Human Rights & Justice

Declaration of the Minor

1. Declaration Process: Students should consult with the HRJ Program Director or Undergraduate Advisor to review the 19-credit requirement and complete the Major/Minor Declaration Form via the Registrar’s website.

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2. Effective Term: Because elective courses taken prior to the formal declaration of the minor are generally not applicable to the 19- credit requirement (see Intentionality of Study), early declaration is essential for timely completion.

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3. Eligibility Note: Students admitted into the Social Work (BSW) major are not eligible to declare the Human Rights & Justice minor. As the core principles of human rights and justice are fully integrated into the Social Work major curriculum, these students receive equivalent training through their primary degree path.

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Minor Requirements

1. Foundational Core (6 credits)

1. HRJ 204

   Foundations of Human Rights 3 credits

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2. Note: This course is the mandatory entry prerequisite for all other HRJ courses in the minor.

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3. HRJ 248

   Global Accountability: Human Rights Law and Governance 3 credits

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2. Applied Skills & Policy (6 credits)

1. HRJ 301

   Human Rights Stewardship: Ethics, Communication, and Advocacy 3 credits

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2. HRJ 310

   Policy Practice: Politics and Economics of Human Rights 3 credits

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3. Interdisciplinary Electives (6 credits)

1. Students select two approved, 3-credit electives that explore diverse perspectives of human rights application in professional and daily life.

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2. Major Alignment: Students are strongly encouraged to select electives from within their major department to explore the intersection of their primary field and human rights. Examples of approved alignment include: AFS 340: Human Rights in Africa, POL 310: Immigration and Refugee Policy, or EST 325: Technology in the Workplace.

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3. Intentionality of Study: Elective selection is an intentional process occurring after the completion of HRJ 204. Consequently, courses taken prior to declaring the minor are generally not applicable to the elective requirement, ensuring that students apply the foundational theories of HRJ 204 to their subsequent elective choices.

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4. Culminating Requirement (1 credit)

1. HRJ 480

   Retrospective Seminar in Human Rights & Justice 1 credit

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Curriculum & Sequencing Notes

1. Prospective Enrollment: The HRJ minor is designed as a progressive, intentional sequence. Students are expected to declare the minor early in their academic career; electives taken before the completion of HRJ 204 or before the formal declaration of the minor will not be applied toward the 19-credit requirement.

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2. SBC Learning Outcomes: All HRJ Core courses (HRJ 204, 248, 301, 310) are designed to fulfill various Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) requirements. This ensures the minor is accessible and integrates with the degree progress of students in all majors.

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3. Residency: All 19 credits must be taken at Stony Brook University. No transfer credits or retroactive credits are accepted for the minor

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4. Major Integration: The minor is structured to serve as a core discipline for Multidisciplinary Studies (MD-S) majors, provides a required minor pathway for Biology majors, and may serve as an Area of Concentration for various Social Science majors.

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5. Eligibility Note: Students admitted into the Social Work (BSW) major are not eligible to declare the Human Rights & Justice minor. As the core principles of human rights and justice are fully integrated into the Social Work major curriculum, these students receive equivalent training through their primary degree path.

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6. Universal Value: Regardless of a student’s primary major, the Human Rights & Justice minor provides a distinct competitive advantage, signaling to employers and graduate programs a profound commitment to ethical practice and global social responsibility.

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