The UICHR regularly offers undergraduate courses that explore complex issues and subjects related to human rights. These courses are offered through the College of Law as part of the Certificate in Human Rights, but are open to any students at the University of Iowa. 

Fall 2026 Course Offerings: 

course poster Intro to Human Rights
course poster Approaches to Advocacy
course poster for Technology and Human Rights
course poster for Law and Human Rights: Armed Conflict and Accountability
course poster Business, Labor and Human Rights

Regular Course Offerings: 

Foundations in Human Rights

HRTS:2115 Introduction to Human Rights 3 s.h.; in-person (fall, spring); online; synchronous and asynchronous content (summer). Analysis and evaluation of the international human rights program; relationship between human rights and international law.

Human Rights in Practice

HRTS:3910 Approaches to Advocacy: From Theory to Practice 3 s.h.; in-person (fall)
Students explore real-life human rights and humanitarian advocacy initiatives, learn to apply a variety of advocacy models, and critically analyze challenges faced by practitioners working in the field of human rights advocacy.

HRTS:3920 Advocacy in Action: From the Classroom to Congress (spring); focus on field-based advocacy and human rights frameworks.

Contemporary Global Issues in Human Rights

HRTS:2901/SEES:2901 The Environment and Human Rights 1 s.h., 8 week off-cycle; online; synchronous and asynchronous content (fall).

HRTS: 2902/IS:2902 The Arts and Human Rights 1 s.h., 8 week off-cycle; in-person (not currently scheduled). 

HRTS:2903/IS:2903 Technology and Human Rights 3 s.h. (semester-length in-person course; fall 2026).

HRTS:2907/IS:2907 Literature and Human Rights 1 s.h., 8 week off-cycle; online; synchronous and asynchronous content (not currently scheduled). 

HRTS:2908/IS:2908 Governance and Human Rights 1 s.h., 8 week off-cycle; online; synchronous and asynchronous content (spring).

HRTS:2909/IS:2909 Human Rights Lab 1 s.h., 8 week off-cycle; online; synchronous and asynchronous content (spring).

HRTS: 2910 Law and Human Rights 1 s.h, 8 week off-cycle; online synchronous and asynchronous content; fall and spring (topics vary by semester). 

HRTS:3904/IS:3904 Business, Labor, and Human Rights 1 s.h., 8 week off-cycle online or 3 s.h., in-person (fall 2026--1 s.h.). 

HRTS:3906 Global Crises in Human Rights 3 s.h., in-person (spring).

Please visit the UI Office of the Registrar for information regarding registration deadlines for courses or email Jo Butterfield, Advisor Human Rights Certificate, at jo-butterfield@uiowa.edu.