SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

Human Rights Program (HRP)

The Human Rights Concentration is an interdisciplinary program where professionals and scholars of different expertise and perspectives come together with the purpose of integrating human rights into all aspects of their work. The concentration is comprised of three layers: academic coursework, support for students in the program, as well as extracurricular and social activities. 

Academic Coursework:
The concentration offers a range of interdisciplinary approaches to human rights, which build on the core curriculum.

At a time when human rights issues are at the forefront of international relations, the program trains students for different professions, notably international human rights advocacy, monitoring and reporting, policy and empirical analysis, NGO development and the protection of refugees and displaced persons.

In addition to interdisciplinary skills, policy and research training, the program assists students in obtaining internships and careers; organizes speaker series, specialist panels, and applied workshops; works closely with Columbia's other faculties, centers and programs engaged in human rights work; and has links with a wide range of human rights organizations both domestically and internationally.

Support for Students:

• The Co-Directors have weekly office hours and meet with students on appointment to discuss their work within the Human Rights Concentration
• The Program Assistants also have weekly office hours and are available to talk with students about course scheduling, activities and resources available at Columbia University.

Social and Extra-Curricular Activities abound in the HR Concentration! There are concentration potlucks, films and gatherings. The HR Program hosts a Fall Retreat each year and a graduation dinner each May.  The HR Program also posts upcoming events and activities from on-campus and off-campus groups and organizations working on human rights issues.  Specifically, the Human Rights Working Group is an great way to get involved with social and extra-curricular activities surrounding Human Rights while at SIPA.