The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights is pleased to be able to offer the undergraduate Certificate in Human Rights.

Human rights concern the inherent dignity of all human beings and the promotion and protection of that dignity irrespective of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, culture, nationality, birth, or other status. The Human Rights Certificate Program seeks to broaden understanding of human rights issues and to identify solutions to them on an interdisciplinary basis. Coursework in units across the University prepares students to examine societal problems critically and to design specific solutions to human rights dilemmas contextually in areas including (but not limited to) civil governance, the situation of women and racial and sexual minorities, child welfare, socioeconomic development and well-being, hunger and poverty, education, health, immigration, ecological sustainability, and mass violence.

The Certificate is administered by the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights. [1]

Eligibility for the Certificate

Students may complete the Certificate as part of their bachelor’s program at UI; the certificate is awarded upon completion of the bachelor's degree. Holders of Iowa baccalaureate degrees may return to complete the requirements for a certificate. Holders of baccalaureate degrees from other institutions who are not enrolled in a graduate or professional program at The University of Iowa may apply for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and are awarded the certificate on completion of the requirements.

Requirements for the Certificate can be found in The University of Iowa General Catalog [2] and on the University College Website. [3]

ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES approved by the Certificate in Human Rights Faculty Advisory Committee can be found here. [4]

How do I enroll and earn the certificate?

Step #1: Register and complete a plan of study for the Human Rights
Certificate Program here. [5]

Step #2: Contact the Human Rights Certificate Advisor via email [6] to ask questions or make an appointment to design a plan of study that’s right for you.

Step #3: Follow the instructions specific to your student status:

Current University of Iowa Students
Declare your intention to earn the Certificate. CLAS and College of Education students should declare at 120 SH. Tippie College of Business Students should declare at C140 PBB. College of Nursing, Engineering, Pharmacy and University College Students should contact [6] the Human Rights Certificate Advisor for further information.

Graduates of the University of Iowa
If you hold a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa students you need to submit a re-entry form to earn the certificate: 
http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/returning/index.html [7]
In the dropdown box, select the Certificate in Human Rights as your degree objective.

Graduates from other Universities 
If you hold a Bachelor’s degree from another university you need to submit an undergraduate transfer application form to earn the certificate: 
http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/apply/xfer-aps.html [8]
In the dropdown box, select the Certificate in Human Rights as your degree objective.

Step #4: Once you have completed the certificate requirements fill out and return the completion form [9] to the Human Rights Certificate advisor (UI Center for Human Rights located at 1120 UCC).

About Us

Program Advisor: Kelsey Kramer
Email: kelsey-kramer@uiowa.edu [10]

Chair: Greg Hamot
Director of the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights.

Faculty Advisory Group:
Mary Cohen (Music; Education)
Greg Hamot (Education; Director, UICHR)
Elizabeth Heineman (History; Gender, Women’s, & Sexuality Studies)
Loyce Arthur (Theater Arts)
Dian Gottlob (Division of Continuing Education)

The Faculty Advisory Group oversees the Certificate and provides leadership on curricular and intellectual questions as well as matters relating to community engagement. The Faculty Advisory Group meets once a semester to review applications for new courses to qualify for the Certificate. Students wishing to take a course towards the Certificate that is not on the pre-approved list of courses should petition the Faculty Advisory Group in advance of pre-registration during the semester before you wish to take the course. The Certificate Advisor can offer assistance with this process.