Your handy guide to studying abroad with a focus on human rights and social justice

Why should you study abroad with a focus on human rights and social justice?

Studying abroad with a focus on human rights and social justice is a transformative experience that offers a multitude of compelling reasons to embark on this educational journey. It provides a global perspective by immersing students in diverse cultures and societies, expanding their worldviews, and deepening their understanding of global issues. Students will gain real-world experience through immersive programs by engaging directly with local communities, organizations, and activists dedicated to promoting human rights and social justice. This experience enriches learning and equips them with practical knowledge and skills. Let’s discuss this topic in detail.

Understanding human rights and social justice

Human rights

These are moral standards that define acceptable human conduct and are constitutional rights guaranteed by the rule of law. Regardless of your location, country, language, religion, ethnic origin, or any other status, these are the fundamental rights you have as a human being by virtue of your existence. Various Human Rights courses examine possible human outcomes in light of different circumstances and decide which outcome is most suitable for humanity. Individuals learn social awareness, communication, and emotional coping skills, which are crucial while addressing the human rights issue.

Social justice

An education in social justice focuses on addressing social injustices in society. As social workers labor to combat issues such as inequality, poverty, prejudice, and injustice, they also gain knowledge of social work’s political and ethical contexts. The study of social justice is available at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels. While pursuing this degree, students will interact with marginalized populations and fight for their rights during this degree, which will also introduce them to the idea of social welfare.

An education in social justice will instill admirable traits, such as persistence, trust-building, open-mindedness, an appreciation for diversity, active listening, report writing, humor, communication skills, and empathy. Most of these abilities are applicable to the professional world and are transportable. Hence, this course is appropriate for students who want to improve themselves by promoting social innovation, reform, and advancement.

Popular human rights courses

Over the past few decades, human rights-focused courses have become popular. These include a wide range of topics, including bioethics, stopping torture, access to healthcare, freedom of speech, and climate change, to name a few. The majority of students who wish to have a career in human rights have already finished their undergraduate studies in another subject and are seeking a career path that is more fulfilling. 

Here is a list of top human rights courses, including certificate and master’s degree programs.

• Master of Human Rights
• Master of Public Health
• MSc in Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights
• MA in Human Rights
• MA in International Human Rights
• MA in Social Justice & Human Rights
• LLM in Human Rights Concentration
• LLM in International Human Rights
• LLM in Human Rights & Social Justice
• Ph.D. in International Studies
• Certificate in International Human Rights Law

Social work study expenses and courses

A bachelor’s degree is necessary for those who want to work in the field of social justice on a practical level. This curriculum, which has a 4-year duration, lays the groundwork for community and social work. Social service Systems, Statistics for Social Workers, Human Behavior and Social Environment, and Theoretical Concepts of Social Justice are among the general core courses available in this degree. Diversity And Persecution In A Social Work Setting, And Social Movements

are some of the other core courses in the field. Depending on the university you choose, this degree typically costs between $28,000 and $35,350 a year in the US.

Students who want to engage critically in theory and research on social justice issues may pursue a master’s degree in it. This program has a two-year duration and requires you to choose your area of specialization. Some of the required and elective courses for this degree include Critical Race Studies, Child Welfare, Rights of Minorities and Immigrants, Sociology of Gender, Sexuality, and Race, Sociology of Gender, Sexuality, and Race, and Contemporary Challenges in Social Justice. A unique research-based thesis is necessary to get the degree. For overseas students, earning this degree at University College London in the UK will cost between $32,000 and $34,000.

Top colleges and universities

Here is a list of prominent colleges and universities with a special reputation for their human rights teaching and research and for providing exposure to this broad topic.

• Boston University
• Columbia University
• Harvard University
• Yale University
• Curtin University
• University of Washington
• George Washington University
• University of Minnesota

Exciting career paths

The use of technology, such as the internet, social media, and smartphones, is becoming more and more significant in the human rights sector. It enables people to build strong platforms for talking about a range of current concerns. Additionally, technology is increasingly being used to improve the well-being of socially disadvantaged populations through programs designed to stop violence and human trafficking.

A human rights degree or certification brings up numerous work prospects in various fields, such as international media, international law, and foreign trade. While some graduates work in the public sector, many are also in the government. There are local jobs available in research, advocacy groups, and consulting. Graduates with a degree in human rights have the abilities and expertise to work in the human rights and advocacy fields as well.

Career options for graduates in social justice

After you successfully complete your Social Justice course, you can apply for these job alternatives.

Journalist

Research, interviews, reporting, and writing are among a journalist’s primary duties in order to inform the public about current events. Social justice-focused journalists relate the experiences of marginalized groups, call attention to injustices, and push for societal authorities to take responsibility for their actions. In the US, their yearly average salary is $48,370.

Community developer

Community developers work with marginalized communities by developing programs, helping with financial distribution, and bringing the community together. Assessing community needs, looking at regional trends, collaborating with shareholders, understanding legal requirements, and creating plans are only a few of the responsibilities. Their yearly average salary in the US is $61,835.

Analyst

Regarding social, economic, foreign, and other political issues, policy analysts conduct studies on regional and national trends. They are able to change political events, public policy, and public consciousness through their research. In order to assist in establishing new policies and the execution of new programs for the benefit of the community, they also assess current policies and create draft evaluations based on their research. In the US, their yearly average salary is $83,380.

Social worker

A social worker’s objective with individuals and families is to improve their quality of life by educating them on how to deal with abuse, unemployment, mental illness, addiction, and trauma. They make $50,400 a year on average in the US.

Key takeaways

• Studying abroad with a focus on human rights and social justice provides a global perspective by immersing students in diverse cultures and societies, expanding their worldviews, and deepening their understanding of global issues.
• Human rights-focused courses have become popular over the past few decades. These include a wide variety of topics, including bioethics, stopping torture, access to healthcare, freedom of speech, climate change, and so on.
• The general core courses available in the bachelor’s degree are Social service systems, statistics for social workers, human behavior and social environment, and theoretical concepts of social justice.

Did you find this blog interesting? If yes, do share your thoughts in the comments section below. For more information on Studying Abroad with a Focus on Human Rights and Social Justice, click here. We would be happy to help you!

Liked this blog? Read next: How to write a winning SOP for Stanford University’s MS program?

FAQs

Q1. What are the Human Rights course fees in the US? 

Ans- The Human Rights course fees can be around $4,125 in the US.

Q2. What is the salary of human rights lawyers in the USA?

Ans- Human rights lawyers can earn a salary of up to $9,000 (Approx) in the US.

Q3. What is the highest degree in social work?

Ans- A doctoral degree in social work is the highest degree in the field. It prepares graduates for roles in academia and high-level social work. The average student needs roughly five years to get their Ph.D., including the time required to finish a dissertation.