Policymakers, adjudicators and practitioners in international organizations, governments, NGOs, and private firms must be prepared to address the challenging human rights and humanitarian issues that face the international community today.  To help achieve this goal, Georgetown University offers a certificate program for students who have a career interest in human rights and humanitarian issues, with special focus on refugees and post-conflict situations.  J.D. and LL.M. students at the Law Center are eligible to enroll in the Certificate program, as well as Master level students at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and the Public Policy Institute. Please note that the Law Center will not admit students solely for the Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies Certificate program.

In consultation with their faculty advisor, students choose a total of six courses that qualify for certificate credit.  To ensure broad coverage of the field, each student generally must take at least one course on: 

1) refugees, migration or humanitarian emergencies/disaster relief

2) human rights, and

3) conflict/post-conflict related issues, rule of law, or development.

To learn more about the Certificate requirements, visit the Human Rights Institute's page on the Certificate.

Contact Information

To learn more, please contact:
Professor Andrew Schoenholtz, Director of the Refugee and Humanitarian Rights certificate
Phone: (202) 662 - 9036
Email: Andrew Shoenholtz

Please address any questions about admissions the Office of Graduate Admissions.