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Social Justice and Human Rights, BA

Develop research and advocacy skills that help you evaluate complex issues, communicate clearly and back evidence-based solutions. Examine migration, environmental justice, race, gender, citizenship and global justice through an interdisciplinary lens.

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An illustration of people, scales and community support reflects equity and advocacy in ASU's Social Justice and Human Rights, BA program.

Quick facts

Courses

120 credit hours
Math intensity: General program math intensity general
First required math course: MAT 114 - College Mathematics
or any math course that meets the MATH designation
View more details

Additional facts

STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Degree description

Social Justice and Human Rights degree description

The Bachelor of Arts program in social justice and human rights spans the social sciences and the humanities to prepare you to meet the challenges of social justice and protection of human rights in local, national, international and global contexts.

Coursework prepares you to serve as an advocate for alleviating political, economic and social inequality. The program introduces you to principles and practices of everyday humanitarianism, multimedia advocacy, and theories and practices of social justice and human rights.

Why earn a social justice and human rights minor at ASU?

You choose from three structured pathways, develop both research and advocacy skills, and complete a culminating experience through an internship, capstone project or honors thesis. The result is a flexible program that allows you to connect broad social issues with specific areas of interest and action.

You can also connect your studies to ASU's Global Human Rights Hub.

Courses

Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.

Sample courses
JHR 100 Introduction to Social Justice and Human Rights
JHR 305 Theory and Practice of Social Justice and Human Rights
SBS 302 Qualitative Methods
JHR 484 Internship
ASB 339 Grassroots Social Movements
ASB 340 Migration and Culture

Course checksheet and curriculum archive

The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.

What If

Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).

Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.

If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.

See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)

Admission requirements

Here are the admission and application details

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)

A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.

Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.


Explore expanded study opportunities

This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.

This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

Graduate advisor
Mitchell Lawson
602-496-1745
mitchell.lawson@thunderbird.asu.edu
General contact
602-496-7100
Learn more about this program

Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Global experience

Studying abroad enables students in the social justice and human rights program to explore the influence of culture, law, race and religion on a global scale as they prepare to make an impact.

With more than 300 Global Education program opportunities available to them, students are able to tailor their experience to their specific interests and skill sets. Students in these programs build communication skills, learn to adapt and persevere, and are exposed to research and internships across the world, increasing their professional network. Participation in a study abroad program provides students with the heightened cultural competency and strengthened leadership and critical thinking skills that enhance their resumes and help them stand out in a competitive career field. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences can explore how their varied fields and interests interact in different settings around the world.

Paying for college

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Get an estimate

Build the career and future you want

Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:

Career opportunities showing job titles, projected growth rates, median salaries, and links to detailed information
Career Growth Median Salary More Information
Advocate 7.4% $45,930
Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) 5.6% $64,070
Community Health Worker 12.7% $51,850
Community Specialist 5.5% $56,730
Government Programs Specialist 1.6% $54,210
Mental Health Counselor 18.4% $59,350
Political Analyst -2.0% $142,080
Politician Not available Not available
Social Services Director 7.2% $80,390
Sociologist 3.8% $106,030

Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.

Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).


More about careers

Careers this social justice and human rights degree prepares you for

Graduates with this degree are employable in a variety of settings, including refugee resettlement agencies; agencies and shelters that support survivors of domestic abuse; shelters for migrants, especially for unaccompanied minors; disaster relief agencies; organizations that assist survivors of sex trafficking and human labor trafficking; and agencies that assist veterans. Career opportunities include:

  • charitable fundraiser (e.g., Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust staff member)
  • grant writer
  • human rights lawyer
  • humanitarian aid worker (e.g., U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights aid worker, Oxfam aid worker)
  • international governmental organization professional (e.g., U.N. staff member)
  • investigative journalist
  • lobbyist for human rights and social justice causes
  • nongovernmental organization professional (e.g., Amnesty International professional)
  • nonprofit agency manager (e.g., Special Olympics Arizona, international manager)
  • public policy researcher

Contact information

Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.

School of Social and Behavioral Sciences | FAB N101
SBSadvising@asu.edu
602-543-3000

Frequently asked questions about degree programs

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

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. 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.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

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