Unlock Your Future in Human Rights: Thriving Careers Await!
Discover premier human rights faculty jobs transforming global justice through academia. Whether you're a student eyeing human rights professor positions or a seasoned academic hunting tenure-track roles, AcademicJobs.com connects you to leading opportunities in political science and beyond. Dive into booming demand fueled by worldwide crises—from Ukraine conflicts to climate refugee surges—where human rights experts command prestige at elite institutions like Harvard's Carr Center or Yale's Schell Center.
Aspiring scholars start with poli sci or international relations undergrads, advancing to PhDs focusing on niche areas like digital rights or indigenous advocacy. Graduates land roles at NGOs, UN agencies, or universities, with adjunct gigs evolving into full professorships. Current trends show 15% growth in human rights postings since 2020, per HigherEdJobs data, especially in Europe amid migration waves. Fringe perks include field stints at International Criminal Court tribunals in The Hague or sabbaticals with Amnesty International. Job seekers, rate your human rights professors on Rate My Professor for insider tips. Parents, guide your students toward these high-impact paths. Explore faculty jobs today and shape tomorrow's justice.
Why Choose Human Rights Academia?
Human rights faculty jobs blend intellectual rigor with real-world change, from lecturing on Geneva Conventions to advising policymakers. Prestige peaks at Ivy League schools; Columbia's Human Rights Institute boasts alumni influencing UN resolutions. Unique quirk: professors often testify in war crimes trials, like those from Rwanda Tribunal vets now at U.S. midsize unis. Trends favor interdisciplinary hires merging law and poli sci, with remote options surging post-pandemic.
Students, build credentials via internships at Human Rights Watch. Faculty, leverage higher ed career advice for negotiations. Check rate my human rights professor reviews for program vibes.
Educational Paths for Human Rights Careers
Begin with BA in political science, specializing in human rights via electives on refugee law. MA programs at SOAS London or American University sharpen skills; PhDs at Toronto's Munk School emphasize empirical research. Fringe path: joint JD/PhD for advocacy roles. Career trajectories: research assistant to lecturer, then professor. Visit research assistant jobs or lecturer jobs.
- Core courses: International Humanitarian Law, Genocide Studies
- Certifications: UN Human Rights Fellowships
- Study abroad: Geneva Summer Schools
Rate standout human rights courses at /rate-my-professor.
Job Market Trends and Opportunities
Human rights professor positions spiked 20% in 2023 amid Gaza and Sudan crises, with 500+ U.S. openings on higher ed jobs boards. Hotspots: California campuses like UC Berkeley, UK unis via jobs.ac.uk. Quirks include postdoc roles at EU-funded centers tracking AI surveillance abuses. Adjuncts abound at community colleges; see adjunct professor jobs.
Postdoc gateways lead to tenure. Explore US California jobs or UK London.
Salary Expectations in Human Rights Roles
Assistant professors earn $85,000-$110,000 base, per AAUP 2023 data, rising to $160,000+ for full professors at R1 unis. Location boosts: NYC $140k avg, Midwest $95k. Trends: equity adjustments added 5-10% amid DEI pushes. Dive deeper at professor salaries.
| Role | Avg US Salary (2023) | Top Location |
|---|---|---|
| Asst Prof | $95,000 | NYC |
| Associate Prof | $120,000 | LA |
| Full Prof | $155,000 | Boston |
International: UK £60k-£90k. Compare at university salaries.
Top Institutions and Unique Quirks
Elite Programs Hiring Now
Harvard, Oxford lead; fringe: New School's trans rights focus or Melbourne's Asia-Pacific hub. Professors publish with UNHCR, gaining tenure fast.
Ivy League schools dominate prestige. Rate human rights faculty at Rate My Professor.
Search professor jobs filtered by human rights.
Associations for Human rights
Amnesty International
A global movement of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights worldwide.
Human Rights Watch
An international organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights issues around the world.
American Civil Liberties Union
A nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and preserving individual rights and liberties in the United States.
Liberty
An advocacy group that campaigns to protect civil liberties and promote human rights in the United Kingdom.
International Commission of Jurists
An organization composed of jurists who promote and protect human rights through the rule of law globally.
Canadian Civil Liberties Association
A non-partisan organization that advocates for the protection of civil liberties and human rights in Canada.
Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
A network that supports the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions across the Asia Pacific region.

