Human Rights
Established in 1978, the Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) at Columbia University is committed to providing excellent human rights education to Columbia students, fostering innovative interdisciplinary academic research, and offering its expertise in capacity building to human rights leaders, organizations, and universities around the world. Courses include active engagement with the world of human rights practitioners, and emphasize the connection between the study and practice of human rights.
Courses can be taken independently or as part of a four-course Certification of Professional Achievement in Human Rights.
Note: The Summer Sessions courses in Human Rights are offered in conjunction with the ISHR at Columbia University.
For questions about specific courses, contact the department.
Courses
This course will provide a wide-ranging survey of conceptual foundations and issues in contemporary human rights. The class will examine the philosophical origins of human rights, contemporary debates, the evolution of human rights, key human rights documents, and the questions of human rights enforcement. This course will examine specific civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and various thematic topics in human rights.
Course Number
HRTS4020S001Format
In-PersonSession
Session APoints
3 ptsThe course adopts the perspective of gun violence as a pressing human rights concern, emphasizing the state's responsibility to maximize the protection of human rights and establish the safest possible environment, particularly for young people who are most vulnerable to such violence. Students will gain an understanding of the international and national human rights laws that protect the rights to life, development, survival, and protection, with a specific focus on young individuals. The course will delve into the root causes, prevalence, and potential remedies for gun violence in all communities but we recognize that the risk of firearm violence and racial disparities persist across all age groups. Lastly, the course will examine the crucial role of young people in developing solutions, including their activism and advocacy work.
Course Number
HRTS4050W001Format
In-PersonSession
Session APoints
3 ptsCourse Number
HRTS4185S001Format
In-PersonSession
Session BPoints
3 ptsCourse Number
HRTS4215S001Format
In-PersonSession
Session APoints
3 ptsCourse Number
HRTS4220S001Format
In-PersonSession
Session BPoints
3 ptsThis seminar course explores the intersection of human rights and populism, examining how the rise of populist movements, leaders, and ideologies impact democratic institutions, global politics, and the protection of fundamental human rights. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the course evaluates the sociological, economic, and cultural factors driving populist surges, as well as their consequences for civic culture, governance, and international relations. Students will analyze the implications of populism for human rights in the context of migration, authoritarianism, freedom of speech, minorities, and challenges to international and regional courts and institutions. The course will investigate both left-wing and right-wing populist movements, considering the threat they pose to human rights, their pursuit of socio-economic rights through the redistribution of wealth, and how the human rights project could and is being rethought in light of these challenges and opportunities.