By The Numbers*
79
Columbia College
56
School of General Studies
96
Majors
39
Minors/Concentrators
For over fifty years, students at Columbia have studied human rights as a dynamic, contested, and critical field deeply entwined with struggles for justice and dignity at the global, national, and local level.
Our undergraduate Major and Minor are grounded in a liberal arts approach, through which students gain a foundational understanding of human rights, and the opportunity to explore their individual interests across an extensive interdisciplinary curriculum.
Guided by leading human rights scholars, experts, and practitioners, our students develop the critical knowledge, skills, and commitments necessary to pursue a range of post-graduate professional and academic opportunities, and to contribute to making their communities more just, equitable, and sustainable.
Students in the Undergraduate Human Rights Program engage in a dynamic and evolving field, enhancing their knowledge, skills, and commitment to the study and practice of human rights and social justice.
The program offers a Major, a Minor, and, for students who entered Columbia prior to the 2024-2025 academic year, a Concentration in human rights studies. It is administered by ISHR in conjunction with Columbia College and the School of General Studies, with all UHRP programs of study available to students in both schools.
Contact us at [email protected] or via the scheduling tool below to make an advising appointment.
Detailed information about degree structure, required coursework, and academic advising, can be found on the webpage for each of our programs of study (see Major, Minor, Concentration). Additionally, students are encouraged to review carefully the Columbia College Bulletin, as well as their School’s website for relevant academic, administrative and school-specific policies.
Each semester, the Program publishes a list of human rights courses offered at ISHR and across Columbia University's many schools and departments.
The list assists UHRP students with identifying classes of interest as they plan their academic studies and semester schedules. Please review our Course List page for more information about current course offerings, as well as classes approved by the department in previous semesters.
Looking for funding support, academic opportunities, or ways to get involved on campus?
ISHR offers various resources to support students' academic studies and as well as opportunities to deepen their knowledge and interests in human rights outside the classroom. Visit our Undergraduate Resources page for more information.
We have students with such an incredible range of experiences and perspectives, including some deep lived-expertise in human rights. I think this opportunity to learn from each other, when it is effectively facilitated, can be among the most powerful aspects of the program.
- Dr. Glenn Mitoma, Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Career Outcomes
An undergraduate degree in human rights prepares students for a wide range of career paths, transcending a single sector or trajectory. The skills, values, knowledge, and expertise students develop in our programs are grounded in the critical examination of questions of justice, equality, dignity, and accountability - a lens, which informs their work in fields as diverse as advocacy, research, policy, education, technology, business, and philanthropy.
Alumni are a valued and engaged part of the ISHR community, running workshops, sharing career advice, and serving as mentors to current students and recent graduates.
“I came to Columbia University specifically for the Human Rights Major, and the program has far exceeded my expectations. I am grateful for the opportunity to broaden my intellectual horizons and explore areas of human rights I had not previously considered. It has truly been a memorable and transformative experience.”
- Katrina Machetta, Columbia College
“As a dual degree student, I loved my two years at Columbia University, especially being able to interact with undergraduate and graduate students in my human rights classes! Thank you to the professors, faculty, students and wider human rights community for these intellectually enriching years.”
- Inès De Vulpian, School of General Studies
“In my human rights classes, I met the most passionate, kind, and dedicated students and professors. I was inspired and humbled by seasoned advocates and brilliant young scholars. I am so grateful for such a caring and open community.”
- Rebecca Shinyu Cai, Columbia College
“Thank you to the faculty, students and friends who supported me as I learned to think critically about my own commitment to social justice and advocacy work. I can't wait to see how we all change the world.”
- Rowan Gossett, Columbia College
Connect with the UHRP Program
News
Student Highlight: Rebeca Lopez-Anzures
Read our conversation with 2026 Research Award Winner Rebeca Lopez-Anzures
ISHR Celebrates Class of 2026
On Monday, May 4, 2026, the ISHR community gathered to mark the end of the academic year and celebrate graduating human rights students. Faculty, staff, students and their families were treated to a special evening that featured student performances and celebrated the hard work and accomplishments of ISHR’s graduating class.
Congratulations to Students Awarded Honors and Prizes
The Institute for the Study of Human Rights congratulates the human rights students who received departmental honors and prizes in 2026. Read more below.
Events
*Numbers reflect student enrollments as of Spring 2025.