Social Justice and Human Rights, MA
Advocacy, Community, Equality, Equity, Global, Immigration, Justice, Legislation, Policy, Refugees
In communities here and around the world, oppressed people respond in novel and creative ways, both to contest and transform injustice whenever it may occur. You can gain deeper knowledge to better understand these troubles in order to work toward solutions.
Students in the MA program in social justice and human rights explore key topics, such as labor, migration, education and the environment, and the legal, political, historical and cultural frameworks that contextualize them. The program is well suited to those aiming to channel their interests and passions toward ethical responses to social injustice and human rights abuses.
Students may focus on specific issues in international or domestic contexts, including refugee resettlement, immigration and citizenship, human trafficking, racialized violence, and international human rights law and organizations. In theoretically and methodologically rigorous courses taught by experienced faculty from various disciplines, students develop understanding of how social justice and human rights issues are defined by multiple and intersecting forms of inequality and social identity, including gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality and nationality.
Many students complete internships domestically or internationally, with interns typically working alongside other researchers and advocates for social justice in order to grasp the complexities of the issues and to hone their abilities to work effectively in both research and advocacy contexts. Internships may also inform the basis of the culminating experience: a traditional Master of Arts thesis, an applied project or a capstone course.
Students gain deeper insight into the theory and practice of social justice, human rights and humanitarian efforts, and they develop practical skills in research and grant writing.
- College/school:
New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
- Location: West Valley or Online
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
30 credit hours and a thesis, or
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (JHR 593), or
30 credit hours including the required capstone course (JHR 549)
Required Core (6 credit hours) Professional Development (3 credit hours) Research (6 credit hours) Electives (9 or 12 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 or 6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Course availability will be dependent on semester and modality. Students will select professional development and elective courses based on academic and professional interests as well as course availability. Additional elective courses may be approved by the academic unit.
JHR 501 Proseminar in Social Justice and Human Rights (3)
JHR 502 Foundations in Social Justice and Human Rights (3)
JHR 506 Grant Writing for Social Justice and Human Rights (3)
JHR 515 Power and Inequality in Academia and Activism (3)
JHR 584 Internship (3)
JHR 500 Research Methods (3)
JHR 525 Critical Methodologies in Social Justice and Human Rights (3)
JHR 503 Gender-based Violence and Sex-Trafficking (3)
JHR 504 International Law and Organizations (3)
JHR 505 Migration, Asylum and Refugees (3)
JHR 510 Problem-based Seminar in Social Justice and Human Rights (3)
JHR 540 Critical Humanitarianism (3)
JHR 550 Global Justice (3)
JHR 598 Global Racial Justice (3)
JHR 549 Capstone in Social Justice and Human Rights (3) or
JHR 593 Applied Project (6) or
JHR 599 Thesis (6)
Campus students pursuing JHR 593 or JHR 599 will complete 9 credit hours of electives coursework. All online students and campus students selecting JHR 549 Capstone in Social Justice and Human Rights will complete 12 credit hours.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree, in any field, from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate application and application fee
- official transcripts
- statement of purpose
- two letters of recommendation
- an academic writing sample (preferred) or professional writing sample
- resume or curriculum vitae
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The statement of purpose should describe the applicant's educational background, scholarly interests and academic and professional goals.
It is preferred that letters of recommendation be from faculty members who know the applicant's work well; if these are not available, letters of recommendation from individuals in supervisory or professional roles will be accepted. If letters of recommendation from two faculty members are not available, then it is strongly preferred that at least one letter be from a faculty member.
A writing sample is recommended but not required for students applying to the digital immersion program. If the applicant does not meet the minimum GPA requirements, the application may still be considered.
Applicants should see the program website for application deadlines.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
Studying abroad is possible for graduate students. There are more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent.
Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.
More information on available programs can be found on the Global Education Office website.
Graduates with a master's degree in social justice and human rights can begin or advance their careers in advocacy work in nonprofit or government agencies, humanitarian work, international law and advocacy, as well as in careers that enable them to address forced migration, trafficking, and gender-based or racialized violence.
Career examples include:
- advocate or lobbyist
- community organizer
- grant writer
- humanitarian aid worker
- policy analyst or researcher
- program officer
- public defender
- social justice specialist or consultant
- social service worker
Graduates from this program are well poised to pursue additional graduate education, such as law school or doctoral programs.
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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FAB N101
ncgradadvising@asu.edu
602-543-3000
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
