Professors Without Borders Think Tank

To meet the growing demand of students, we have compiled a list of free, online courses in the areas of human rights, international relations, and justice.* These short courses will present a comprehensive overview of key topics in the field and provide opportunities for skill development through distance learning.

Global Diplomacy: the United Nations in the World

Coursea

The course examines the United Nations system from the complex UN family and its history to the key UN functions. You will explore important UN themes and develop important analysis, communication, and policy-based skills.

  • 4 weeks; 4/5 hours per week
  • Introductory Level
  • Free Enrollment
  • Financial Aid Available

International Humanitarian Law in Theory and Practice

Coursea

This course examines the rules that govern armed conflict, and aim to mitigate human suffering on the battlefield. You will explore the concept of protected persons, and you will find out how IHL affords protection to the sick and wounded, medical personal, detainees, children, journalists and other persons who are not – or not anymore – fighting. By the end of this course you will understand the why and how of IHL, followed by the different types of conflict.

  • 4 weeks; 4/5 hours per week
  • Introductory Level
  • Free Enrollment
  • Financial Aid Available

International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes

Coursea

This course will examine the ‘kitchen’ of the Hague international criminal courts and tribunals. You will learn how international criminal justice functions, who the actors are, what outcomes it produces, and how it can be improved.

  • 4 weeks; 4/5 hours per week
  • Introductory Level
  • Free Enrollment
  • Financial Aid Available

International Migrations: A Global Issue

Coursea

This course examines the concept of international migration and its key issues. You will explore several case studies in order to assess how migration affects both states and international relations as a whole.

  • 4 weeks; 5/6 hours per week
  • Introductory Level
  • Free Enrollment
  • Financial Aid Available

Justice

edX

This course explores critical analysis of classical and contemporary theories of justice, including discussion of present-day applications. You will examine topics, such as affirmative action, income distribution, same-sex marriage, the role of markets, debates about rights (human rights and property rights), arguments for and against equality, dilemmas of loyalty in public and private life.

  • 12 weeks; 3/6 hours per week
  • Introductory Level
  • Certificate of Achievement for 80 GBP

Political Economy of Institutions and Development

Coursea

This course is examines the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically 1, 8, 10 and 16. You will explore different ways to address the SDG’s in small but measurable and actionable ways, cooperating with Development Done Differently.

  • 4 weeks; 4/5 hours per week
  • Introductory Level
  • Free Enrollment
  • Financial Aid Available

Religion, Conflict and Peace

edX

This course explores a series of contemporary conflicts in different regions of the world with a special focus on identifying and analyzing the diverse and complex roles that religions play in both promoting and mitigating violence in each context. You will learn a method for recognizing and analyzing how religious ideologies are embedded in all arenas of human agency.

  • 8 weeks; 4/8 hours per week
  • Introductory Level
  • Certificate of Achievement available for 41 GBP

The Changing Global Order

Coursea

This course examines some main theories of international relations and shows how the global order is gradually changing and discusses how selected international and regional organizations contribute to the maintenance of global peace and security. You will examine the role of the European Union, the United Nations Security Council, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the African Union.

  • 4 weeks; 7/8 hours per week
  • Intermediate Level
  • Free Enrollment
  • Financial Aid Available

Understanding International Relations Theory

Coursea

The course examines the key assumptions of the international relations theory as a part of social science and as an analytic tool, focusing on the problems of war and peace, foreign policy decision-making, etc. Using a historic approach and analysis of the modern political problems, you will learn the evolution of the international relations theory and the context of the contemporary political problems.

  • 4 weeks; 6 hours per week
  • Introductory Level
  • Free Enrollment
  • Financial Aid Available

*This is not an exhaustive list and our team will regularly update the entries with the most up-to-date information.