Concentration Requirements

The Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy concentration prepares students for careers addressing human rights issues in both the public and the private sector. It includes two focus areas while maintaining a common core curriculum. Upon enrolling in the concentration, students must select a policy focus area track in either Human Rights Policy or Humanitarian Policy. Click on the drop down menus below to see more information about course requirements for each track. For full course information, please visit our course description and faculty bio webpages.

  • Human Rights Policy Concentration course requirements

    The Human Rights Policy focus area prepares students for careers that require knowledge of human rights advocacy, corporate social responsibility, conflict transformation and genocide prevention, gender and globalization, or rights-based development policy.

    Required Course (3 credits)

    • INAF U6751 International Human Rights Law

    Human Rights Policy Focus Area (select 6 credits from the following list)

    • INAF U6041 Corporations and Human Rights
    • INAF U6143 Gender, Globalization and Human Rights
    • INAF U6405 Human Rights and the Politics of Inequality
    • INAF U6489 Human Rights Research and Reporting
    • INAF U8180 Human Rights Skills and Advocacy
    • INAF U8166 Rethinking Human Rights and Humanitarianism
    • INAF U8189 The Politics of History and Reconciliation

    Electives (6 credits)

    • INAF U4090 Accountability in Humanitarian Assistance (optional)
    • INAF U6141 Humanitarian Response Simulation (optional)
    • INAF U6499 Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy Practicum (optional)
    • View all pre-approved courses, including courses available for cross-registration, available on the SIPA HRHP Bulletin.

    Notes on electives:

    • Students are welcomed and encouraged to select any of the focus area courses (above) that they are not already counting toward focus area courses for elective credit.
    • Did you find a course that we haven't pre-approved yet? Submit a request to have it considered through the HRHP Course Substitution Form.
  • Humanitarian Policy Concentration course requirements

    The Humanitarian Policy focus area leads to careers that might focus on the management of complex emergencies, early recovery, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, aid coordination, or resource mobilization.

    Required Course (3 credits)

    • INAF U6751 International Human Rights Law

    Humanitarian Policy Focus Area (select 6 credits from the following list)

    • INAF U6490 International Humanitarian Law & Human Rights in Wars
    • INAF U8166 Rethinking Human Rights and Humanitarianism
    • INAF U8690 Managing Humanitarian Emergencies

    Electives (6 credits)

    • INAF U4090 Accountability in Humanitarian Assistance (optional)
    • INAF U6141 Humanitarian Response Simulation (optional)
    • INAF U6499 Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy Practicum (optional)
    • View all pre-approved courses, including courses available for cross-registration, on the SIPA HRHP Bulletin.

    Notes on electives:

    • Students are welcomed and encouraged to select any of the focus area courses (above) that they are not already counting toward focus area courses for elective credit.
    • Did you find a course that we haven't pre-approved yet? Submit a request to have it considered through the HRHP Course Substitution Form.

SIPA Course and Registration Tools

More information on course registration, course offerings, and schedules can be found on the SIPA Bulletin.

Relevant Course Catalogs

HRHP students are able to cross-register for courses at other Columbia Schools to fulfill HRHP elective credit. For the most up-to-date information on course offerings and schedules, please see the following course catalogs. More information on cross registration instructions and policies can be found on the SIPA Bulletin Cross-Registration webpage.

Still have questions?

Unsure of which policy track is for you? Thinking about switching? Feel like you might be somewhere in-between the two tracks?

Come talk to the HRHP Team!

Make an advising appointment