International Human Rights and Diversity Interdepartmental Area of Specialization

The International Human Rights and Diversity Initiative’s goal is to examine issues related to human rights in an international perspective, with a particular interest in examining the relationship between cultural diversity and human rights. The importance of respecting cultures and cultural differences in an increasingly globalized world is a goal that many cherish, but some cultures do not protect human rights. How can human rights and cultural diversity both be protected? Similarly, the issue of whether human rights are universal is of key importance to the Initiative. Are human rights universal or are they relevant to only some cultures? The Initiative’s focus however, is not limited to these issues, and deals with the many facets of international human rights.

Steering Committee: Professors Pat Draper, Anthropology and Geography; Brian Lepard, Law; David Forsythe, Political Science; Parks Coble, History; Jean Cahan, Judaic Studies; Joy Ritchie, English/Women’s Studies; Mark van Roojen, Philosophy; Jose Gonzalez, Modern Languages and Literatures.

Departments Participating (Masters): Anthropology and Geography, English, History, Modern Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, Political Science.

Departments Participating (Doctoral): Anthropology and Geography [Geography only], English, History, Modern Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, Political Science.

An International Human Rights and Diversity Steering Committee has been established to coordinate the interdisciplinary aspects of this specialization. One member of the student’s examining committee or supervisory committee must represent a discipline participating in the International Human Rights and Diversity program other than the student’s discipline. Approval of the thesis or dissertation topic must have the concurrence of the student’s faculty advisor and the International Human Rights and Diversity Advisory Committee.

Masters Degree Program Requirements

An intra-University of Nebraska-Lincoln masters-level specialization with an emphasis in International Human Rights and Diversity is available to any student pursuing a Masters degree within any of the participating departments and programs. Successful completion of the requirements will be indicated on the student’s final transcript in parentheses following the name of the student’s academic discipline, for example, Political Science (International Human Rights and Diversity).

Each student will be required to complete the following:

1. A masters degree in one of the participating departments or programs;
2. 12 credit hours of International Human Rights and Diversity courses from the student’s discipline, and at least one department outside the student’s discipline, including:
3. 3 credit hours of core courses;
4. 6 credit hours from list A; and
5. when Option I (thesis) is available in the student’s program, a thesis relating to International Human Rights and Diversity.

The masters degree will be granted in one of the basic disciplines and students must be formally admitted to a degree objective in one of the participating programs.

Doctoral Degree Program Requirements

An intra-University of Nebraska-Lincoln doctoral-level specialization with an emphasis in International Human Rights and Diversity is available to any student pursuing a PhD degree within any of the participating departments and programs. Successful completion of the requirements will be indicated on the student’s final transcript in parentheses following the name of the student’s academic discipline, for example, Political Science (International Human Rights and Diversity).

Each student will be required to complete the following:

1. A doctoral degree in one of the participating departments or programs;
2. 18 credit hours of International Human Rights and Diversity courses from the student’s discipline and at least two departments outside the student’s discipline, including:
3. 3 credit hours of core courses;
4. a minimum of 6 credit hours from list A;
5. the remaining credit hours (between 3 and 9) from list B;
6. a doctoral dissertation relating to International Human Rights and Diversity.

International Human Rights and Diversity related courses completed by a student for an International Human Rights and Diversity specialization at the masters level may be counted toward meeting the requirements for an International Human Rights and Diversity Specialization at the PhD level.

The PhD degree will be granted in one of the basic disciplines and students must be formally admitted to a degree objective in one of the participating programs.

International Human Rights and Diversity Courses

Courses in International Human Rights and Diversity to comprise the interdisciplinary component of the student’s program of study are listed below by category. Course descriptions and prerequisites are contained in the appropriate departmental listings. With approval by the Advisory Committee, a student may take courses cross-listed with an outside department to meet program requirements, if the faculty member teaching the course is not in the student’s home department. Up to two special topics courses with an International Human Rights and Diversity component may be substituted for courses in Lists A and B, with the approval of the Advisory Committee.

Core Courses

• Political Science 965 International Human Rights
• Law 616 International Human Rights Law

List A

• Political Science 960 International Law and Organization
• Political Science 885 Contemporary Political Thought
• Anthropology 876 Human Rights, Environment, Development
• Law 714 Comparative Law: International Gender Issues

List B

• Anthropology 851 Indians of North America
• Anthropology 874 Applied and Development Anthropology
• Anthropology 820 Ethnic Conflict and Identity
• English 845 Ethnic Literature (when taught as Studies in the African Diaspora)
• Geography 933 Seminar in Geography and Anthropology
• History 829 History of Fascism in Europe
• History 839 The Holocaust
• History 878 Pro-Seminar in Latin American Studies
• History 880 China since Ming Era
• Modern Languages 854 Anti-Semitism in Russia and the West
• Philosophy 823 or 920 Advanced Ethics or Ethical Theory
• Philosophy 825 or 925 Political and Social Philosophy or Social and Political Philosophy
• Political Science 860 Pro-Seminar in International Relations
• Political Science 873 Problems in International Law and Organization
• Political Science 877 Israel and the Middle East