CRS: People vs Profits: Human Rights and Corporate Power
Schools of Public Engagement: Global, Urban, & Environmental
CRN: 18058
Credits: 4
Companies shape the conditions under which people work, live, and speak, often across borders and beyond the reach of any single government. This course examines how human rights law and practice address that reality. Students begin with the foundations of the international human rights system and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, then study how states, corporations, civil society, and human rights defenders interact when rights are at stake. Topics include judicial and non-judicial routes to remedy, forced and child labor in global supply chains, the right to a healthy environment and Indigenous peoples' right to free, prior, and informed consent, and the role of disinformation and technology in human rights work. Students will engage critically with the use of artificial intelligence in human rights research, writing, and advocacy. Through case studies, students learn how to research corporate conduct, conduct ethical interviews, and evaluate the tools available to hold companies accountable. The course culminates in a group advocacy campaign aimed at changing the behavior of a corporate actor.
College: Schools of Public Engagement (NS)
Department: Global, Urban, & Environmental (GLUE)
Campus: New York City (GV)
Course Format: Seminar (R)
Modality: Online (Synchronous)
Max Enrollment: 15
Add/Drop Deadline: February 2, 2027 (Tuesday)
Online Withdrawal Deadline: April 14, 2027 (Wednesday)
Seats Available: Yes
Status: Open*
* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 6:22pm EDT 10/1/2026