The John Jay Human Rights Master of Arts Program is a professionally-oriented master’s program that provides students with a thorough understanding of human rights law and theory and the practical skills necessary to translate this understanding into practice. Students completing the program will be able to demonstrate understanding of substantive concepts in the scholarly and practical field of human rights, conduct methodological research, and engage in practice-oriented work, such as fact-finding, report-writing, media outreach, and advocacy.
Program graduates will be highly competitive for a variety of positions including public and media relations, fundraising, social science research, and legal support services.
Key components of the online program are:
- 100% online courses - Flexible course schedule. No scheduled meeting times. You can study when and where you want.
- Smaller class size - That means more one-on-one time with the instructor.
- Accelerated 8-week session format - Earn credits every 8 weeks. Finish within one year.
- Prominent faculty - Our faculty members are leading authorities in human rights studies.
- Affordable price - We offer one of the most affordable human rights studies programs in the U.S.
- A prestigious credential - Online or on campus, you’ll obtain a credential that is recognized worldwide.
A senior college of The City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a preeminent national and international leader in all aspects of education related to criminal justice and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
For a full list of the courses offered in this program, visit the College's Graduate Bulletin.
The online Master of Arts in Human Rights consists of 36 credits. Students should be able to complete the course of study in two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study.
In the capstone course, HR 750: Advanced Seminar in Human Rights, students participate in collaborative research and advocacy with a human rights organization serving as a client, and produce a value added original policy paper to serve the organization’s needs. Students also have the option of engaging in an internship or, those with overall GPAs of 3.5 or higher and an A- or better in ICJ 715, may write a thesis with the approval of the program director. Internships and theses can count toward elective credit. We have core requirements as well as elective courses and we work with each student to build a curriculum of 36 credits that serves their intellectual and professional ambitions.
To be considered for admission, students must meet the following requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or an international equivalent
- An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (or meet contingency requirements as determined by the program on a case-by-case basis)
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or IELTS, is required for international applicants who have not studied in English-speaking countries. John Jay College’s TOEFL code number is 2115-99. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, and 79-80 for the Internet-based test. The minimum score for IELTS is 7.
- Submission of a complete application (see Application Process below)
Apply Online