Contact the Admissions Office
Call 314-246-7800 or 800-753-6765 or email admit@webster.edu
College of Humanities and Social Services | Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies
Call 314-246-7800 or 800-753-6765 or email admit@webster.edu
Students who are passionate about being involved in a world where all persons are valued and respected find that they can help create positive change with an international human rights degree. Webster University is a leader in human rights education. Courses are taught by faculty from across the Webster community, and students have opportunities to interact with human rights practitioners and scholars affiliated with leading non-governmental organizations, think tanks, state governments and United Nations offices.
Offering one of the only undergraduate human rights degrees in the United States, interdisciplinary courses are taught by faculty from across the Webster community and co-curricular events bring leading scholars and activists to Webster campuses. Undergraduates may also pursue the minor or certificate option to incorporate human rights into their area of study.
Webster's human rights degree program was launched in 2005, thanks to a Title VI grant and the dedication of the late Professor Art Sandler (philosophy) and Professor Kelly-Kate Pease (international relations). The certificate option, which was first offered during the 1996-97 academic year, established the program's tradition of interdisciplinarity and cross-campus collaboration.
Today, human rights courses may be identified by their HRTS prefix, and human rights course options are offered at a number of Webster's campuses around the world. Human rights graduates may undertake graduate studies related to human rights, as well as undertake rights-focused work at non-governmental organizations, government offices, corporations, and educational institutions.
The 42-credit hour International Human Rights bachelor's degree at Webster University's St. Louis main campus seeks to encourage greater understanding of international human rights standards, problems and solutions.
This program is available at the St. Louis main campus and at the Geneva campus.
This 18-credit hour certificate is well suited to students with a strong interest in human rights but who are majoring in another subject. As a stand-alone certificate, it is also appropriate for those students with a strong interest in human rights who have completed a BA or BS at another institution but who are not currently considering graduate or professional school. This certificate requires demonstration of competence in a foreign language equivalent to two years of college-level study.
Take the next step toward earning your degree. We are here to help.
Learn more about our academic programs and our main campus and locations.
Connect with our admissions counselors and academic advisors.
Apply to Webster and take the next steps for financial aid and scholarships.