INDS B.A: International Human Rights Law
Spring 2018 Capstone
Measuring and Combating Child Marriage in Bangladesh
My INDS Degree
The field I wish to study is international human rights law. As defined by the United Nations “…human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status”. These rights ought to be guaranteed without discrimination, and are “…interrelated, interdependent, and indivisible”. The protection of these rights may be ensured by treaties, declarations, constitutions, or other instruments that transform human dignity into legislation. Where domestic legal proceedings fall short, the implementation of international human rights law enacts a system of checks and balances that is to be respected on a regional level as well. Because this system is so complex that it exists on so many different scales, it requires the intersection of disciplines such as political science, psychology, anthropology, and sociology in order to be adequately explained. Using my coursework to serve as a foundation, my aim is to create a clear distinction between international law and cultural imperialism.
Degree Mentors
- Jeffrey Davis, Professor of Department of Political Science
- Bobbie Hoye, Sr. Associate General Counsel
- Steven McAlpine, Lecturer of Individualized Study
Post Graduation Plans
My immediate post-graduation plans involve going to law school, ideally in DC (Georgetown) as it is home to many offices I hope to work with in my undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate career. I am aiming to secure an internship at the International Law Institute, and I believe that future collaborations with organizations such as the Center for International Policy would benefit me greatly as it has a focus in human rights. After attending law school and receiving my graduate degree, I am thinking to start out in private practice.
Another potential non-profit organization at which I could seek a position is the Human Rights Watch.
Courses In My Degree Plan
✅ Identify past events, conflicts, and ideologies that have led to the creation of current human rights law in order to understand the process by which a human rights issue gains priority within government agendas.
(POLI 280, 337, 432 / PHIL 353 / PSYC 387 / ANTH 397 / HONR 300)
✅ Learn how human rights law is enforced and negotiated in order to study its application.
(POLI 334, 350, 437 / SOCY 380)
✅ Assess public reception of human rights law within cultural, social, and political contexts in order to learn how to better cater to differing needs: (GWST 338, 342 / PSYC 230 / ANTH 211 / MLL 625)
✅ Gain an understanding of the interdisciplinary process and apply it to my Capstone Project in order to further my career goals. (INDS 330H, 335, 399, 480, 490H / POLI 301 / ENGL 391)