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2019-2020 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Minor in Human Rights

Human rights have become the moral language of today in fields as disparate as philosophy, international politics and health care, as well as other service professions. This program provides students with both intellectual and practical opportunities to engage with human rights in preparation for encountering a wide variety of 21st century political issues, social problems, and employment opportunities.

The human rights curriculum is distinctively interdisciplinary, mirroring the world of human rights today. Completing the minor will equip students with key concepts and opportunities within this world, such as:

  • The political, philosophical and legal development of human rights concepts within academic scholarship and political practice
  • The role of human rights in international relations and law
  • The growth of human rights institutions, courts, tribunals, and the emergence of human rights law as a profession
  • The explosive growth of humanitarian organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) dedicated to human rights activism and practice.
  • The incorporation of human rights concerns in the corporate world regarding job relocation, human resources, and international investment.

Admission Requirements

Anyone admitted to GVSU as a degree-seeking student can declare the human rights minor.

Minor Requirements

Students must complete 19 credits, including the introductory and capstone courses, two courses from the core course lists, and three additional elective courses. A maximum of three of the core and elective courses may be from the same prefix.

Required Courses (Credits: 4)

Core Courses (Credits: 6)

Take two courses (three credits each), one each from core courses list A and B; each course must have a different prefix.

Core List A (choose one course)

Core List B (choose one course)

Elective Courses (Credits: 9)

Take three courses (three credits each) from elective courses list, with no more than two courses from a single major/designator. Courses from core courses lists A and B may also be counted as elective courses, but a single course may not count both as a core course and an elective.


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