There are several areas of concentration that interest me. How do I choose?

The concentration is self-defined by the student in consultation with the HRSMA program director. Some students define their concentration more broadly, such as the human rights of women, and then become more focused as they progress in their studies. Other students begin the program with a more narrow concentration, such as women’s right to health in Southeast Asia.

The three core required courses, which students usually take early in their studies, explore a wide range of human rights issues. The three elective human rights courses also allow you to explore different issue areas prior to committing to a concentration. For example, if you take a course in your first semester that focuses on human rights and economic development, but later decide to concentrate in women’s rights, the development and rights course will be counted towards your elective requirement. Students are also encouraged to attend extracurricular events, such as brown bags and lectures to learn more about various human rights issues that may be of interest. Our calendar has the most recently updated list of events.

Please visit our Courses page for an overall list of courses that count towards the HRSMA degree, including possible concentration courses, depending on the student’s area of interest. Students are also welcome to meet with the Human Rights Studies program director to discuss their concentration interests.

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