Fall 2026 Humanitarian Training Courses

The Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs offers non-credit professional courses for practitioners around the world. Each professional course for fall 2026 is designed to prepare current and future aid workers with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to humanitarian crises and disasters. 

Fall 2026 online courses include:

  • Humanitarian Advocacy 
  • Information Management 
  • Fundamentals of Humanitarian Action 
  • Mental Health in Complex Emergencies 
  • Forced Migration (New!)
  • Human Rights in Humanitarian Crises (New!) 
 
All full-semester fall 2026 courses can be taken for 3 academic credits or for a Certificate of Completion from Fordham University at a reduced cost. These online courses were created for aspiring and active humanitarian professionals seeking accelerated, short-term credentials to boost their expertise without the commitment of a full degree. 
  
 Deadline to apply:  Wednesday, August 12, 2026
*Course Dates: August 26, 2026 – December 18, 2026
*Course dates may vary slightly according to each syllabus. Please check with your professor.

** PLEASE READ **

Visa Requirements:

If you’re an international applicant seeking a non-immigrant visa to enter the US, please note taking this course alone does not qualify you for a student visa (F-1). Payment is due only after you have received your visa.

What the course fee covers:

Enrolling in any Humanitarian Training Course (HTC) will only cover the course content. None of these courses cover any form of accommodations or travel. 

Scholarship:

There is no funding available to support students for any of the upcoming fall 2026 Humanitarian Training Courses. Whether you are enrolling as a certificate student (no academic credit) or a credit-bearing student, you will be fully responsible for paying your tuition fees.

Important Information for International Students:

Attending this program does not qualify for a student visa; therefore, visa assistance is not provided by the university.

For more answers to common questions such as tuition and  application requirements, please visit our FAQ page

Learn more about this course drop-down: 

Humanitarian Advocacy will…

  • prepare students for the task of advocacy in humanitarian environments
  • focus on the identification of the most vulnerable members of a group and how to communicate their needs to those in power
  • equip students with the skills required to effectively communicate through succinct advocacy messaging, how to interview and be interviewed

This course…

  • is online synchronous, and requires your active attendance weekly, with additional one-on-one sessions.
  • culminates in a group advocacy project developed during the entire semester and presented as the final
  • emphasizes analyzing material, seeking diverse sources and understanding humanitarian contexts

Humanitarian Advocacy: Communicating the need and motivating the response

Online Synchronous I Wednesdays 5:30 pm – 7:20 pm ET

Humanitarians work in hostile environments where people are struggling for survival in situations of armed conflict or natural disasters. In such environments, people may have been forced to flee their homes with few—if any—belongings and may have suffered or witnessed human rights violations. Their plight needs to be communicated to the world in a way that will motivate the deployment of the protection and aid they so desperately need. This course will prepare students for the task of advocacy in humanitarian environments. It will focus on the identification of the most vulnerable members of a large group of survivors and the communication of their needs. It will equip students with the skills required to effectively communicate with local authorities as well as the international donor community. Students will learn to write in a different way than the academic style expected in other courses, focusing on effective advocacy messaging. This course is recommended for students who may envision working directly in advocacy for responding to humanitarian needs. It is also recommended for humanitarian practitioners who wish to prepare for a role in advocacy or are already working in this area.

Upon fulfilling the course requirements described in the syllabus, non-credit students will receive a Certificate of Completion from Fordham University.

Example Units: 

How to advocate with instead of for The Science Behind an Advocacy Campaign The Art of an Advocacy Campaign Power and Exclusion in Humanitarian Settings

Example Units:

The Beginnings of Humanitarian Codification

Who is a Civilian?

The Responsibility to Protect:  Whom and from What?

The Criminalization of Humanitarian Action

Fundamentals
of Humanitarian Action

Online Asynchronous

This course will introduce students to the principles of humanitarian action through three modules on (1) Defining Humanitarian Assistance, (2) Management, and (3) Strategic Planning. The aim of the course is to provide an overview of the critical aspects of international humanitarian coordination from an organizational perspective.

This is a core requirement for students enrolled in the MSHS program.

Upon fulfilling the course requirements described in the syllabus, non-credit students will receive a Certificate of Completion from Fordham University.

This course…

  • Introduces students to International Humanitarian and Refugee Law and humanitarian response practice.
  • Provides an overview of the ethical and institutional origins of humanitarian assistance, including principles and protection, standards and codes of conduct.
  • Examines issues facing civilians in current crises, and whether internationally-recognized rights to humanitarian access, aid and protection are respected.

Mental Health in Complex Emergencies

*Online Asynchronous

This is a training course for mental health professionals and program staff who wish to establish mental health or psychosocial programs in a humanitarian context within conflict and post-conflict areas. This course is also open to Fordham graduate students in humanitarian studies or other relevant disciplines. It will aim to provide practical orientation and training, including how to conduct rapid assessments, designing and setting up mental health services or psychosocial programs (exploring the differences between them), and clinical work and therapeutic approaches in non-Western contexts. It will address the issues of cultural validity, conflict resolution and negotiation, taking care of oneself and dealing with burnout. This course will also introduce potential field workers to essentials such as personal security, logistics, and practical aspects of humanitarian work in the field.

*The MHCE course includes online weekly meetings.

Upon fulfilling the course requirements described in the syllabus, non-credit students will receive a Certificate of Completion from Fordham University.

This course…

  • Addresses the issues of cultural validity, conflict resolution and negotiation, taking care of oneself, and dealing with burnout
  • Introduces potential field workers to essentials such as personal security, logistics, and practical aspects of humanitarian work in the field.
  • Aims to provide a practical orientation and training, including how to conduct rapid assessments designing and setting up mental health services or psychological programs, clinical work and therapeutic approaches in non-western contexts.

Example Units:

Setting up mental

health and

psychosocial

programs in

emergencies

Stress

Reactions and

Interventions

Security and risk

assessment

&

Taking care of

ourselves

Human rights and

conflict

Example Units:

 

Coming soon

 

 

Forced Migration

Online Asynchronous

Millions of people worldwide have been forcibly displaced across countries and continents for a wide range of reasons, including armed conflict and natural disasters. Some have become refugees or Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), while others live as irregular migrants. Some have been trafficked and live as victims of modern slavery. All find their futures dependent on political decisions and local perceptions driven by the media. This course will equip students to understand the complexity of forced migration and its relevant legal and protection framework, including International Refugee Law and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. It will also address recent developments and the shift in emphasis from solving the problem of forced migration to the provision of durable solutions. This course is recommended for students who are interested in forced migration or who may wish to work in the areas of protection and response to affected populations. It is also recommended for humanitarian practitioners who are already working in this field and want to improve their knowledge and understanding of these complex issues.

This is an elective offered to students enrolled in the MSHS program.

Upon fulfilling the course requirements described in the syllabus, non-credit students will receive a Certificate of Completion from Fordham University.

During this course you will…

  • Navigate Legal & Protection Frameworks: Gain a comprehensive understanding of international legal protections, specifically International Refugee Law and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

  • Analyze the Complexities of Displacement: Master the nuances and distinct challenges facing different displaced populations, including refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), irregular migrants, and victims of human trafficking/modern slavery.

  • Implement Durable Solutions: Shift focus from temporary crisis-solving to implementing sustainable, long-term frameworks and durable solutions for affected populations.

  • Deconstruct Socio-Political Dynamics: Understand how media coverage, local public perceptions, and high-level political decisions directly impact the futures of displaced people.

  • Elevate Field Response: Turn theoretical knowledge into actionable, ethical strategies for protecting and responding to vulnerable populations in the field.

Human Rights in Humanitarian Crises

Online Asynchronous

Explore the legal, policy, and operational foundations of legal protection in situations of humanitarian crises. This course provides a practical understanding of the international protection regime, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and refugee law, and examines how these legal frameworks shape humanitarian action and protection practice in the field. Through case studies and practice-oriented learning, participants will explore special protection mandates, including the protection of children affected by armed conflict and responses to conflict-related sexual violence, alongside broader protection challenges such as the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, accountability for serious violations, and the protection needs of refugees, internally displaced persons, and other crisis-affected populations. The course also addresses protection mainstreaming, monitoring, advocacy, coordination, and integrated protection practice, equipping humanitarian professionals, practitioners, and students with the knowledge, analytical skills, and practical tools to assess protection risks, inform operational decision-making, and design, implement, and strengthen effective protection responses in complex humanitarian settings.

Upon fulfilling the course requirements described in the syllabus, non-credit students will receive a Certificate of Completion from Fordham University.

Through this course…

1) Learn through real-world humanitarian case studies, drawing on examples from armed conflicts, displacement crises, and humanitarian emergencies around the world.

2) Apply international human rights law to practical scenarios, strengthening your ability to analyse protection challenges and make informed decisions.

3) Develop skills valued by humanitarian organizations, NGOs, governments, and international institutions through practice-oriented exercises, legal analysis, and protection-focused problem solving.

International Disaster Management Will promote understanding of the principal determinants of disaster risk and provide an evidence-based approach to the interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral frameworks required to efficiently and effectively manage international disasters Will cover key concepts in international disaster management policy and practice Will integrate disaster epidemiology, health economics, and public administration into the disaster management mix Will enable students to think critically about the appropriate allocation and management of resources in times of crisis

Example Units:

The International Protection Regime in Humanitarian Crises

Protection Advocacy and Influencing Outcomes

Protection Practice and Protection MainstreamingSpecial Protection Regimes 1:Children and Armed Conflict 

Fast Facts

Each course is the duration of one semester (about 3 months) at Fordham University
1
15-75 is the average class size
15
Our online Humanitarian Training Courses offer a flexible format. Take up to 6 online courses.
2
Online courses available
45% 1

“Establishing mental health programs in challenging environments necessitates a multi-sectoral approach. However, it is essential to first understand the operational context, the fundamental principles of mental health support, and the specific needs of the populations we serve. This understanding is critical to ensuring that our interventions do not cause harm and, in alignment with humanitarian principles, deliver high-quality support.”

Alexandra, Fall 2024 MHCE alumna

Alexandra Takács Dr.

Fall 2024 MHCE Alumna 
Senior GBV Associate at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Holly Curtis

Assistant Provost for Corporate Relations at Fordham University

Holly Curtis is an accomplished education leader, currently serving as the Assistant Provost for Corporate Relations at Fordham University. In this role, she fosters partnerships between academia and industry, driving innovative collaborations and advancing strategic goals. Prior to this, Holly was the Chief of Staff at Ascend Public Charter Schools, where she oversaw strategic planning for one of New York’s largest charter networks, and she also led MBA Admissions at NYU Stern School of Business.
With a strong background in strategic leadership, education management, program development, and recruitment, Holly’s career began in international development with Pencils of Promise in Laos. Her work there shaped her expertise in strategic planning and talent development.

Holly holds an MBA from NYU Stern and a BA in International Political Economy from Fordham University. She is deeply committed to advancing diversity and inclusion, and is a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). She is also an alumna of NYU’s Global Inclusive Leadership Management Institute.

Martine van der Does

Helen Hamlyn Humanitarian Fellow and Global Program Director

Work Location
  • Netherlands and Jordan

Martine van der Does is a Dutch national and humanitarian expert with over 15 years of international experience. With a background in architecture she started her career working on humanitarian shelter at Delft University of Technology but soon moved to the field with Médécins sans Frontières (MSF) as a Construction Logistician. In 2010 Martine joined the Netherlands Foreign service where she worked in the Africa Department, Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid Department and served as a Diplomat in Afghanistan and Jordan. In 2018 joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Myanmar where she worked in remote areas on protection and water and habitat issues. Until recently Martine was the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Netherlands Government in Amman, Jordan. 

Martine is academically involved as a lecturer at Delft University in the Netherlands and Fordham University in New York. In the past years she also ran the prestigious International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance (IDHA) as a Course Director in Geneva. Martine holds a Master of Science Degree in Architecture from Delft University of Technology and a Masters of Arts Degree in International Humanitarian Action from Fordham University. In her time off she is an active cyclist, runner, and enjoys ultraraces.

She accepted a position as Helen Hamlyn Humanitarian Fellow at the IIHA in 2024.

Seriously considering the IDHA and want to learn more? Book an appointment with Martine on the left. 

Martine hosts Corporate Humanity, a podcast produced by Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs. 

Academic Background

Master of Science in Architecture (MSc) and Master of Arts in International Humanitarian Action (MIHA) and IDHA 24 

With the IIHA since: 2008

Current courses: IDHA and non-academic courses

In my free time I enjoy: Traveling, mountains, playing guitar and endurance sports such as long (distance) running, cycling, skiing and swimming. 

“In a world you can be anything, be kind to yourself and the people you work for and with. ”