Catholic university offers bachelor's degree in human rights studies

Published: 2007-10-29

DAYTON, Ohio (CNS) -- The University of Dayton's new bachelor's degree program in human rights studies, which school officials say is the first of its kind in the nation, will prepare graduates for careers in human rights advocacy and humanitarian assistance as well as law school or other advanced study. "Human rights has become the language in the political and international community for talking about social justice and morality," said Christopher Duncan, chair of the Marianist-run university's political science department. "Students interested in social justice and issues of peace and peacemaking have gravitated toward human rights," he said in a news release about the program. As part of the interdisciplinary degree, students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language, complete an internship and take a course in research methodology. Other classes include philosophy and human rights; politics of human rights; international law and organization; faith and justice; rhetoric of social movements; and sociology and human rights. Elective courses are offered in communication, history, political science, religious studies and sociology.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .