Human Rights and Equity Studies York University

Overview

Human Rights and Equity Studies at York University explores the ethical foundations, causes and effects of human rights violations while analysing equity across social, political and economic spheres. Students study how marginalisation intersects with race, gender, citizenship status, ability and sexuality, and consider remedies at individual, institutional and systemic levels.

Why Human Rights and Equity Studies at York University?

The programme is offered by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and is based at Keele Campus, providing a liberal arts framework that situates human rights within broader social sciences and humanities debates.

Teaching emphasises experiential education: faculty bring community agencies and guest speakers into classes and encourage applied learning. A dedicated fourth-year work-focused placement links majors with partner organisations such as human rights commissions, school boards and non-profit bodies.

York International and the university’s emphasis on global learning offer additional opportunities for international experience and comparative perspectives in human rights and equity scholarship.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: CAD 41526 per year
• National fee: CAD 8536 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

• Human rights and equity studies
• Climate change and society
• History of evolution
• Knowledge, truth and reality
• Work-focused placement
• Problems of physical, social and economic security
• Cultural autonomy
• Political rights and fundamental freedoms

Careers with Human Rights and Equity Studies

Graduates move into a range of roles across public, private and community sectors. Career paths listed by the programme include:

• International human rights worker
• Refugee and migrant advocate
• Policy analyst in government or NGOs
• Employment equity or human resources officer
• Trade union equity officer
• Women and children’s rights officer
• Healthcare or education equity worker
• Law-related activities and legal support roles
• Researcher in social justice, public policy or community organisations