PPGA 391A: Human Rights in a Globalized World is a 3-credit undergraduate experiential learning course on the field of human rights work. This course is offered under the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs in collaboration with the UBC Human Rights Collective and the UBC Office of Regional and International Community Engagement.
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About the Course
This course offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience in the field of human rights work. The course takes an interdisciplinary lens to exploring the theory and practice of human rights work in a globalized world. Students will learn the opportunities and impediments in rights-based work, and will participate in experiential learning activities. Through case studies and examples from different disciplines, students will better understand the diverse and increasingly complex body of human rights work.
Course Learning Benefits
Here are just a few of the benefits of taking our experiential learning course:
- The experiential learning opportunity means that students will learn by doing and will be better equipped to understand the concepts and practice of human rights work. Students will work on real-world projects with human rights organizations, helping them to develop and implement organizational policies and strategies for confronting human rights violations.
- Students who complete this course will gain valuable skills and competencies in policy analysis, project management, research, report writing, advocacy, presentation and public speaking. Students will also develop soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills which are all essential for every workplace environment.
- The interdisciplinary component of the course provides a unique opportunity for students to encounter different interdisciplinary approaches to studying human rights. Students will be introduced to cross-cutting disciplinary themes such as environmental rights, human rights in the digital age and AI, human rights and artistic activism as well as the legal and political mechanisms for addressing human rights challenges.
- Students will develop the ability to critically identify and analyze human rights issues in policy debates. Students will learn how to develop and implement policies that are consistent with human rights standards and gain experience on how to work with civil society organizations and other stakeholders to promote human rights.