# Doctor of Human Rights PhD

- Link: https://www.tesla-edu.com/doctor-of-human-rights-phd/
- Published: 2017-01-28T22:30:56+00:00
- Author: Tesla University

_Doctorado en Derechos Humanos_

| **Institution** | American Federal University (AFU) | 
| **Academic Level** | Doctorate (PhD) | 
| **Modality** | In-person / Hybrid / Online | 
| **Duration** | 3 years (6 semesters) | 
| **Total Credits** | 120 ECTS | 
| **Language** | English / Spanish | 
| **Field of Knowledge** | International Law, Ethics and Political Philosophy | 
| **Accreditation** | ACHEA — American Council for Higher Education Accreditation |

**I. PROGRAM OVERVIEW**

The Doctor of Philosophy in Human Rights (PhD) is an advanced academic program designed
to train researchers, scholars, and professionals capable of analyzing, interpreting,
and contributing to the development of international human rights law from a critical,
interdisciplinary perspective committed to global justice.

The program integrates three major approaches: the legal doctrine of human rights,
the historical and political development of their international recognition, and
the priority areas for their implementation in contemporary contexts. Students acquire
high-level analytical competencies, methodological rigor in legal research, and 
the capacity to engage in national and international protection scenarios.

Over six semesters, doctoral candidates develop their dissertation under the supervision
of an expert tutor in one of the program’s specializations, producing an original
contribution to knowledge in the field of human rights.

**II. MISSION AND VISION**

**Mission**

To train Doctors of Philosophy in Human Rights with a solid grounding in law, ethics,
and philosophy, capable of leading research, teaching, and advocacy processes within
national and international systems for the protection of fundamental rights, contributing
to the consolidation of a more just, equitable, and dignified world order.

**Vision**

To be an internationally recognized doctoral program distinguished by the quality
of its human rights research, the impact of its graduates in international organizations,
academia, civil society, and the public sector, and its commitment to the values
of human dignity, equity, and the rule of law.

**III. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES**

**General Objective**

To train high-level researchers capable of producing original, rigorous, and applied
knowledge in the field of international human rights law, as well as actively contributing
to doctrinal, jurisprudential, and normative advancement in this domain.

**Specific Objectives**

**▸  **Develop advanced research competencies in public international law and human
rights.

**▸  **Critically analyze the doctrine, jurisprudence, and international instruments
of human rights.

**▸  **Explore the intersections between human rights, bioethics, political philosophy,
gender, and cultural pluralism.

**▸  **Examine the functioning of protection mechanisms within the universal system(
UN) and regional systems.

**▸  **Produce a doctoral dissertation constituting an original contribution to 
scientific knowledge.

**▸  **Prepare graduates for professional practice in academia, international organizations,
NGOs, and the public sector.

**IV. ADMISSION AND GRADUATION PROFILES**

**Admission Profile**

The program is aimed at professionals holding a master’s degree or equivalent in
Law, Political Science, Philosophy, International Relations, Social Sciences, or
related disciplines. Applicants must demonstrate:

**▸  **Solid grounding in international law or areas related to human rights.

**▸  **Academic or professional research experience in the field.

**▸  **Reading and comprehension ability in at least one foreign language (English
preferred).

**▸  **A coherent and relevant doctoral research proposal.

**▸  **Disposition for interdisciplinary work and rigorous academic debate.

**Graduation Profile**

Upon completing the program, the Doctor of Philosophy in Human Rights will be able
to:

**▸  **Lead human rights research projects to international academic standards.

**▸  **Publish in indexed journals and participate in global research networks.

**▸  **Design and implement public policies, litigation strategies, and rights protection
programs.

**▸  **Advise governmental bodies, NGOs, and international institutions on human
rights matters.

**▸  **Teach at the university level in legal, philosophical, and social disciplines.

**▸  **Contribute to normative and jurisprudential development at the national and
international level.

**V. RESEARCH LINES AND SPECIALIZATIONS**

The program offers doctoral supervision in the following specializations, according
to the areas of expertise of the academic faculty:

| **◆  **National protection of international human rights norms | **◆  **Freedom of expression and Law | 
| **◆  **Health and Human Rights | **◆  **International Law of Armed Conflict | 
| **◆  **International peacekeeping | **◆  **International Humanitarian Law | 
| **◆  **Functioning of the UN and International Organizations | **◆  **Gender, Difference, and Otherness | 
| **◆  **Bioethics and Applied Ethics | **◆  **Political Philosophy and Civil Society |

**VI. CURRICULAR PLAN — 120 ECTS | 3 YEARS**

**SEMESTER I — Doctrinal and Methodological Foundations**

| **Course** | **Type** | **Credits** | **Hours/Week** | 
| General Theory of Human Rights | Req. | 8 | 4 | 
| Public International Law and Human Rights | Req. | 8 | 4 | 
| Legal Research Methodology I | Req. | 6 | 3 | 
| Bioethics and Applied Ethics | Req. | 6 | 3 | 
| Doctoral Research Seminar I | Req. | 2 | 2 |

_Semester I Total: 30 ECTS | Focus: Epistemological and legal grounding of the doctoral
candidate._

**SEMESTER II — International Protection Systems**

| **Course** | **Type** | **Credits** | **Hours/Week** | 
| Universal Protection System: United Nations | Req. | 8 | 4 | 
| Regional Human Rights Protection Systems | Req. | 8 | 4 | 
| Legal Research Methodology II | Req. | 6 | 3 | 
| Political Philosophy and Human Rights | Req. | 6 | 3 | 
| Doctoral Research Seminar II | Req. | 2 | 2 |

_Semester II Total: 30 ECTS | Focus: International and regional protection architecture._

**SEMESTER III — Specialized Thematic Areas I**

| **Course** | **Type** | **Credits** | **Hours/Week** | 
| International Humanitarian Law and Armed Conflicts | Req. | 7 | 4 | 
| Health and Human Rights | Req. | 7 | 4 | 
| Freedom of Expression and International Law | Req. | 6 | 3 | 
| Ethics and Policy of Respect for Cultural Differences | Req. | 6 | 3 | 
| Thesis Seminar I — Research Design | Req. | 4 | 3 |

_Semester III Total: 30 ECTS | Focus: Rights in critical contexts and cultural diversity._

**SEMESTER IV — Specialized Thematic Areas II**

| **Course** | **Type** | **Credits** | **Hours/Week** | 
| Peacekeeping and International Operations | Req. | 7 | 4 | 
| Gender, Difference, and Otherness in Human Rights | Req. | 7 | 4 | 
| Civil Society and Political Institutions | Req. | 6 | 3 | 
| 20th-Century Philosophies: Political Thought Contributions | Elec. | 6 | 3 | 
| Thesis Seminar II — Theoretical and Methodological Framework | Req. | 4 | 3 |

_Semester IV Total: 30 ECTS | Focus: Advanced research and emerging topics._

**SEMESTER V — Advanced Doctoral Research**

| **Course** | **Type** | **Credits** | **Hours/Week** | 
| Academic Writing and Scientific Publication | Req. | 4 | 2 | 
| Human Rights, Climate Change, and Global Inequality | Elec. | 6 | 3 | 
| Migration, Asylum, and International Law | Elec. | 6 | 3 | 
| Thesis Seminar III — Chapter Development | Req. | 8 | 5 | 
| Research Internship / Academic Exchange | Req. | 6 | 4 |

_Semester V Total: 30 ECTS | Focus: Doctoral writing, empirical research, and academic
mobility._

**SEMESTER VI — Doctoral Dissertation and Defense**

| **Course** | **Type** | **Credits** | **Hours/Week** | 
| Philosophy of the Subject and Culture | Elec. | 4 | 2 | 
| Advanced Topics in Human Rights (Free Elective) | Elec. | 4 | 2 | 
| Thesis Seminar IV — Final Review and Pre-Defense | Req. | 6 | 4 | 
| Doctoral Dissertation: Manuscript and Public Defense | Req. | 16 | — |

_Semester VI Total: 30 ECTS | Focus: Completion, presentation, and defense of the
doctoral dissertation._

**VII. CREDIT SUMMARY AND DISTRIBUTION**

| **Semester I — Doctrinal and Methodological Foundations** | **30 ECTS** | 
| **Semester II — International Protection Systems** | **30 ECTS** | 
| **Semester III — Specialized Thematic Areas I** | **30 ECTS** | 
| **Semester IV — Specialized Thematic Areas II** | **30 ECTS** | 
| **Semester V — Advanced Doctoral Research** | **30 ECTS** | 
| **Semester VI — Doctoral Dissertation and Defense** | **30 ECTS** | 
| **TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS** | **120 ECTS** | 
| **TOTAL DURATION** | **3 years (6 semesters)** | 
| **Required courses** | **80 ECTS** | 
| **Elective courses** | **24 ECTS** | 
| **Thesis Seminars (I–IV)** | **18 ECTS** | 
| **Doctoral Dissertation (Manuscript + Defense)** | **16 ECTS** |

**VIII. DESCRIPTION OF MAIN MODULES**

**1. General Theory of Human Rights**

This course explores human rights concepts in relation to public international law
and is structured around three main approaches: the doctrine of human rights; the
historical and political development of human rights; and the key areas for their
future implementation. It seeks to develop analytical skills and the ability to 
identify relevant practices in a changing context, examining fundamental rights 
such as the right to life and the prohibition of torture, and their intersection
with contemporary issues such as migration, armed conflict, and climate change.

**2. Bioethics and Applied Ethics**

Training and research in bioethics issues and applied ethics problems. It examines
emerging ethical dilemmas related to biotechnology, public health, the beginning
and end of life, and the implications of scientific advances for human dignity and
fundamental rights.

**3. Ethics and Policy of Respect for Cultural Differences**

Training and research on issues related to coexistence in pluralistic and culturally
diverse societies. It addresses recognition and respect between individuals and 
groups, intercultural dialogue, the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples,
and the challenges of multiculturalism for international law.

**4. 20th-Century Philosophies: Contributions to Political Thought**

Training and research in the main contributions of 20th-century philosophical and
political thought. It studies key thinkers such as Arendt, Habermas, Rawls, Foucault,
Butler, and Derrida, analyzing their relevance to the contemporary understanding
of rights, justice, and politics.

**5. Political Philosophy**

Training and research in political philosophy with emphasis on theories of justice,
the legitimacy of power, deliberative democracy, and the philosophical foundations
of the rule of law. The course connects classical and contemporary political theory
with current debates on human rights and global governance.

**6. Philosophy of the Subject and Culture**

Training and research on philosophies of the subject and culture. It explores theories
of subjectivity, identity, collective memory, and alterity, as well as their impact
on the understanding of human rights from postmodern and decolonial philosophical
perspectives.

**7. Gender, Difference, and Otherness**

Training and research on issues related to gender, differences, and otherness in
the history of philosophical, political, and social thought. It analyzes feminist
movements, queer theories, LGBTIQ+ rights, intersectionality, and the rights of 
historically excluded populations.

**8. Civil Society and Political Institutions**

Training and research on topics related to civil society and political institutions,
democratic theory, and the challenges of globalization. It examines the role of 
NGOs, social movements, and citizen participation in rights accountability processes
at the national and international level.

**9. Doctoral Dissertation: Manuscript and Defense**

Dissertation projects are presented by each student in a formal seminar, which is
often (although not necessarily) open to the public, followed by a closed question
and answer session in which the student defends their thesis to the thesis committee.
These two components — public presentation and private defense — together comprise
the doctoral thesis defense. The process includes four progressive accompaniment
seminars (Thesis Seminars I through IV) spanning the third through sixth semesters.

**IX. DOCTORAL RESEARCH PROCESS**

The program adopts a model of progressive research training structured in four stages:

| **Stage** | **Semesters** | **Main Activity** | **Output** | 
| I | 1–2 | Theoretical and methodological training | Literature review | 
| II | 3–4 | Research design and framework | Approved doctoral proposal | 
| III | 5 | Fieldwork / research | Dissertation chapters | 
| IV | 6 | Final writing and public defense | Doctoral dissertation |

**X. CAREER OUTCOMES AND PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS**

Graduates of the Doctor of Philosophy in Human Rights program have pursued distinguished
careers across multiple sectors:

| **◆  **Academia and Research | **◆  **International Organizations (UN, OAS, EU) | 
| **◆  **Legal Practice and International Litigation | **◆  **Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) | 
| **◆  **Advisory roles to Governments and Parliaments | **◆  **Industry, Commerce, and Business (CSR) | 
| **◆  **High-Level University Teaching | **◆  **Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs |

**XI. LEADING REFERENCE UNIVERSITIES WORLDWIDE**

The curricular design of this program has drawn on best practices from doctoral 
programs in Human Rights at the following institutions:

| **University / Institution** | **Country** | **Reference Program** | 
| University of Essex | United Kingdom | PhD Human Rights | 
| Raoul Wallenberg Institute / Lund Univ. | Sweden | PhD International Human Rights Law | 
| American University Washington | USA | SJD / PhD Law | 
| Universidad de Deusto | Spain | Doctorate in Human Rights | 
| National University of Ireland Galway | Ireland | PhD Human Rights Law | 
| University of Minnesota | USA | Human Rights Studies PhD | 
| Maastricht University | Netherlands | PhD Human Rights | 
| Georg-August-Universität Göttingen | Germany | PhD International Law |

**XII. FINAL PROVISIONS**

This Study Plan may be reviewed and updated by the Academic Council of the program
on a semester basis, in response to doctrinal, jurisprudential, and normative developments
in the field of international human rights law, as well as recommendations from 
the relevant accreditation bodies.

Completion of the doctoral program requires the accumulation of 120 ECTS, successful
completion of all thesis seminars, submission of the doctoral dissertation manuscript,
and its successful defense before the evaluation committee designated by the institution.

**120 ECTS | 3 Years | ACHEA Accredited**