The B.A. in Human Rights is an interdisciplinary course of study that gives you an understanding of the different values and structures that are the foundations of human rights locally, nationally, and globally. You will learn about different human rights problems, the institutions and histories that have shaped human rights, and the ways in which human rights are implemented. While studying in the program, you can approach human rights from a broad perspective or prioritize the political, historical, philosophical, or cultural context. You can decide if you are interested in human rights globally or in a U.S. context, and you can decide how applied or theoretical you want to be in your human rights studies. This program can give you a broad, yet deep, knowledge of a topic that affects every aspect of human life.

Program Requirements

Students are required to take a total of 36 credit hours to complete the major, of which 18 are required in program courses. The core includes six classes:

• HRT 100: Introduction to Human Rights
• HRT 400: Skills and Methods in Human Rights
• Global Human Rights Requirement (1 course)
• Philosophical Foundation Requirement (1 course)
• Civil Rights Requirement (1 course)
• Capstone (either a research-based capstone class (HRT 490) or an applied class in form of an internship (HRT 485))

In addition to the core classes, you will be able to select 18 credit hours (or 6 classes) from a variety of offerings in African American studies, anthropology, criminal justice, communication studies, education, world languages and literatures, global and public health, history, philosophy, psychology, political science, sociology, and/or social work.

A complete list of major requirements, courses, and a proposed four-year program of study for the human rights major are available in the UAB Undergraduate Catalog.