Human Rights and Humanitarianism Interdepartmental Program
Program Director: James Dawes (English)
Steering Committee: Martin Gunderson (Philosophy),
Joëlle Vitiello (French and Francophone Studies), Erik Larson
(Sociology), Nadya Nedelsky (International Studies), Dianna Shandy
(Anthropology), Wendy Weber (Political Science)
This concentration provides students an opportunity to
engage in the interdisciplinary study of human rights and humanitarianism.
The objectives of the concentration are to cultivate in students: (a) a
familiarity with major developments in the history of human rights and
humanitarianism; (b) an understanding of the institutional frameworks
governing human rights and humanitarianism, including international law,
international organizations, civil society movements, etc.; (c) an
understanding of the theoretical and philosophical debates about the
meanings of human rights and humanitarianism; (d) a capacity to understand
and evaluate practical debates over the methods, motivations, and
consequences of human rights and humanitarian action, including but not
limited to questions of policy-making, fieldwork, and media and artistic
representation; (e) a familiarity with a range of current and past global
(including local, national, and international) human rights problems.
Given that students and faculty approach the study of
human rights and humanitarianism from a variety of disciplinary
perspectives, the program permits students to complete this concentration
in conjunction with a wide array of majors. The program promotes breadth by
requiring that students complete courses in more than one department; it
promotes depth by requiring a major research project focused on a relevant
topic.
Structure of the Concentration
A concentration in Human Rights and Humanitarianism
consists of a major research paper and five (5) courses selected from two
lists of courses: Framework Courses and Specialized Courses. Of these five courses, at least three (3) courses must
come from the list of Framework Courses.
Students are encouraged to pursue internships and take
study away courses in the areas of human rights and humanitarianism. These
may be counted toward the concentration with the approval of the program
coordinator.
In addition to the five courses required for the
concentration, students must complete a major research paper focusing
primarily on human rights and/or humanitarianism. Students may fulfill this
requirement by completing: (a) a departmental senior seminar that includes
a major paper focused on human rights and/or humanitarianism; (b) a
departmental Honors project focused on human rights and/or humanitarianism;
or (c) an equivalent research paper or project approved in advance by the
program coordinator (for instance, an independent study with a
participating faculty member, or an expanded research paper in one of the
courses from the concentration).
Framework Courses
These courses provide students with a basic
understanding of the international norms of human rights and
humanitarianism, the history and purpose of the primary intergovernmental
and nongovernmental organizations, and the
philosophical/historical/intellectual background of the field. Framework
courses focus on a limited set of practices as a way of providing a basic,
common language for students.
Anthropology 246, Refugees and Humanitarian Response
International Studies 245, Introduction to Human Rights
International Studies 345, Advanced Themes in Human
Rights
Philosophy topics course, Philosophical Foundations of
Human Rights
Political Science 221, Global Governance
Political Science topics course, Humanitarianism in
World Politics
Specialized Courses
These courses offer students a chance to acquire more
detailed mastery of specific topics, themes, or regions in studies of human
rights and humanitarianism. Specialized courses offer exposure to the
broader array of histories and movements dedicated to the promotion of
human dignity and the protection of human rights.
Anthropology 358, Anthropology of Violence
Anthropology 362, Culture and Globalization
English 150 (Philosophy topics course), Introduction to
Creative Writing: Rivers and Humans, Introduction to Environmental Justice
History/Asian Studies 278, War Crimes and Memory in
Contemporary East Asia
History/American Studies 248, Jim Crow
History 305/American Studies 310, Comparative Freedom
Movements: The U.S. and South Africa
English/Environmental Studies 265, Justice
History 221, American Labor Radicalism
History 256, The Transatlantic Slave Trade
Philosophy topics course, Health and Human Rights
Political Science 207, US Civil Rights and Civil
Liberties
Political Science/Latin American Studies 245, Latin
American Politics
Sociology/International Studies 280, Indigenous Peoples
Movements in Global Context
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