Students should consult with the program adviser prior to registration in order to verify that selected courses will fulfill degree requirements.
To facilitate this process, please complete and submit the online course advising form. You will also be able to print this form. A PDF version of the form is available for personal use, as a worksheet.
Below you will find information on degree requirements and the course approval process.
Course approval and degree requirements
With the exception of the “Degree fulfillment” and “Explanation of relevance” sections of this form, all course information requested on the course advising form is available on the Directory of Classes.
When selecting from the three Degree Fulfillment options on the form, please indicate whether the class is a core course, an elective course, or a concentration course.
Three core required courses
- HRTS G4020 Introduction to Human Rights
- HRTS G4800 International Human Rights Law
- HRTS G4820 Human Rights and International Organizations
Students should take these foundational courses early in their studies, but should not take all three in a single semester.
If you list one of these courses on the form, select “core” from the list of Degree Fulfillment options on the form.
You do not need to fill out the Explanation of relevance section of the course advising form if it is a core course.
Two elective courses
Elective courses must address human rights issues, but do not have to focus on a particular area of human rights.
Courses included on the list of pre-approved courses automatically count towards the elective degree requirements.
Courses not on the pre-approved list
If you would like to count a course that is not on the pre-approved list as an elective course, in the Explanation of relevance section of the form please provide additional information regarding the human rights content of the course and how you will be able to address human rights issues through coursework. The program director will provide feedback as to whether or not it is approved for the degree.
Four concentration courses
The concentration is self-defined (in consultation with the program director). Potential concentrations include human rights and development, ethnicity, health, race, religion, women/gender, etc. However, students are not limited to these examples, and concentrations are often much more specific.
Concentration courses must address the particular area of human rights that the student has selected as their concentration. Courses on the pre-approved list will only fulfill the concentration requirement if the course pertains directly to the student's concentration.
If you would like a course to count as a concentration course, please indicate this on the Degree Fulfillment section of the course advising form.
Note: If the relevance of a course to your concentration is not evident from the course title, please provide additional information as to how you will be able to address the particular human rights issue or theme that you have selected as your concentration through that course.
Additional Notes
If you request registration in a SIPA course that requires departmental approval, the program adviser will register you directly in that course if space is available during the first week of class. You will be notified if and when you are registered in the course during the change of program registration period.
Consult the HRSMA website for additional information on degree requirements and registration.
