Faculty: https://uichr.uiowa.edu/academics/faculty
Website: https://uichr.uiowa.edu/
The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights administers the Certificate in Human Rights, the only undergraduate credential awarded by the College of Law.
The Certificate in Human Rights involves an integrated, specific course of study that includes an introduction to foundational concepts in human rights as they have been informed by political, ethical, moral, legal, and historical thought. Through the curriculum, students explore specific, pressing human rights topics from interdisciplinary perspectives, identify solutions to global challenges, learn to translate foundational human rights concepts into effective advocacy, and strengthen their ability to communicate with academic and nonacademic audiences.
Human rights purport that all people deserve to live life with dignity; that human beings are owed the protection of these rights simply because they are human. Universal human rights apply to all equally and without discrimination. They encompass civil and political rights; economic, social, and cultural rights; and apply to both individuals and groups. The rights set forth in human rights doctrines, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are interrelated, interdependent, and indivisible.
The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights prepares students to apply human rights concepts to their professional career or field of study. Students learn to appreciate the value of empathy, social responsibility, and engaged global citizenship.
Students have opportunities to apply for funding to support summer rights-related internships, participate in an annual student academic conference and essay contest, and gain hands-on experience through center internships.
University of Iowa Center for Human Rights Courses
HRTS:2115 Introduction to Human Rights 3 s.h.
Analysis and evaluation of the international human rights program; relationship between human rights and international law. Same as IS:2115.
HRTS:2902 The Arts and Human Rights 1-3 s.h.
Examination of emerging human rights issues in the arts from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Same as IS:2902.
HRTS:2903 Technology and Human Rights 1-3 s.h.
Examination of emerging human rights issues in technology from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Same as IS:2903.
HRTS:2907 Literature and Human Rights 1-3 s.h.
Examination in human rights in literature from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Same as IS:2907.
HRTS:2908 Governance and Human Rights 1-3 s.h.
Examination of emerging human rights related to governance issues from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Same as IS:2908.
HRTS:2909 Human Rights Lab 1-3 s.h.
Discussion-based examination of emerging human rights issues from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Same as IS:2909.
HRTS:3904 Business, Labor, and Human Rights 1-3 s.h.
Examination of emerging human rights issues in labor and business from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Same as IS:3904.
HRTS:3905 Topics in Human Rights 1-3 s.h.
Examination of emerging human rights issues from an interdisciplinary and international perspective. Same as IS:3905.
HRTS:3906 Global Crises and Human Rights 3 s.h.
Exploration of human rights in context of global challenges; multidisciplinary; topics may include military conflict, nuclear war, human trafficking, environmental disasters, and other international human rights crises.
HRTS:3910 Human Rights Advocacy 3 s.h.
Theoretical foundations and critical issues for international human rights advocacy and international humanitarian movements. Same as IS:3910.
HRTS:3920 Advocacy in Action: From the Classroom to Congress (Washington, D.C.) 3 s.h.
Supervised internship; focus on field-based advocacy grounded in human rights frameworks; includes required three-day field experience in Washington, D.C.