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The Graduate Certificate in Human Rights and Technology will critically analyze the intersections between information and communication technologies (ICTs) and human rights. Human rights workers need to increasingly be aware of the power and pitfalls of various types of technology while technology workers need to better understand the human rights implications of their work. In the proposed program students can explore such critical issues as: data rights, privacy, misinformation, artificial intelligence, surveillance, cyberactivism, encryption, e-learning, and data literacy. Numerous technologies will also be covered such as big databases, blockchain, surveillance technology, virtual reality, crowdsourcing of human rights data, and archiving of digital media. These technologies have the potential to significantly advance human rights, but technology is also being used to surveil, harass, disrupt, and suppress individuals and groups seeking to advance human rights. This program will critically assess the capabilities and limitations of currently used and emerging ICTs. Students will take one required course in HRTS and one in the I-School. They will also take two electives and complete an experiential course called Human Rights and Technology Project. It is expected that their project will be applied and bring important insights gained from both human rights and technology.
With the innovative curriculum and pedagogy of the HRTS program that relies heavily on videoconference guest lectures, students will learn from human rights practitioners and technological experts who are breaking new ground using technological applications for advancing human rights. Students will also have opportunity to work with scholars who study the ethical and political dimensions of technology and human rights, and the implications of new challenges like fake news, false video, data collection and improper use. Through their coursework and final projects students will have the opportunity to work on real-world projects with human rights organizations and technology professionals.
Please visit https://humanrightspractice.arizona.edu for comprehensive information about this program.
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’ mission is to advance research on people, engage new generations of scholars in the process of discovery through undergraduate and graduate teaching, and share discoveries with the community through public education and outreach.
SBS is home to twenty-one schools, departments, research units, and outreach centers, and our programs are some of the most highly ranked in the country, with a collective research prominence rivaling that of the best public higher education institutions in the country. The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is proud to serve a vital function in the State of Arizona as well as in the Southwest and US more broadly.
The program is housed in the Human Rights Practice Programs (HRTS) within SBS.
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Arizona International Direct - Online
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
Arizona Online - Online
Statement of Purpose
One Letter of Recommendation
Minimum GPA: 2.75 or international equivalent
Must hold Bachelor's degree from accredited university
C.V. or resume
Proof of English Proficiency if applicant is from a country where English is not the official language.
Confirmation of access to a computer and reliable Internet connection.
If applicant is from a country where English is not the official language, English proficiency must be demonstrated through any one of the following tests:
TOEFL, minimum score of 79 iBT or 550 PBT
International English Language Testing System (IELTS), minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below 6
Pearson PTE Academic: minimum score of 69
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year.
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
4832
15
Required courses:
9 credits of core courses will be required:
HRTS 543 – Advancing Human Rights through Technology (3 Credits)
INFO 536: Data Science for Human Rights (3 Credits) (New)
HRTS 598A – Human Rights and Technology Project (3 Credits) (New)
Program may accept up to 6 transfer units; please inquire with the Program Director
Minimum GPA for Core Courses: 3.0
6 Elective Credits from courses related to the students’ interests. Most often these will be three credits from HRTS and 3 credits from the I-School. Courses from other departments can be taken with approval from the director of the HRTS program.
Current electives in HRTS include:
HRTS 501: Advancing Human Rights Organizations (3 Credits)
HRTS 502: Advancing Human Rights Organizations II (3 Credits)
HRTS 505: Human Rights Voices (3 credits)
HRTS 510: Advancing Human Rights Law (3 Credits)
HRTS 511: Advancing Human Rights through Strategic Litigation (3 Credits)
HRTS 520: Community-Based Participatory Action Research for Human Rights (3 Credits)
HRTS 541: Advancing Human Rights through Doc Media (3 Credits)
HRTS 542: Advancing Human Rights through the Arts (3 Credits)
HRTS 543: Advancing Human Rights with Technology (3 Credits)
HRTS 595A: Human Rights Across Contexts (1-3 Credits)
HRTS 596A: Human Rights Crises (1-3 Credits)
HRTS 596B: Cutting-Edge Advances in Human Rights Practice (1-3 Credits)
HRTS 597A: Exploring Human Rights through Virtual Field Trips (1-3 Credits)
HRTS 599: Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
None
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.