The Program

Columbia University has a unique international reputation earned through decades of highly respected training of human rights professionals, output of powerful and innovative research by faculty, and a commitment to the interdisciplinary study and practice of human rights.

The Human Rights Studies Program was established in 1998 as part of the Liberal Studies Master of Arts program under the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In 2011, the program was transferred to the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia.

The Human Rights Studies MA program is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the academic study of human rights theory and practice.

The program is part of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and students take courses in a range of departments, including Political Science, Religion, Anthropology, Women’s Studies, and Sociology. Students can also take human rights related courses offered by other Columbia schools, such as the School of International and Public Affairs or the Mailman School of Public Health.

Degree Requirements

The degree consists of:

• Three core courses – Introduction to Human Rights, Human Rights and International Law, and Human Rights and International Organizations
• Four concentration courses – The purpose of the concentration is to provide students the opportunity to gain expertise in a particular area of human rights and ensure that the student’s thesis is informed by relevant coursework.
• Two elective human rights courses
• Thesis

Full-time and part-time study

The Human Rights Studies program is open to full-time and part-time students. Full-time students take 12 credit points (normally four courses) or more in the spring and fall terms. Part-time students may take less than 12 points per term. All students have five years to complete the degree, but most full-time students complete the degree in two years or less.

Transfer Credit

A total of 12 points in courses taken at Columbia as a non-matriculated student may be accepted toward the degree provided the courses are at the graduate level and meet the degree requirements of the program. Once a student is admitted into the Human Rights Studies program, he or she must complete all course work at Columbia.

No credit is given for “life experience” or for correspondence courses.

All transfer credit must be approved by the Program Coordinator or Associate Dean.

Foreign Language Credit

There is no language requirement for the Human Rights Studies M.A. degree and no language credit can be applied towards the degree.

The Students

Students in the Human Rights Studies M.A. program are a diverse group with varied professional and educational backgrounds.

Students are professionals, recent college graduates, career changers, and retirees. They enroll in the program to explore new academic disciplines, pursuit or further develop careers in human rights, or prepare for doctoral studies.

Some students spend full days on campus each week; others are here for only a few hours. All, however, are members of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Columbia University community and are encouraged to participate in University organizations and activities.

Prospective students may be interested in reading the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Student Blog.

The Application

Students ranging from recent graduates to returning non-traditional students are welcome to apply to the Human Rights Studies M.A. program. Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Specific undergraduate majors are not required. The admissions committee considers the entire application (academic records, personal statement, recommendations, etc.) when evaluating a student’s admission.

The admission process is handled by the GSAS Office of Admissions, and questions regarding the application and admissions should be addressed to that office.

General admission requirements are listed below, but students should consult the GSAS admissions pages when applying to the program.

Information on admission to the program, admission requirements, and the online application are available at the GSAS general admissions website and the Human Rights Studies Admissions website.

Admissions Requirements

Transcript

Students must upload a transcript or record of their academic work from each university-level institution they have attended. Students who receive an offer of admission will be required to send in official paper documents for verification before the offer is considered official. Do not send official transcripts before being notified by GSAS.

Statement of Academic Purpose

The statement of academic purpose allows the university to evaluate your ability to succeed academically and the reasons you wish to undertake the degree. It should describe any relevant coursework, professional experience or other activity pertaining to your academic interests and plans for graduate study at Columbia and also indicate the relation of your studies to your plans upon receiving the M.A.

Two Letters of Recommendation

If you have recently received an academic degree or have recent academic experience, letters of recommendation from faculty are preferred. If you have not been enrolled in an academic program in recent years, professional recommendations are acceptable.

Resume/CV

Writing Sample

The writing sample should be a short paper no more than 1,000 words in length or a similarly-sized coherent excerpt from a longer paper that you have written for a course. Alternatively, you may provide a focused essay written in an academic style that examines an article, book, exhibit or event relevant to your field of interest.

GRE General Exam - Optional

TOEFL

All international students whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit scores of the TOEFL or IELTS exams. For more information, refer to the GSAS admissions policy for international students.

FLAS Fellowship Application

FLAS Fellowships are available for students entering in the Fall. If you are applying for the FLAS Fellowship you must submit your admission application, including the FLAS essay by the fellowship application deadline.

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance

Tuition is approximately $1,200 per credit point and changes each academic year. For further information about tuition and fees, please visit the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Financial Aid Cost of Attendance website.

Financial Aid

For information about scholarships, please see the tuition and fellowships page.

For information on funding your studies with loans and grants or for further financial aid information, please visit the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Financial Aid website.

FAQ for Prospective Students

Admissions questions are addressed by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences FAQ.

What are my chances of being accepted?

Qualified students are accepted as long as space is available in the program, so it is difficult to quantify your chances. Applicants are considered on the basis of their application overall: their preparation and grades in previous course work, the clarity of their explanation of goals, their writing ability as shown in their essays, their recommendation letters, and whether or not they appear to be seeking the kind of interdisciplinary education that the program offers.

I understand the GRE is optional. Does it help my chances of acceptance to take the GRE?

The GRE is optional for the application, so it is up to you to decide whether or not to submit GRE scores. Strong GRE scores reflect positively on your academic ability, but submitting GRE scores alone does not automatically elevate your chances of acceptance. The admission committee considers all aspects of the application when making admission decisions.

I’ve been working full-time and haven’t been in school for several years. How does that affect my application and my chances of success in the program?

We are happy to accept well-qualified students who have been out of school for many years. However, if you would like to take course in human rights in order to refresh your academic skills prior to applying to the program, you may be interested in taking courses through ISHR’s Human Rights Summer Program at the School of Continuing Education.

I am an international student. How does this affect my studies?

Columbia has a large population of international students and provides comprehensive orientation and support for international students at the International Students and Scholars Office.

International students under a student visa must complete the program full-time. This means you must take at least 12 credit points each term. You may attend part-time only during the last semester of your studies. For more information about attending Columbia as an international student, please visit the International Students and Scholars Office website.

How long does it take to complete the degree?

The number of semesters it takes to complete the degree will depend on how many courses a student takes each semester. The program requires 30 credit points total, so students can complete the program within a year. Students are considered full-time if they take 12 credit points a term, but it is possible to take 15 points a term.

What classes are available to Human Rights Studies students and how do I know what courses to take?

In addition to the courses offered specifically for the Human Rights Studies program, students take courses offered by departments in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, as well as courses offered by the School of International and Public Affairs, the School of Law, Jewish Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, Teachers College, etc.

Each semester, the Institute for the Study of Human Rights publishes a list of human rights related courses and students select courses in consultation with the program director. Additional information can be found on the courses and registration pages.

Can I receive credit for internship or work experience?

No, students cannot receive academic credit for internships or previous work experience. However, internships completed while you are enrolled in the program can be officially noted on your transcript if you provide the HRS program office with a signed letter from your internship supervisor or organization confirming the successful completion of your work.

Can I take courses at other graduate schools?

Students cannot cross-register with graduate programs at other universities. However, students can take courses at all schools under the Columbia umbrella, including Teachers College, Jewish Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, as well as SIPA, Public Health, Journalism, etc.

How is my tuition calculated?

Students pay tuition by the credit point (not by Residence Unit). In 2010-11 the tuition is $1,172 per credit point.

Is there housing available to students?

There is a limited amount of housing provided by the university for students. Housing space, however, is in high demand and is not guaranteed. Many students live off-campus. For more information about housing, please visit the housing webpage.

I have more questions. Whom can I ask?

See the contact webpage for information on how to contact the Human Rights Studies office.

For university-wide FAQ, please visit Student Services Ask Us.