Human Rights
The Human Rights major examines the fundamental freedoms and protections that every individual is entitled to, regardless of nationality, race, gender, or status. It explores the historical development, legal frameworks, and philosophical foundations of these rights, analyzing how they are upheld or violated in different societies. Students will be able to use this knowledge to promote justice, equality, and accountability, shaping policies and activism that safeguard human dignity worldwide.
In addition to the course requirements below, International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English. To learn more about the language requirement, visit the Majors page.
To learn more about major requirements, check out the links below. Requirements and course offerings do change, so if you have any questions please reach out to internationalstudies@osu.edu or contact your academic advisor.
Human Rights Major Requirements
Bachelor of Arts
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW)
Methods & Analysis: Choose one course (3 hours)
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis (DA)
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data (DA)
- Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization (DA)
- Sociology 5650 - Presenting & Communicating Quantitative Data (DA)
Primary Specialization & Secondary Specialization
If Human Rights is your Primary Specialization, choose five courses (15 hours). You will choose an additional 3 courses (9 hours) for your Secondary Specialization.
If Human Rights is your Secondary Specialization, choose three courses (9 hours).
- AAAS/HISTORY 3083 - Civil Rights & Black Power Movements
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- COMPSTD 3501 - Humanitarianism in Question
- COMPSTD 4597.02 - Global Culture
- CRPLAN 3500 - The Socially Just City
- ENGLISH 4554 - English Studies & Global Human Rights
- ENGLISH 4573.02 - Rhetoric & Social Action
- ENGLISH 4597.01 - The Disability Experience in the Contemporary World
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4701 - Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- POLITSC 3460 - Global Justice
- POLITSC 4455 - Human Rights
- POLITSC 4940 - Politics of Immigration
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- SOCIOL 3460 - Environmental Justice
- SOCIOL 5563 - Global Inequality & Poverty
- WGSST 3302 - Engendering Peace & Conflict
- WGSST 3370 - Sexualities & Citizenship
- WGSST 4520 - Women of Color & Social Activism
Bachelor of Science
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), and Technology (TECH), and complete a 3- course sequence in Data Analysis (DA). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW)
Data Analysis: 3 courses (9 hours), Choose 1 3-course sequence
- Series 1
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5103 - Intermediate Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5210 - Fundamentals of Geographic Information System
- Series 2
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data or Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization
- Political Science 4781- Data Literacy in Political Science I
- Political Science 4782 - Data Literacy in Political Science II
- Series 3
- Statistics 2450.01 or 2450.02 Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
- Statistics 3301 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery I
- C- or above in 3202; or 4202 and 5732. Prereq or concur: Math 2568; or permission of instructor.
- Statistics 3302 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery II
Specialization: Choose 6 courses (18 hours)
- AAAS/HISTORY 3083 - Civil Rights & Black Power Movements
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- COMPSTD 3501 - Humanitarianism in Question
- COMPSTD 4597.02 - Global Culture
- CRPLAN 3500 - The Socially Just City
- ENGLISH 4554 - English Studies & Global Human Rights
- ENGLISH 4573.02 - Rhetoric & Social Action
- ENGLISH 4597.01 - The Disability Experience in the Contemporary World
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS/GEOG 3650 - A World Divided? Place, Space, and Regions in World Affairs
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- POLITSC 3460 - Global Justice
- POLITSC 4455 - Human Rights
- POLITSC 4940 - Politics of Immigration
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- SOCIOL 3460 - Environmental Justice
- SOCIOL 5563 - Global Inequality & Poverty
- WGSST 3302 - Engendering Peace & Conflict
- WGSST 3370 - Sexualities & Citizenship
- WGSST 4520 - Women of Color & Social Activism