Catholic university offers bachelor's degree in human rights studies

Published: 2007-10-30

DAYTON, Ohio (CNS) -- The University of Dayton's new bachelor's degree program in human rights studies 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, one of just a couple like it in the nation. Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., offers a similar degree. As part of the interdisciplinary degree, students at the University of Dayton 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.

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