Human Rights and Social Justice Certificate

Return to: University Center for International Studies

Global Studies Center
4100 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Elaine Linn, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs
eel58@pitt.edu
www.ucis.pitt.edu/global

The Undergraduate Certificate in Human Rights and Social Justice embeds learning and engagement with issues of diversity, equality, inclusion, and social change, within the bedrock of the deeply entrenched and long-standing global human rights system. It focuses on the interdisciplinary study and application of foundational concepts and global standards of human rights to diverse issues and movements, including poverty, race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and age, both past and present. It equips students with the understanding and skills to engage with important issues of our times, to explore multi-disciplinary foundations and current debates about human rights and social justice, and to contribute positively to communities and in future careers and public service.  

The certificate is designed around five thematically-specific learning objectives. Upon completion, students should be able to:

1. Identify foundational human rights and social justice concepts including equality, discrimination, universality, and interdependence, from historical to current and local to transnational  perspectives.
2. Differentiate current research, programs, strategies, and actors, that address human rights and social justice issues in a variety of settings.
3. Recognize the cultural, political, sociological, economic, and other dimensions of particular human rights issues in a variety of contexts.
4. Appreciate how different disciplines approach human rights and apply one or more approach to a human rights issue.
5. Identify different discourses on human rights and social justice, to communicate effectively about rights issues for various audiences.

The certificate requirements entail two foundation courses (including one from outside the student’s home discipline), four electives (including two from outside the student’s home discipline), and a Capstone Digital Portfolio project. Academic requirements are described in detail in the sections below.