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 at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Please see our list of organizations that may be of interest to students as they search for internship options.

Undergraduate students should consider enrolling in GLOS 3896: Global Studies Internship, a foundational human rights course offered every spring that pairs students with a local human rights organization to complete a 100-hour internship for credit. Successful completion of this course fulfills the experiential learning requirement for the B.A. program in Global Studies. Students also study major issues currently facing human rights professionals in the field.

Graduate students interested in an internship related to human rights should consult with their faculty advisor for guidance. More information is available here on funding for graduate students. Master of Human Rights students should reach out to the program coordinator at mhr@umn.edu for additional guidance.

Career

Undergraduate students who have majored in Global Studies and concentrated in human rights have gone on to pursue a variety of graduate degrees, serve in government positions, and work in non-profit organizations both locally and internationally. Learn more about career opportunities in Global Studies.

Graduate students have gone on to careers that span all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector. Students who have completed the graduate minor in human rights have worked at: 

  • The Advocates for Human Rights 
  • The Center for Victims of Torture 
  • Domestic Abuse Project 
  • Human Rights Watch 
  • U.S. State Department
  • United Nations mechanisms
  • The World Bank 
  • HealthPartners 
  • Various academic institutions and foundations