The historic Dallas Hall at SMU is home to Dedman College and the B.S. Data Science program.

Undergraduate programs

Human rights

B.A.

Minor

Overview

The human rights program is educating a new generation of visionary changemakers to defend and demand human dignity. We offer a unique experience that challenges students to think beyond the classroom and encourages compassion and inclusion. The interdisciplinary program introduces students to the study of universally recognized civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights. The program offers human rights majors lecture programs, internships, independent research projects and the opportunity to participate in educational travel programs to study human rights issues worldwide. 

Top 20%

Best National Universities

U.S. News & World Report (2026)

11:1

undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio

90+

undergraduate majors at Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences

Admissions

Deadlines and details

Key dates and admissions information to help plan your application with confidence.

Transfer students

Everything transfer students need to know about admission requirements.

International students

All the essential admission requirements international students need to know.

Additional links

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Tuition and financial aid

2 out of 3 first-year students are awarded grants and/or scholarships with an average total of $38,598.

Tuition and costs

Explore the cost breakdown of tuition for undergraduate programs.

Financial aid

Find information on scholarships and financial support available at SMU.

Curriculum and learning

Featured courses

HRTS 3301/HIST 3301

Human Rights: America’s Dilemma

This course examines violations of human rights within their historical contexts and explores the foundations of current human rights issues such as torture, terrorism, slavery and genocide.

HRTS 4385

Human Rights Internship

This hands-on course allows students to apply human rights theory in a real-world professional setting through a supervised internship with organizations in the U.S. or globally.

HRTS 4390

Special Topics in Human Rights Abroad

Students travel abroad to designated countries to research and write about human rights situations and violations through interaction with educational, governmental and nongovernmental representatives; human rights activists; and survivors of human rights violations.

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Outside the classroom

Student success

Recent graduates have pursued careers in the arts, business, education, engineering, environmental science, government, humanitarian aid, journalism, law enforcement, medicine, the nonprofit sector and political science. The program also boasts an exceptional placement rate for students seeking to continue their education in graduate or law school. 

Student stories

SMU Bachelor of Arts in human rights graduate Peter Wetherbee poses on the deck of a boat.

Peter Wetherbee ’21

“The skills and knowledge that I gained from the SMU human rights program are directly linked to everything that I do today, from harnessing knowledge and systems for creating change, to using powerful communication and organizing tools to build community and bring awareness to the key issues of our time. I would not be the fundraiser, operative and advocate for human rights that I am today without this program!”

Faculty

Directed by Rick Halperin, a lifelong human rights activist and educator, the human rights program, one of only seven programs in the United States to grant a bachelor’s degree in this field, is staffed by a team of experienced human rights professionals. 

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Rick Halperin

Dr. Rick Halperin

Director

Professional headshot of Brad Klein in front of a bookcase wearing a blue sport coat and white button up shirt

Brad Klein

Associate Director

aikman

Sherry Aikman

Program Coordinator

Facilities

Clements Hall, located in the center of the SMU campus, is home to the Embrey Human Rights Program.

Clements Hall

Built in 1915, the hall is home to the Embrey Human Rights Program, among other departments. 

The historic Dallas Hall on the SMU campus is the home of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.

Dallas Hall

The 57,687-square-foot facility is utilized by Dedman College as both academic and office space.

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Frequently asked questions

The SMU human rights program is dedicated to providing opportunities for promoting, defending and extending human rights. As the premier human rights organization in higher education, the SMU human rights program seeks to help individuals advance their dreams through academic achievement, human rights travel experiences, fieldwork and community outreach efforts.

The human rights major consists of 30 credit hours of coursework related to human rights and at least 11 credit hours in any one world language. Students may also demonstrate proficiency in a world language through testing or other approved means. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the study of human rights, students are required to take a second major or a minor in a related field.

The major in human rights prepares students to serve as leaders and changemakers in a variety of pursuits. Recent graduates have pursued careers in the arts, business, education, engineering, environmental science, government, humanitarian aid, journalism, law enforcement, medicine, the nonprofit sector and political science.

Absolutely. The program boasts an exceptional placement rate for students seeking to continue their education in graduate or law school.

The human rights B.A. offers over 100 academic courses, educational travel opportunities across the globe and a variety of proven social innovation efforts in North Texas. Conferences, film screenings, grassroots trainings, lectures, legislative lobbying, protest events, rallies and social action campaigns – these examples represent just some of the happenings organized by the human rights program. Likewise, a new generation of changemakers is supported through the Student Leadership Initiative, a student organization that promotes human rights activities on and off campus.

Students also complete a minimum of 135 hours of fieldwork across nonprofit, governmental, private or international sectors, gaining substantive experience that strengthens their professional profile. Alongside their internship, students receive faculty guidance and engage in structured reflection to connect practice with academic learning. The internship builds practical skills in advocacy, research and program implementation while strengthening leadership and preparing students to address complex human rights challenges.

As transformative leaders, human rights graduates pursue careers in a wide variety of industries. They influence ethical change as lawyers, business consultants, educators, political organizers, physicians, statistical analysts, artists, peace builders and more.

Our students have gone on to attain medical, law and graduate degrees at top institutions. Our alumni hold leadership positions across the globe in the corporate world, nonprofit organizations and the public sector.

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