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Human Rights

Human Rights are codified laws that governments are obligated to legislate and enforce. The study of human rights is about educating individuals in the broad field of human rights in New Brunswick, Canada, and internationally.

 

For human rights to be codified into law, there’s often a period where the struggle for those rights takes place — this is accomplished through education and activism.

 

Human Rights at STU 

STU has the only Department of Human Rights in Atlantic Canada, and the only program in Canada where students can complete an honours thesis. STU also features the only for-credit undergraduate Moot Court Program in Canada, which allows students to compete in national and international tournaments. 

Human Rights Departmental Photo

 

"An education in human rights equips us to learn from the past, confront present injustices, and create a more equitable future."

 

– Dr. Christina Szurlej, Chair of Human Rights

What sets STU’s Human Rights Department Apart? 

  • STU Human Rights has its own internship program that provides students with academic credit while they gain professional experience. Internship students later gained employment from our internship partners, including the Child and Youth Advocate Office of New Brunswick, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, Office for Children and Seniors, and Fredericton Homeless Shelters. 
     
  • Lectures and seminars are always taught by professors—not teaching assistants—which means students learn from experts in the field.  
     
  • The for-credit Moot Court program is unique in Canada. Students taking Moot Court courses earn academic credit and gain courtroom experience, as well as practical skills in legal research, brief writing, and oral advocacy. 
     
  • Students benefit from faculty expertise in Canadian human rights, international human rights, child rights, international criminal law, 2SLGTBQIA+ rights, environmental rights, and disability rights. 

Where the Study of Human Rights can Take You 

Students in Human Rights can identify key issues and have the capacity to work toward reasonable solutions. They develop practical skills in writing and legal research, while refining their ability to analyze texts, think critically, write clearly, and communicate effectively. 

This prepares graduates for meaningful careers in fields like: 

 

  • Law 
  • Social Work 
  • Non-Governmental Organizations 
  • Public Policy and Government
  • Policing 
  • Business 
  • Journalism and Communications

“Moot Court is what you’re doing in law school. You’re reading cases, you’re understanding how legal precedents work, and then you’re extrapolating them on a new set of facts and creating your own arguments. Knowing how to look at facts or a situation, synthesize it, and create something new is something I learned at STU." 
 
Emma Walsh,  BA ’19, Human Rights and Political Science 
McGill Law Graduate '23,  Associate, McCarthy Tetrault (Vancouver) 

Gain Experience and Build Your Resume 

STU’s Internship Program connects the study of Human Rights with professional experience through opportunities with organizations like: 
 

  • Autism Connections Fredericton 
  • Capital Region Mental Health and Addictions Association 
  • Child and Youth Advocate Office of New Brunswick 
  • United Way 
  • Multicultural Association of Fredericton 
  • Out of the Cold – Community Action Group on Homelessness 

 

The Human Rights department has a for-credit internship program that pairs students with agencies and non-governmental organizations to gain practical, hands-on experience. Students earn academic credit for the internship.  Some of our internship partners include:

  • New Brunswick Human Rights Commission
  • Department of Post Secondary Education and Labour
  • Atlantic Council for International Cooperation
  • Fredericton Homeless Shelters
  • New Brunswick Tenants' Rights Council
  • Imprint Youth Association

Moot Court gives students the opportunity to act as legal counsel in fictitious cases based on legal precedent. This develops speaking, critical thinking, writing, and researching skills, and deepens your understanding of Canadian law and American law, international law, space law, and environmental law.

You might be interested in studying Human Rights if… 

  • You want to go to law school, pursue a career in social work, public policy, or are interested in law enforcement.

  • You are interested in being an activist in your community, pursuing social justice at the grass roots level.

  • You want to better understand your rights and the rights of those who are most vulnerable.

Featured Courses 

Moot Court
Popular Culture and Human Rights
Exploring Disability
Environment and Human Rights
Advocacy, Activism, and Social Justice
Human Rights of the Child and Seniors
Crimes against Humanity
Human Rights Internships

Fields that Enhance Your Learning in Human Rights 

The study of Human Rights pairs well with Criminology, Political Science, International Relations, Law, Politics, and Society, Sociology, Great Books, Women’s Studies and Gender Studies, and Environment and Society. These fields, like Human Rights, explore themes that deal with human nature, ethics, reasoning, behaviour, and the influences of history and government on societies and the individual.