Minor Description

The Minor in Human Rights Advocacy engages students in supervised human rights fact-finding, documentation, and advocacy. Students gain a multidisciplinary understanding of human rights norms; social conflict; and abusive conduct by state, corporate, and private actors. Students train in human rights practice under the supervision of experienced, reflective advocates while taking related coursework in the humanities, social sciences, and other fields. A unique partnership with the University Network for Human Rights (UNHR) provides students with an immersive experience that, until now, has been available only in law school human rights clinics. Completion of the minor requires one pre-requisite course introducing human rights standards (CSPL228) , two core courses in advocacy (CSPL316 and CSPL328) , one course in writing for advocacy (CSPL338) , and three additional approved classes relating to human rights.   

Admission to the Minor

Admission to the program/minor will be by application to ensure that participating students are committed to its rigorous demands. Wesleyan students may apply to the minor once they have taken, or while they are taking CSPL228: Introduction to Human Rights Standards. The Steering Committee will select students for admission to the Minor. The gateway course for the minor is CSPL316: Human Rights Advocacy.

Minor Requirements

Minoring in Human Rights Advocacy requires 7 courses. One course should be taken in either the first or sophomore year. Six of the seven courses are ones that students may take in their sophomore, junior or senior years. Three additional courses related to human rights. Approval from advisor or minor coordinator will be required to ensure that the course choices cohere sufficiently.

Required courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
One Pre-Requisite Course
CSPL228		1
Two Core Courses
CSPL316	Human Rights Advocacy: Critical Assessment and Practical Engagement in Global Social Justice *	1
CSPL328	Advanced Human Rights Advocacy	1
One Course in Writing for Advocacy
CSPL338	Writing for Advocacy *	1
Three Additional Courses Related to Human Rights
Approval from advisor or minor coordinator will be required to ensure that the course choices cohere sufficiently.

*Course offered once per year 

Additional Information

For more information, please contact Professor Jim Cavallaro at jcavallaro@wesleyan.edu.