Human Rights Academics

If you have a deep desire to make a difference in the world, you may be a good fit for the Human Rights Studies Program. Whether it is immigrant rights, human trafficking, women’s rights, food insecurity, indigenous rights, worker’s rights — just to name a few — human rights is a degree that will allow you to pursue a career connected to your passions and values.

At UD, human rights studies is a nationally-renowned interdisciplinary program that will prepare you to pursue human rights advocacy at local, national and international levels. And in addition to a B.A., we offer minors and a collaboration with the UD School of Law. Undergraduates also have an opportunity for real-world experience through the summer fellows program.


Human Rights Major

A major in human rights studies prepares you to pursue human rights advocacy at local, national and international levels.

Human Rights Minor

A minor in human rights studies includes elective courses from different disciplines to best support your passions and career goals.

Human Rights in Engineering Minor

The Human Rights in Engineering academic minor prepares you to explore, discuss and apply human rights frameworks in your personal and professional life as a globally responsible engineer.

UDSL Human Rights Collaborative

In a unique collaboration with the University of Dayton School of Law, students and faculty work side by side to protect the rights of the world's most vulnerable citizens, helping you put your knowledge into practice.


Courses on Migration, Immigration and Refugee Ideas

  • ANT 325: Anthropology of Human Rights
  • ANT 352: Cultures of Latin America
  • ANT/SOC 368: Immigration and Immigrants
  • ECO 471: Labor Economics
  • HST 336: History of Africa I
  • HST 357: Modern Latin America
  • HST 378: Immigration History
  • HST 389: Italian Diaspora
  • UDI 206: Pilgrimage and Migration
  • PHL 379: Latin American Philosophy
  • REL 330: Faith of Immigrants
  • SOC 328: Racial and Ethnic Relations
  • SOC 342: Social Movements
  • SWK 360: International Social Work
  • SSC 200: A number of sections tackle immigration issues

Student in D.C. working for the EPA

Experiential Learning link-arrow link-arrow

The Human Rights Center is committed to experiential learning that is vocationally-driven, connected to campus learning and experienced in collective ways. And student organizations and other campus resources provide additional opportunities to gain real-world experience.

Rike Center

International Student Resources link-arrow link-arrow

The Global and Intercultural Affairs Center houses the International Student and Scholar Services to help make UD your home-away-from-home.

The University of Dayton also offers an Intensive English Program (IEP) to help enhance your English proficiency and prepare for undergraduate or graduate studies.