philosophical, legal and policy issues and encouraged to engage with them in a critical way. Students develop an understanding of the central issues and problems in the formulation, defence, development, interpretation and application of human rights instruments, law, practice and policy. They gain knowledge of central disciplines and their contribution to human rights studies, and are equipped with key research skills in human rights. 
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San Jose, Costa Rica

University for Peace / Brandeis University

Type of program: M.A. in International Law and Human Rights

The Master in International Law and Human Rights 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. 
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Birmingham, England

University of Birmingham

Type of program: LL.M. International Law: Crime, Justice and Human Rights

This programme draws upon Birmingham Law School’s research strengths in International Law, International Humanitarian Law, Criminal Law and Justice, and Human Rights, enabling students to develop expertise in a wide range of relevant International law subjects. Students can study modules in international, transnational and European criminal law and justice alongside more nationally rooted specialisms and a breadth of human rights modules. Through our long-standing dedicated counter-terrorism modules, and those focusing upon specific theoretical or practical criminal justice issues (ranging from restorative justice to mentally disordered offenders) as well as our specialist human rights modules, we offer our students a unique opportunity for broad study and in-depth specialisation. 
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Cincinnati, OH

University of Cincinnati

Type of program: Certificate in International Human Rights

The international human rights certificate (IHRC) is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the wide array of issues – both past and present – concerning the protection of human dignity.  Approaching the study of human rights as an international phenomenon with local dimensions, the IHRC urges students to think critically about human rights while preparing them for potential future roles in the field of human rights advocacy. The IHRC curriculum concentrates especially on international norms, laws, institutions, politics and social movements that have developed primarily since World War II to address such issues as genocide, poverty, torture, racism, refugees, political disenfranchisement, forced labor, oppression based on gender or sexual orientation, human trafficking and other gross violations of human rights. 
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Storrs-Mansfield, CT

University of Connecticut

Type of program: Graduate Certificate in Human Rights or School of Law – Certificate in Human Rights or School of Law – LL.M. in Human Rights and Social Justice

The Human Rights Institute’s Graduate Certificate in Human Rights program offers graduate students the opportunity to develop a competency in human rights theory and practice, by taking courses taught by expert faculty from across UConn’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Law, and School of Social Work. 
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School of Law – Certificate in Human Rights: The Graduate Certificate in Human Rights, operated in conjunction with the UConn Human Rights Institute and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), enables J.D. students and CLAS graduate students to pursue a concentration in the burgeoning interdisciplinary field of international human rights.
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School of Law – LL.M. in Human Rights and Social Justice: The Graduate Certificate in Human Rights, operated in conjunction with the UConn Human Rights Institute and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), enables J.D. students and CLAS graduate students to pursue a concentration in the burgeoning interdisciplinary field of international human rights. In keeping with the growing trend in the business, non-profit and public policy worlds to blend international and domestic human rights, the program will provide students with the opportunity for in-depth study of the international human rights and U.S. civil rights movements. 
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Denver, CO

University of Denver

Type of program: M.A. in International Human Rights

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. 
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Glasgow, Scotland, UK

University of Glasgow

Type of program: MSc in Human Rights and International Politics

This programme offers a thorough academic analysis of one of the most salient and pressing issues in the contemporary world: the place of individual human rights in a system of international relations in which states’ rights have traditionally been paramount. The degree is genuinely interdisciplinary in content and structure, and is designed to ensure that you will encounter both legal and political perspectives, unlike most other human rights programmes which are exclusively focused on law. The programme draws on recognised expertise in international institutions, security, gender, political philosophy, theories of rights, and ethics and normative theory, as well as a wide variety of country and regional expertise. 
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Manoa, HI

University of Hawai’i, Manoa

Type of program: LL.M. Specialization in International Human Rights

The Law School offers a broad range of courses relating to international human rights law, reflecting our faculty’s in-depth human rights expertise. This specialization provides LLM students with a thorough understanding of the relevant international, regional, and domestic human rights norms. In addition to the required course on International Human Rights Law, students may choose from courses on areas related to international criminal law, disability law, gender and the law, indigenous rights, international environmental law and employment discrimination. 
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Leeds, England

University of Leeds School of Law

Type of program: LL.M. in International Human Rights Law

This advanced course in human rights taught by international experts offers a unique and distinctive focus on the theories and practice of rights, producing a vibrant environment for exploring this significant area of law and policy.This programme will give you advanced knowledge, greater understanding and critical insights into current systems of human rights legal protection and human rights debates.You’ll explore different domestic, regional and international human rights legal systems to analyse how rights have been legalised, developed and enforced through the theory and practice of human rights. 
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Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan

Type of program: Concentration in Human Rights Law

Michigan Law has rich opportunities for the study and practice of international human rights law. Course offerings include both the foundational courses in human rights law as well as more specialized ones. Those specialized courses enable students to explore, in depth, a broad range of human rights topics—from slavery, to the rights of women or refugees, to terrorism and the law of armed conflict, to the use of law for development and the reduction of global poverty. 
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Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Type of program: Graduate Minor in Human Rights

The Graduate Minor in Human Rights provides students enrolled in any graduate program, including professional schools, at the University of Minnesota, the opportunity to gain interdisciplinary expertise in the study of human rights laws and mechanisms. The program includes both classroom and field experience in international human rights issues and advocacy. 
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South Bend, IN

University of Notre Dame

Type of program: LL.M. in International Human Rights Law or J.S.D. in International Human Rights Law

More than 360 lawyers from over 90 countries have graduated from our LL.M. Program in International Human Rights Law at Notre Dame Law School. Our graduates’ commitment to human rights — as well as the rigor and richness of their academic life at the CCHR — has established our LL.M. Program as among the most prominent in the world. Applicants to our LL.M. are inspired by their compassion for victims of human rights violations, but often lacking in the technical skills and theoretical grounding required for strategic human rights lawyering. Ensuring that our students gain competency in the substantive and procedural aspects of international human rights law is our first priority. 
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J.S.D. in International Human Rights Law: Unlike the LL.M. program, which is designed for human rights practitioners, the J.S.D. Program in International Human Rights Law at Notre Dame Law School is designed for those who want to teach and pursue research at the university level. Admission to our J.S.D. program is highly competitive. Typically, only one or two of the 15 applicants each year are accepted. This selectivity allows our faculty to provide individualized support to our doctoral students during their three to five years of study. 
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Oxford, England

University of Oxford

Type of program: MSt International Human Rights Law

Welcome to Oxford University’s Master’s Programme in International Human Rights Law. The course is offered jointly by the Department for Continuing Education and the Faculty of Law. It is conducted on a part-time basis over 22 months and includes two periods of distance learning via the internet as well as two summer sessions held at New College, Oxford. The degree programme is designed in particular for lawyers and other human rights advocates who wish to pursue advanced studies in international human rights law but may need to do so alongside work responsibilities. A central objective of the course is to ensure that our students not only know but can also use human rights law. The curriculum places roughly equal emphasis on the substance of human rights law, its implementation and research. 
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Padova, Italy

University of Padova

Type of program: M.A. in Human Rights and Multi-Level Governance

The Master’s degree course provides students with the knowledge and the competences required to protect and promote human rights in multi-level governance contexts, locally to internationally. Students develop the capabilities and skills necessary to analyse, assess and manage complex political and socio-economic phenomena and their impact on the fundamental rights of all persons, mainly the most vulnerable ones. The scientific and value-based paradigm adopted is rooted in the principles of the international law of human rights, according to a trans-national and trans-cultural approach. The course is inherently multi-disciplinary and nurtures students’ interdisciplinary abilities. 
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San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Type of Program: Human Rights Film Festival

We plan to celebrate our fourteenth anniversary with an excellent program! In keeping with the social justice mission of USF, the Human Rights Film Festival seeks to make the university a center for the promotion of human rights, as well as a platform to raise consciousness to the violations and abuses of human rights in the U.S. and elsewhere around the globe. Following our tradition, we will open with shorts produced by USF students. This year’s films address human rights abuses in locations as varied as the U.S., Indonesia, Bolivia, Sinai, Eritrea, Syria, Hawaii, and Mexico. The issues highlighted include: political repression, torture, genocide, killings and disappearances, refugees, migrations, environmental destruction, mining and indigenous women, LGBT rights, and gun violence. 
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Sydney, Australia

University of Sydney

Type of program: M.A. in Human Rights and Democratization (Asia Pacific)

The Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific) (MHRD) is a postgraduate degree program that seeks to develop the capacity of emerging leaders in the Asia Pacific region to protect and promote human rights. Scholarships (partially funded by the European Union) are available to support students from the Asia Pacific region to join this programme.The Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific) brings the study of human rights and democracy to life. 
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada

University of Toronto

Type of program: International Human Rights Program

The International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law enhances the legal protection of existing and emerging international human rights obligations through advocacy, knowledge-exchange, and capacity-building initiatives that provide experiential learning opportunities for students and legal expertise to civil society. We provide experiential learning opportunities for students and legal expertise to civil society through the following programs and initiatives: Clinical Legal Education, Volunteer Working Groups, Summer Internships, Speaker Series and Symposia, Rights Review Magazine. 
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Webster Groves, MO

Webster University

Type of program: M.A. in International Human Rights

The Master of Arts (MA) in International Human Rights program takes an interdisciplinary approach to human rights in practice, utilizing the contributions of diverse disciplines such as international public policy, international law, global business, and international organizations to give students a broad conception of human rights practice for careers in these disciplines. The MA in International Human Rights is offered at select international campuses only, based on program availability. 
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New Haven, CT

Yale University

Type of program: M.A. in Global Affairs

The Master of Advanced Study (M.A.S.) in Global Affairs is a one year program for mid-career professionals. Created in 2013, the program is small by design, with only a few admitted students each year. The M.A.S. is aimed at professionals with extensive experience in a field of global affairs such as, but not limited to, international security, diplomacy, and development. 
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