Human Rights

Explore the UConn Human Rights website for departmental information. Course descriptions below correspond to the UConn undergraduate course catalog.

HRTS 1007: Introduction to Human Rights

Three credits ($150). Offered Fall, Spring, or Full-year.

Exploration of central human rights institutions, selected human rights themes and political controversies, and key political challenges of contemporary human rights advocacy.

Eligibility Guidelines: Successful completion of two years of high school social studies courses, or consent of the instructor, is recommended.


HRTS 2200: Introduction to Genocide Studies

Three credits ($150). Offered Fall, Spring, or Full-year.

Interdisciplinary introduction to the study of genocide as an historical, legal, social, political, and conceptual phenomenon, including response, prevention, and commemoration efforts.

Eligibility Guidelines: Successful completion of three years of high school social studies courses (to include world history and/or world geography), or consent of the instructor, is recommended.


 Instructor Certification Requirements:

HRTS 1007: The minimum requirement for certification in Human Rights is a Bachelor’s degree in Human Rights, or a related field such as Global Studies, Political Science, or History. Preferred applicants will have an interdisciplinary and global academic background, a master’s degree with graduate level coursework relevant to human rights, and/or engaging in global humanitarian programs, international organizations or other related work throughout their careers. Instructors must provide compelling evidence that their proposed course is equivalent in rigor and scope to its equivalent at the University of Connecticut.

HRTS 2200: The minimum requirement for certification in Genocide Studies is a Bachelor’s degree in Human Rights or Genocide Studies, or a related field such as Global Studies, Political Science, or History. Preferred applicants will have an interdisciplinary and global academic background, a master’s degree with graduate level coursework relevant to genocide studies, and/or engaging in global humanitarian programs, international organizations or other related work throughout their careers. Instructors must provide compelling evidence that their proposed course is equivalent in rigor and scope to its equivalent at the University of Connecticut.

Instructor Resources:

HRTS 1007 Sample Syllabus (PDF)
HRTS 2200 Sample Syllabus (PDF)