Human Rights Studies

Program Category: MA Programs
Director of Graduate Studies: Jacqueline Dugard
Website: humanrightscolumbia.org/education/graduate/human-rights-studies-ma
Email Address: [email protected]

To view this program's application requirements, please click here.

Columbia University has a unique international reputation for human rights education and research, earned through decades of highly respected training of human rights professionals and a commitment to the interdisciplinary study and practice of human rights. As a focal point for the study of human rights at Columbia, the Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) is committed to providing exceptional education programs that draw on these strengths. 

The Human Rights Studies MA is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the academic study of human rights theory and practice. Students take courses offered by ISHR, as well as human rights courses offered by other departments, such as Anthropology, History, Political Science, Religion, and Sociology. Students may also take courses offered by other schools at Columbia, including the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia Law School, and the Mailman School of Public Health.

The 30-credit degree program can be completed part-time or full-time and requires the completion of a thesis. Detailed information about the degree structure can be found under the degree requirements page of the HRSMA website.

Students interested in applying to the program are also encouraged to review the information on the Prospective Students page. Specific questions about the program that are not addressed on the website may be directed to [email protected].

Special Admissions Requirements

Statement of Academic Purpose

Please note, the Statement of Academic Purpose is distinct from the Personal Statement (also required for admission). Both statements inform the holistic evaluation of each applicant's suitability for graduate-level study and the HRSMA Program. Applicants should carefully review the specific prompts for each statement and tailor their responses accordingly. Duplicate (or substantially similar) statements will not be accepted by the program. 

The Statement of Academic Purpose should address your motivations for applying to the program and your plans for graduate study in relation to your academic and professional goals. 

Students are encouraged to consider the following questions when writing their Statement of Academic Purpose:

• Why do you want to study human rights?
• Why are you interested in this particular program?
• What are your human rights research interests/what is your anticipated concentration? Applicants are welcome to indicate a potential thesis topic, but not required to do so.
• Is there a particular scholar at Columbia with whom you would like to work during your HRSMA studies? What aspects of their work (or key questions they raise in their scholarship) would you like to engage with?
• What do you hope to achieve as a student in this program?
• Why do you think you are well-suited for the HRSMA program? You are welcome to discuss professional, academic or personal experiences that have prepared you for graduate-level human rights study at Columbia?
• How does graduate study relate to your future academic and/or professional plans?

Length of statement: 800-1,000 words (3-4 pages double spaced) 

Academic Writing Sample

The academic writing sample helps the admissions committee evaluate an applicant’s research, analysis, and writing skills, and should demonstrate your ability to meet the expectations of graduate-level work. The writing sample should be a short academic paper (approximately 8-10 pages double-spaced). Students who wish to submit a coherent excerpt from a longer piece should include a brief abstract (100-150 words) to contextualize the excerpt submitted. The writing sample does not need to address a human rights issue.

Letters of Recommendation

A minimum of two academic references are required for all applicants to the Human Rights Studies MA program. Applicants who wish to submit a third, professional reference, are welcome to do so.

Transcripts

Students must submit electronic copies of transcripts or records of academic work from each university-level institution attended. Transcripts that are in a language other than English should be translated into English and both the original and translation should be uploaded. If academic marks are not expressed as letter grades, students should submit information on the evaluation system of the school if it is not otherwise explained on the transcript. Students should consult the Transcripts page of the GSAS website for additional information.

English Proficiency Requirement

All applicants whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit English proficiency exam scores. The English proficiency requirement can be fulfilled through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Personal Statement

The personal statement should explain how your personal experiences and history will allow you to contribute to the wealth of perspectives in the entering class of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and in the Columbia community at large.

*To be eligible for admission in GSAS, at least TWO letters must be submitted by academic recommenders. You may include up to four letters in your application, regardless of the number required by your program of interest.

Additional Deadline Information: Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships

FLAS Fellowships are available for students entering in the fall. If you are applying for the FLAS Fellowship, you must submit your admission application, including the FLAS essay, by the fellowship application deadline.