The Jackson School of Global Affairs has developed a new certificate program in Human Rights for Yale undergraduates, including a selective and intensive program. In addition to the intensive program, there will also be an uncapped and non-selective certificate program open to all Yale undergraduates.

The Intensive Certificate in Human Rights will require students to enroll in an introductory course, as well as five elective courses related to human rights and a non-credited senior colloquium. Students will be required to take at least one of each area of study, domestic and international, in the five electives that they choose. The cohort will be intentionally small (roughly 15 students) and formal programming, including the introductory course, will begin in the fall semester.

The certificate program will be overseen by David Simon, Jackson’s assistant dean for graduate education, and Bonnie Weir, assistant dean for undergraduate education.

“We are delighted that Jackson will house these new certificates in human rights, with two paths to accommodate the various interests and goals of students at Yale,” announced Simon and Weir. “We’re excited to situate the study of human rights in a multidisciplinary context, involving faculty from across the university. Taking a cue from the way the Schell Center for Human Rights designed and operated the former multidisciplinary academic program in human rights, our hope is to support an academic focus on human rights while building a community of present and future human rights practitioners at Yale.”

Applications are now being accepted for the intensive certificate. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 7, 2025, at 5:00pm.