Is a Masters in Human Rights Worth It?
Yes! We think so.
We know that the world is a dangerous place, and we want to make sure you’re prepared for it. That’s why we offer our Masters in Human Rights—to help you understand how to protect yourself and others from harm, and how to deal with it if it happens anyway.
Our program is designed to give you real-world experience as well as theoretical knowledge of human rights issues around the globe. You’ll learn how to identify potential threats, prepare for them, and respond appropriately when they occur. You’ll also get an in-depth understanding of international law as it relates to human rights violations across the globe.
At the end of this program, you’ll be ready to use your new skills as a human rights professional or advocate. And we’re here for you every step of the way—from application all the way through graduation!
Is A Masters In Human Rights Worth It
Introduction
A master’s degree in human rights is a worthwhile investment for people who want to work in international relations or advocacy and are passionate about human rights. This graduate degree can also open doors to exciting careers outside of the nonprofit sector, including jobs as researchers, lawyers, and teachers. As you think about whether or not you should pursue this degree, here are some things to consider:
Are you passionate about human rights?
While it’s easy to romanticize human rights work, the field actually involves a lot of hard work and sacrifice. If you are not passionate about human rights and cannot make yourself care about them, then you will likely find it difficult to succeed as an advocate. When considering whether or not to pursue a masters in human rights, ask yourself if you’re able to get emotionally invested in your clients’ stories and causes. Are there certain issues that make your blood boil? Does something seem unfair or unjust when others do not receive fair treatment? These are all good signs that becoming an advocate could be right for you.
If these questions leave you unsure about how much passion there is inside of yourself–or if they bring up feelings of hesitation rather than excitement–then perhaps pursuing an advanced degree is not the right choice for now. There are many other career paths out there besides advocacy; one idea might be talking with friends who have chosen careers outside the non-profit world so that they can offer advice on what has worked best for them thus far in life (and maybe even uncover ways that could help support their own passions).
Do you want to work in international relations?
If you’re hoping to work in international relations as a human rights professional, a masters in human rights will be a good fit. You can work with governmental organizations such as the United Nations or with NGOs like Amnesty International. You can also work in private sector jobs and teach at universities. Your options are wide-ranging when it comes to choosing your career path after earning a masters degree in this field.
Is going abroad important to you?
If you’re someone who loves to travel and be immersed in a new culture, then studying abroad is an excellent opportunity. Depending on the program, you may have opportunities for field trips or even an internship with an organization in your field of study.
In addition to being able to travel and experience different cultures, it’s important to keep in mind the cost of living in the country you choose: if its higher than what you’re used to paying for rent or groceries back home, that can affect what kind of income you need as well as how much money you’ll have left over after paying bills each month (and going out). Another thing worth considering is whether or not there are any visa requirements for studying abroad—for example, some countries require minimum number of hours worked per week while others don’t allow students from certain countries without having a student visa first obtained beforehand by applying through their embassy/consulate located within your home country before traveling abroad.
Finally (and perhaps most importantly), consider if there’s enough demand locally among employers who hire graduates with specific degrees; this could change depending on economic conditions throughout different regions around world so keep this factor into account when planning ahead when considering options like: where will I live after graduating? What job market should I look into first?
Are you interested in generalist or specialist knowledge?
- Generalist knowledge is more theoretical and aimed at a wider range of fields.
- Specialist knowledge is more practical, relevant to a specific field, and can be useful if you’re interested in working in that area.
If you are interested in generalist knowledge, then the answer to this question will be yes. If not, then it’s probably not worth it for most people.
Do you want to pursue a career in academia or practice?
If you want to pursue a career in academia, then it is worth it.
If you want to be a lawyer, then it is not worth it. Having a Masters of Human Rights does not make you eligible for admission into law schools and even if you can get admitted into one, there are many other things that have more impact on whether or not you pass the bar exam than having this degree such as your LSAT score and GPA.
If you want to be a diplomat/foreign service officer (FSO), then it is worth it! The State Department requires that all FSOs have graduate degrees prior to being considered for employment at its Foreign Service Institute (FSI). A Masters of Human Rights gives one more opportunity over possessing only a bachelor’s degree because they can decide what they would like their thesis topic will be based on their interest rather than their limited knowledge bases which might not be conducive towards meeting those requirements set forth by FSI during the application process itself so long as they are able-bodied enough physically capable enough mentally stable emotionally balanced cognitively sound financially solvent psychologically stable
How much debt are you willing to incur?
It’s important to consider the cost of a masters degree in human rights. It will be more expensive than obtaining a bachelor’s degree in human rights, but it also carries more weight when it comes to your career.
You have to figure out how much debt are you willing to incur? If the master’s program costs $50,000 and you have $40,000 worth of student loans from your undergraduate degree, then you might want to reconsider that decision because you would still owe an additional $10K for the master’s program.
This article provides some good advice on how much debt students should take on while pursuing their graduate education: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolecollins00/2017/09/05/how-much-student-loan-debt-is-too-much/#7d89c9a1d9e8
Your financial and career goals will play a big role in deciding whether or not to get this degree.
It’s also important to consider the cost of living in the city you want to go to. If you plan on living alone, this will be less than if you plan on sharing an apartment or house with family or friends. You should also think about how much money will be saved by working part time while studying, and what it would take in terms of financial aid or scholarships in order for those costs to be covered.
In addition, keep in mind that there may be travel expenses associated with getting to campus from home (or vice versa). So if your current job requires frequent travel between two different cities, that can cut into any savings made by living at home during your studies and working part time throughout them as well.
Conclusion
There are plenty of other factors to consider, like finances, financial aid, and the individual programs you’re looking at. But ultimately, if you think you have a good idea of what it takes to get this degree and the skills required for success in your career goals after graduating, then it may be time to start looking into schools. We recommend applying to as many schools as possible—after all, it’s free!