Diplomacy & Human Rights in the Mediterranean

France • Morocco • The Netherlands

December 29, 2025 - January 16, 2026

ACM’s January Term (J-Term) Traveling Seminar is a hand-on field study course designed to help students explore the economic, political, legal, and moral challenges of international human rights promotion. Lectures and reading form only a small part of this course. Our approach is to go behind the scenes of human rights debates in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa by speaking directly with the people who shape them. Travelling to various locations in southern France and across Morocco, we will visit embassies to speak with diplomats to explore the role of foreign policy; we will meet refugees to understand the extraordinary challenges of displacement and exile; we will be briefed by NGOs and witness the projects they put in place to help their communities; we will engage with activists, scholars, and journalists to appreciate how human rights discourse can shape, or stifle, debate on key issues of the day like migration and rule of law. Then we will travel to The Netherlands where we will visit the international courts – the ICC and the ICJ – and learn from legal experts about the role of international justice in protecting human rights, how the mechanisms of international law function, and why they are now under threat.

Along the way we will take time to explore and appreciate the diverse cultures of the countries in which we travel - sampling bouillabaisse in Marseille, haggling in the souks of Marrakech, and cruising the canals of Amsterdam.  By visiting historical sites and museums, eating at local restaurants, and simply meeting local residents, we will gain a greater understanding of political and social challenges beyond our borders and learn to evaluate them within in their historical, geographical, and cultural contexts.

Please note: ACM reserves the right to cancel programs due to low enrollment. Itineraries are tentative and subject to change at the discretion of ACM. Students should consult with an ACM advisor prior to purchasing their flights.

Academics
Students can choose one of the following courses:

• International Relations 355: Diplomacy & Human Rights in the Mediterranean
• Political Science 355: Diplomacy & Human Rights in the Mediterranean
  

View the updated 2026 syllabus here. All content and the itinerary is subject to change.

Itinerary
View the 2026 itinerary here. All details are tentative and subject to change. ACM reserves the right to alter the itinerary.

About the Professor

Dr. Gregory Mose is a professor of international law and politics at ACM. He received his AB in English Literature from Harvard College and his JD from Duke University School of Law. He earned his PhD in public law in a joint program with Aix-Marseille University and the University of Hamburg. Dr. Mose’s research has focused on the intersections of law, politics and human rights, with a particular focus on conflicts involving religious freedom and other cultural values. He teaches courses on comparative politics, the European Union, human rights, and international humanitarian law. Outside of academia, Dr. Mose’s professional experience includes working as a legal expert for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in West Africa and as a corporate lawyer in London. He has lived in France since 2005 and speaks English, French, and Dutch.

Program Fees

Please view the Tuition and Fees page for details.