Career Exploration

Our flexible program allows students to develop specific expertise, skills, and knowledge through a concentration individually designed for them in consultation with their advisors. This flexibility gives students a unique set of analytical, research, and writing skills key to success in the professional world. We also help prepare students for careers in human rights through internships, research, and practicums—all of which encourage students to engage actively with current human rights issues and debates. 

Internships

Protecting and promoting human rights in the field can be a life-changing experience. The Human Rights Program supports a variety of internship opportunities. Our students have interned at organizations including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, The Advocates for Human Rights, Women for Women International, and Environmental Initiative, among many others. 

Master of Human Rights students should reach out to the program coordinator at [email protected] for additional guidance. Students pursuing the graduate minor in human rights should consult with the HRP Director and Director of Graduate Studies for the graduate minor, Carrie Booth Walling, at [email protected]. 

The Human Rights Program has a partnership with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that enables them to send one Master of Human Rights student each summer to intern in Geneva, Switzerland. The selected student receives funding to support this experience.

Please see this list of organizations with a human rights focus that may be of interest to students as they search for internship options. Read our student internship stories.

Learn more about funding opportunities for graduate students. 

Career

Master of Human Rights and human rights graduate minor alumni have gone on to careers that span all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector. Our alumni have worked at organizations such as The Advocates for Human Rights, The Center for Victims of Torture, Domestic Abuse Project, Human Rights Watch, the U.S. State Department, United Nations mechanisms, the World Bank, HealthPartners, and various academic institutions and foundations.

Graduate students have the unique opportunity to apply for the Barbara Frey Human Rights Fellowship, which supports a year of full-time employment in the field of human rights for an exceptional graduating Human Rights student from a professional or PhD level program at the University of Minnesota. Priority is given to graduating Master of Human Rights students who have demonstrated an interdisciplinary commitment to pursuing a career in international human rights.

Resources

The CLA Office of Research and Graduate Programs offers comprehensive career services for PhD and Master's degree-seeking students and graduate alumni in the humanities and social sciences. Learn more about CLA Graduate Student Career Services and resources.

The Humphrey School’s Office of Career and Student Success helps Master of Human Rights students and alumni find meaningful work. Learn more about career planning and resources at the Humphrey School.