Global Human Rights Certificate Program
The University of Pennsylvania Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Studies in Global Human Rights provides you with an enriched perspective on the core international human rights documents, treaties, and mechanisms through cross-disciplinary and flexible coursework.
For more information about the history & mission of the certificate program, visit the Penn Carey Law certificate homepage at the link below.
About The Certificate
This certificate is ideal for advanced students in a variety of fields, as well as for teachers, researchers, the service professions, and law enforcement, military, public health, and governmental personnel. Students do not need to apply for the certificate. Instead, students fill out a Completion Form when they have finished the course requirements in order to document their completion of the certificate.
Mission
The Global Human Rights Certificate aims to promote human rights at Penn with enrolled undergraduate and graduate students through a variety of cross-disciplinary courses.
Human rights have assumed great prominence as globalization has advanced. Not only are human rights of vital practical importance in fields like international politics and development strategies, but problems in the academic domain are increasingly being assessed in relation to human rights. The study of human rights now constitutes a portion of most disciplines in the social sciences and the humanities as well as the professions, including the fields of medicine, law, and engineering.
This certificate accords with the United Nations’ second phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education (WPHRE) that began in 2010 and focuses on institutions of higher education.
Logistics & Administration
To qualify for this certificate, you must take a total of five graduate courses relating to international human rights. Satisfactory grades (B or better) must be earned in all five courses.
Note: Individual schools may impose additional requirements to qualify for this certificate. Contact your school for details.
Required Courses
Of the five graduate level courses necessary to be eligible for the Global Human Rights Certificate, one of the following three courses is required:
Human Rights (PSCI-5401)
International Human Rights (LAW-9890)
Public International Law (LAW-6600)
Health and Human Rights (PUBH-5250).
The remaining four courses should be selected from a list of approved perspective offerings. See the “Petitioning Non-Approved Courses” section below for information about courses outside the pre-approved list.
Notation of the Certificate
Once you have completed your course requirements, forward a Global Human Rights Certificate Completion Form(opens in a new tab) to your Certificate Advisor.
Certificate Administration
Although the Human Rights Certificate is awarded by Penn Arts & Sciences, each participating School appoints an advisor to supervise students seeking to satisfy the Certificate requirements. These advisors constitute the executive committee. They determine whether to approve the completion of the five courses and recommend the awarding of the Certificate to students in their respective Schools.
Approved Courses
Full course descriptions are available for review on Path@Penn at the link below.
NPLD 5980—Building Inclusive, Poverty-Informed Communities
SW 7490—Civil Society Activities Promoting Coexistence, Shared Society, and Peace in Israel and Palestine
SWRK 7550/MSSP 7550—International Social Policy & Practice: Perspectives from the Global South
SWRK 7720—Post-Colonial Social Work Practice: International Social Welfare in India
SWRK 7630—Immigration: Policy and Practice
SWRK 7450—Critical Race Theory
PSCI 5401—Global Human Rights
AFRC 4200—The U.S. and Human Rights: Policies and Practices
LALS 5220—Transitional Justice in Latin America: Lessons from Film, Case Studies, and Firsthand Accounts
PSCI 3580—International Law and International Relations*
*Note: There are specific requirements in place for graduate students enrolled in this course, which must be met to be counted toward the graduate certificate.
LAW 6600—International Law
LAW 9000—International Women’s Rights
LAW 9890—International Human Rights
LAW 9490—International Human Rights and National Security
LAW 6060—Refugee Law
LAW 9450—GRS: Special Topics (Open to Law Students Only)
LAW 9890—International Law and International Relations
EDUC 5406 — International Early Childhood Policies and Programs
EDUC 5480—Education in Developing Countries
EDUC 7539—Poverty & Child Development
PUBH 5250—Health and Human Rights
BIOE 5780—Bioethics and Human Rights
PUBH 5510—Global Health Policy and Delivery
BIOE 5710—Global Health Policy: Justice, Governance, and Reform
Sample Certificate Pathways
Note: Courses may be offered in a different term and students will need to adjust their schedules accordingly. If course options or scheduling prevent students from taking the courses suggested below, students may have to take an extra course in order to meet the certificate requirements. The per-course tuition rate will apply for any additional courses.
NPL Pathway
Course #1
Choose from the following:
- PSCI-5401: Human Rights
- LAW-9890: International Human Rights
- LAW-6600: Public International Law
- PUBH-5250: Health and Human Rights
Counts toward Outside Elective #1 for the NPL degree.
Course #2 & 3
NPLD 5890: Building Inclusive, Poverty-Informed Communities
Choose pre-approved Certificate Course
Counts toward Outside Elective #2 for the NPL degree.
Course #4 & 5
Petition for two NPL courses to count toward the certificate.
MSW Pathway
Full-Time Clinical Track
Year One – Spring
Course #1: SWRK 7630: Global Human Rights and U.S. Immigration
Year Two – Fall
Course #2: SWRK 7550: International Social Work Practicing in the Global South
Year Two – Spring
Course #3 & 4: Choose a non-SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Course #5: Choose an SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Full-Time Macro Track
Year One – Spring
Course #1: SWRK 7630: Global Human Rights and U.S. Immigration
Year Two – Fall
Course #2: SWRK 7550: International Social Work Practicing in the Global South
Course #3: Choose an SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Year Two – Spring
Course #4:SWRK 7630: Immigration: Implications for Policy and Practice
Course #5: Choose an SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Part-Time Clinical Track
Year One – Spring
Course #1: SWRK 7630: Global Human Rights and U.S. Immigration
Year Two – Spring
Course #2: Choose a non-SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Year Two – Summer
Course #3: Choose a non-SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Course #4: Choose an SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Year Three – Fall
Course #5: SWRK 7550: International Social Work Practicing in the Global South
Part-Time Macro Track
Year One – Spring
Course #1: SWRK 7630: Global Human Rights and U.S. Immigration
Year Two – Spring
Course #2: Choose a non-SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Year Two – Summer
Course #3: Choose a non-SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Course #4: Choose an SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Year Three – Fall
Course #5: SWRK 7550: International Social Work Practicing in the Global South
Advanced Standing Clinical Track
Fall
Course #1: SWRK 7550: International Social Work Practicing in the Global South
Course #2: Choose a non-SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Spring
Course #3: SWRK 7630: Global Human Rights and U.S. Immigration
Course #4: Choose a non-SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Note: Advanced Standing Clinical Students will need one more Global Human Rights certificate course. Students may petition one of their required courses. If one of the required MSW courses is not approved, students will have to take an extra (11th) course in order to meet the certificate requirements. The per-course tuition rate will apply for any additional courses.
Advanced Standing Macro Track
Fall
Course #1: SWRK 7550: International Social Work Practicing in the Global South
Course #2: Choose a non-SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Spring
Course #3: SWRK 7630: Global Human Rights and U.S. Immigration
Course #4: Choose a non-SP2 elective from the list of approved courses
Note: A fifth Global Human Rights course is required; Advanced Standing macro students will have to take an extra course or petition and get approved one of their required courses. The per-course tuition rate will apply for any additional courses.
MSSP Pathway
Fall Schedule
- MSSP 6280: Policy: Analysis of Issues, Strategy & Process ††
- MSSP 6680: Economics for Social Policy
- MSSP 6300: Quantitative Reasoning
- MSSP 6290: Research & Evaluation Design*
- SWRK/MSSP 7550: International Social Policy & Practice: Perspectives from the Global South†
- MSSP 6370: Policy Practicum
Semester total: 5 CU
Spring Schedule
- MSSP 6310 or 7805: Law & Social Policy ††
- MSSP 8970: Applied Linear Modeling
- MSSP 6360: Capstone I: Policy Communications
- MSSP Theory Elective*
- PSCI 5401: Global Human Rights†
- LAW 9000: International Women’s Rights†
- MSSP 6370: Policy Practicum
Semester total: 6 CU
*May be taken in either the Fall or Spring semesters.
†Examples of potential courses; a list of approved GHR Certificate courses may be found above and full course descriptions are here(opens in a new tab) under “Approved Courses”. Actual timing of courses offered may vary.
††May petition towards the Certificate in Global Human Rights, working with Dr. Jerri Bourjolly.
