Human Rights

About the Master of Science in Human Rights (MSHR) Program

Climate change; racialized violence; threats against people of color, migrants, women and children in a context of global impoverishment and inequality — do you want to do something about today's human rights crises? ��ý's Master of Science (MS) in Human Rights program trains students to engage and participate in efforts to transform society and change the world. This innovative master's program is the first human rights focused graduate degree offered by the State University of New York (SUNY) system.

This program shapes professionals to not only serve and lead organizations but also produce rigorous and critical knowledge. It gives equal attention to the international human rights regime, research methods informed by critical theory, and community-based and organizational practice. The promise of human rights is to guide public action, hold governments accountable and empower communities.

��ý's Master of Science in Human Rights is a 36-credit, three semesters-long program that immerses students in the theory and practice of human rights, addressing issues such as education, health, violence, children, family, poverty, incarceration and immigration, evaluated critically through the lenses of race, gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, place, community and/or nationality. Driven by a critical interdisciplinary spirit, the MS in Human Rights offers professional training for applied research and practice. Students learn to analyze the world around them through the lens of human rights and develop skills for working in local, regional, national and international organizations.

Admission Requirements

Consideration for admission to the MS in Human Rights program is open to all individuals with a BA or BS degree from a recognized college or university that meets the admission requirements of ��ý's Graduate School. Applicants should feel free to send questions to the director of graduate studies by email.

To be eligible for graduate study, you must:

Provide a complete set of your undergraduate (and, if applicable, graduate) academic transcripts showing one of the following:
- You have earned a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university.
- You are within one academic year of earning a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university.
- You are eligible to apply as part of a memorandum of understanding between your current institution and ��ý.
Have earned, at minimum, one of the following:
- 3.0 GPA over your entire undergraduate career.
- 3.0 GPA during your last 60 semester-credits or 90 quarter-credits of your undergraduate degree, with most courses graded regularly (not as "Pass/Fail").
- 3.0 GPA in a graduate degree, with most courses graded regularly (not as "Pass/Fail").

In consideration of the different grading scales used around the world, each academic department evaluates international transcripts to determine on a case-by-case basis whether they fulfill one of the above requirements.

All students applying to the MS in Human Rights program must submit the following materials:

Online graduate degree application with graduate degree application fee.
Academic transcripts from each college or university that you have attended.
Two letters of recommendation. The letters should come from instructors or professors who can attest to your academic ability for graduate study. If you have been out of college for at least three years, you may submit current letters of reference from employment supervisors or others affiliated with your employment who can attest to your ability to perform successfully and professionally and to the likelihood of success in a graduate program.
Personal statement. The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and demonstrate your knowledge and passion for the field of human rights. We are strongly interested in applicants who demonstrate the capacity to foster an institutional culture that advances human rights principles and practices and can succeed in a demanding graduate program. The statement should specifically address your interest in the program, career goals, commitment to human rights principles and practices, and current skills and experiences relative to your current or intended career in human rights. The statement should be two double-spaced pages in length.
Resume or curriculum vitae.
Writing sample. The writing sample should be on a relevant topic and may be a paper submitted for an advanced undergraduate or graduate course, a piece of professional writing or an essay.
GRE scores are not required. International applicants must also submit results from either TOEFL (minimum score of 100) or IELTS (minimum score in Band Seven) unless they have received a college or university degree from a U.S. institution or an institution in a country whose official language is English.

For general guidelines for these materials, see the ��ý Graduate School's Admission Requirements website.

Application deadlines

We evaluate applications on a rolling basis. It is strongly recommended that prospective students wishing to be considered for a graduate assistantship or other departmental funding submit applications by January 1.

Degree Requirements

The underlying goal of the program is to prepare graduates to work in an array of human rights fields ranging from international advocacy to local community organizing. The degree requires 9 courses (36 credit hours) and can be completed in three semesters, though we provide alternative schedules for part-time students. The curriculum includes 16 credits in core human rights and community action coursework, two 4-credit hour research methods courses, a 4-credit hour elective course, a 4-credit hour internship course, and a 4-credit hour capstone project.

Required Core Curriculum

Human Rights Theory and Practice I (MSHR 500)

This course critically examines the validity and purchase of “humankind's most noble aspirations” for us today. It examines the historical and intellectual evolution of human rights, the different approaches and interpretations, as well as their contemporary practice, uncovering the idea of human rights in its historical and intellectual contexts of emergence. The aim of this course is to provide a broad overview of the development of the idea of human rights before 1948, and to examine the ideas and theories contained in the Universal Declaration of 1948.

Human Rights Theory and Practice II (MSHR 501)

This course is a continuation of MSHR 500 and focuses on analyzing contemporary issues in human rights, such as modern slavery, human trafficking, socio-economic rights, the rights of children, gender-based violence, torture, immigration, refugee rights, indigenous people's rights and environmental rights. In addition, relevant documents, contemporary ethical conundrums and institutional frameworks pertaining to the various aspects of human rights practice will be discussed.

Theorizing Social Change From a Human Rights Perspective (MSHR 510)

This course has two principal objectives: (1) To understand and critique everyday assumptions about social change and human rights, and grasp their political implications; and (2) To engage in the practice of theorizing social change not merely as an academic endeavor but as an always-ongoing activity of making sense of and enabling action upon the present. To meet these objectives, we will read classical and contemporary theorizations of capitalism, modernity and socio-economic development and connect them to human rights theory and practice (including the material discussed in MSHR 500 and MSHR 501). These texts and class discussions will help students develop a theoretical framework they will use for the research proposal developed in MSHR 504 (Integrative Community-Based Research I), which they will also take in their first semester. In this course, we will ask broad questions such as: How does the expansion of capitalism intersect with human rights? What are the possible connections between the expansion and possible shrinking of state bureaucracies and human rights?

Community Organizing, Community Research and Human Rights (MSHR 512)

In this course, students deepen and learn to deploy the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in prior semesters to support local communities. Students will become familiar with human rights-based approaches to community organizing. Students learn to understand perennial concerns of disenfranchised communities, including access to adequate healthcare, housing and food, as human rights issues. They learn how to use the language and logic of human rights to advocate for disenfranchised groups. Students acquire practical knowledge of the nuts and bolts of community organizing, including the identification of issues, research, fundraising, recruitment, alliance building, as well as campaign planning and strategy through readings, workshop-style exercises and guest speakers from local organizations. Finally, students are introduced to community organizing history, both in the U.S. and in other countries.

Research Methods Requirements

Integrative Community-Based Research (MSHR 504)

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to research methods used to conduct applied human rights community research and program evaluation. A specific emphasis will be placed on core research principles and concepts within the context of quantitative and qualitative research methods. During the semester, students will have an opportunity to develop an understanding of the socio-historical and socio-political contexts of research, stimulate scholarly thought about research interests and begin the process of developing a professional identity as a scientist-practitioner. Students will explore a range of topics including epistemology, research and methods; theoretical models in research; ethics in research; quantitative and qualitative research design, measurement, sampling and analysis; and applied statistics.

Methods of Human Rights Research (MSHR 505)

In this course, students will study methodologies specific to human rights research. This is a mix of both quantitative and qualitative research. Students look at the traditional methods used in human rights practice across a broad range of fields, including journalism, law and policy, social movement activism and the humanities, as well as learn to be a critical consumer of this type of the research. Students will explore the connections between specific research, activism and community organizing.

Practical Experience - Internship

Community-Based Experience (MSHR 520)

The purpose of this course is to provide students with opportunities to engage in the integration and application of theory and practice through a community-based experience. Students will engage in a more in-depth exploration of hierarchical relationships in service-delivery contexts and consider first hand the implications of human rights in the long-term as well as everyday workings of community-based agencies and non-governmental organizations. Building on a critical approach to human rights work, an emphasis will be placed on how power relations structure organizations and communities within their broader socio-historical, political, economic and cultural contexts. As such, students will examine the implications of social identities and positionalities such as race/ethnicity, gender, social class, sexuality, national origin and religion for experiences in the field, first as interns, and eventually, as human rights practitioners. During this process, students will engage in critical analysis and thoughtful reflection in exploring and challenging their values, assumptions, perceptions and biases related to their work as practitioners in communities.

This course is designed to ensure accountability and feedback through the community-based experience at three levels: supervision/evaluation by the practicum site supervisor; coordination/consultation with the instructor; and co-reflection/discussion with fellow students.

Students must actively participate in a community-based experience at a local human service agency for 10-12 hours per week, for a semester total of 120 hours. The 10-12 hours should be allotted either in full-day and/or half-day increments so the student may maximize the richness of the experience. It is the student's responsibility to identify and contact possible internship sites. The site must be approved by the program director, in conjunction with the Department of Human Development Community Liaison. Students will begin the community-based experience by the first week of the semester and continue at the same site throughout the semester.

Community-based experience/practicum sites are community-based, non-governmental or governmental agencies that incorporate a focus on human rights and must be approved by the program director. These sites can be located on local, regional, statewide or international levels. Appropriate settings include a wide range of human rights systems such as child welfare, criminal justice, educational and family services, health, mental health, schools, shelters, etc. serving individuals, families, groups, organizations and/or communities.

Capstone Project

In addition to coursework, students are required to complete and submit a capstone project.

Students will select between two tracks: 1) traditional research thesis; and 2) applied thesis.

Track 1: To meet this requirement, students in the research thesis track must submit an article-length work of original research, of publishable quality.

Track 2: The format requirements will vary for students in the applied thesis track, and must be approved by the primary advisor and the program director. Capstone projects in this track will be evaluated on the basis of their originality, creativity and contribution to human rights.

Students must have their capstone project proposals (which will be based on proposals written for MSHR 504/505 and MSHR 520) approved by faculty by the end of the second semester of studies. Students are expected to collect data on research or begin implementation in the summer before taking MSHR 599.

Capstone Project Seminar (MSHR 599)

In this seminar, students are required to finish the capstone project. To be eligible to register for the Capstone Project Seminar, students are required to:
- Hold a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
- Have completed MSHR 504 and MSHR 505 (Integrative Community-Based Research I and II); MSHR 520 (Community-Based Experience); and MSHR 510 (Theorizing Social Change).

Under both tracks, the focus will shift from methods and data-gathering to analysis and synthesis.

Track 1: Students in the research thesis track will spend the first month of their third semester of studies writing a draft of the capstone project paper based on the data gathered in the second semester (or the summer). The subsequent two months of the semester will focus on revisions, informed by peer and instructor feedback. The product will be a paper of publishable quality. Students are required to submit this paper to a peer-reviewed journal in the last week of classes. Students will do a mock conference presentation to prepare students for academic and other conferences.
Track 2: Students in the applied track will submit a summer progress report at the beginning of the semester, and continue to submit regular progress reports as the semester progresses. During the seminar, students will receive feedback from community members and their colleagues and faculty in the human rights program, which will inform the evolution of the project and its implementation. Students are required to submit a final program evaluation at the end of the semester that assesses the achievements of the project with respect to its stated goals and provides a reflection on the student's experience. Students will create a mock conference presentation to prepare to present their work in a professional setting.

Electives

Students are required to take a minimum of one elective in a related, specialized field, to be determined in collaboration with their graduate advisor.

Part-time study

The MS in Human Rights program offers both full-time and part-time study options. Students are required to meet with their program director to develop an individualized program. Students opting to pursue the program part-time should note that per the Graduate School policy, a master's degree curriculum must be completed within five years from the date of matriculation to remain eligible for awarding of the degree.

Advanced Certificate Program

The Department of Human Development offers an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Human Rights that may be completed independent of a master's degree or in conjunction with another graduate major. This is intended for students who are interested in developing competencies in human rights theory and practice, as a complement to their existing professional and academic training. The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Human Rights consists of four courses (16 credit hours), for each of which students must earn a final grade of B or better.

Required coursework:

Foundations: Students must take one course (4 credit hours) in this section.
- MSHR 500 Human Rights Theory and Practice I (4 cr.)
- MSHR 501 Human Rights Theory and Practice II (4 cr.)
Methods
- MSHR 505 Methods of Human Rights Research (4 cr.)
Theory
- MSHR 510 Social Change from the Human Rights Perspective (4 cr.)
Elective (4 cr.)

Additional classes may be counted with approval of the department. All certificate students must declare the intent to complete the certificate at least one semester before graduating, must be advised by the MSHR Program Director, and must pay the Graduate School fee when registering for degree completion. For more information, contact the MSHR Program Director.

Academic Advising

All students will be assigned a faculty advisor to assist them in developing a proposed program of study to use as a guide toward degree completion. New students will be required to meet with their advisor (i.e., in person or via email) at least once each semester, before registering for the subsequent semester's coursework. In the event it becomes necessary, the program director will substitute as the faculty advisor for a student.

Course Repeat Policy

MS in Human Rights students must earn a grade of B or better in all courses in the curriculum. Students are permitted to repeat for credit a graduate course in which they earned a grade of B- or lower. This option is contingent on approval by the graduate program director. A course may be repeated only once. Students should refer to the course repeat policy in the ��ý Graduate School Manual.

Withdrawals

Students who are considering withdrawal from a course or from the program are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor and the program director to discuss the challenges or issues that they are facing and to explore options that will support attainment of their academic goals. Students should familiarize themselves with policies related to graduate student withdrawals in the ��ý Academic Guide (Formerly Bulletin) and the Graduate School Manual. Students are required to speak with the MSHR program director if there is any change in their enrollment/registration status and must follow ��ý policies and procedures for all withdrawals.

Grievance Policy

The Human Development and Master in Human Rights Department recognizes a student’s right to due process. When a student believes that actions by department staff or faculty have caused them undue academic harm, if for example they believe that they were graded unfairly or perceive that instructors or administrators unjustifiably affected their academic performance, they have the right to initiate an academic grievance. The grievance procedure offers students the opportunity to present a case showing how they were harmed and to seek a remedy for that harm if it is substantiated. A copy of the HDEV/MSHR Grievance Procedure and Graduate Student Rights is available online.

Academic Honesty

Graduate students enrolled in the Master of Science in Human Rights (MSHR) program are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Academic honesty and integrity are essential behaviors for graduate students to meet the ethical competencies expected of public health professionals. The code of ethics for public health guides public health institutions and practitioners in ethical behavior and serves as a standard to which they are held accountable. Graduate students in the MSHR program are expected to be aware of ��ý policies and procedures related to academic honesty and integrity. Misappropriation of academic or intellectual credit to oneself or to the discredit of others constitutes a violation of academic honesty. Although not an exhaustive list, ��ý has identified the following forms of academic dishonesty: plagiarism, cheating on examinations, multiple submissions, unauthorized collaboration, fabrication and misrepresentation, forgery, sabotage and bribery. The appropriate procedures for addressing academic dishonesty differ depending on the nature of the violation. Category I violations are considered serious but may be handled by the instructor and student(s) involved. Category II violations are more grievous in nature and appropriately dealt with by an Academic Honesty Committee. Category II violations may result in letters of reprimand, probation, suspension or expulsion from the University, transcript notation, and/or revocation of degree or honors. Students should refer to the ��ý Academic Guide (Formerly Bulletin) and the Graduate School Manual for policies and procedures related to categories of violations and enforcement procedures.

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