Human Rights Certificate

The Jackson School’s certificate program in Human Rights for current Yale undergraduates offers an interdisciplinary exploration of human rights, providing students with the analytical, conceptual, and practical skills essential for in-depth study. Students in the Human Rights Studies certificate programs also have the opportunity to attend program-sponsored events such as films, lectures, and discussions with local and leading human rights figures.

There are two versions of the certificate: one that is non-selective and uncapped, and a second that is intensive and selective. Both programs formally began in the fall of 2025. 

Certificate in Human Rights

The Certificate in Human Rights (uncapped/nonselective) is open to all Yale undergraduates and requires one of the specific introductory courses, GLBL 3102: Introduction to Human Rights: Human Rights in a Turbulent World, or GLBL 3103: Making Sense of Human Rights Today, plus four elective courses in human rights. These electives are tagged in Yale course search with the Human Rights elective attribute. The electives are categorized as being either domestic (YC Human Rights Domestic) or international (YC Human Rights International) as an area of study; students are required to take at least one of each area of study in the four electives that they take. 

The application for the Intensive Certificate in Human Rights for Fall 2026 is now closed. 

Intensive Certificate in Human Rights

The Intensive Certificate in Human Rights is selective, with applications open to sophomores each spring semester. The Intensive Certificate in Human Rights requires the introductory course GLBL 3102: Introduction to Human Rights: Human Rights in a Turbulent World, or GLBL 3103: Making Sense of Human Rights Today, plus five human rights elective courses and participation in a non-credited senior colloquium. The intensive cohort will consist of no more than 10-15 students. Students are required to take at least one of each area of study (domestic and international) in the five electives that they choose. In addition to completing the core course and five electives, students accepted into the intensive certificate in Human Rights participate in regular programming tailored specifically for the small cohort throughout the academic year.