What is Peace and Conflict Studies?

The Peace and Conflict Studies minor is a broad and interdisciplinary program designed to promote a critical, holistic, and intellectually rigorous understanding of:

  1. the complex nature, causes, and modes of expression of violence and conflict and the ethical debates surrounding the use of violence;
  2. the history, philosophy, and strategies of nonviolent action and resistance;
  3. the conditions to create and promote peace, justice, and conflict resolution.

Students examine and analyze positive and negative peace and conflict at numerous levels — interpersonal, intergroup, interstate, and global – and consider violence and conflict and the struggle toward peace and nonviolence in many forms, including:  war, militarism, human rights, structural violence, injustice, inequality, discrimination, and environmental destruction.  In their study of peace and conflict, students are encouraged to integrate the methods and essential questions of different fields – the social sciences, humanities, and behavioral sciences.

The minor encourages students to search for ways to reduce violence and work toward justice and peaceful means of resolving conflicts, in and beyond the classroom, and in our local and global communities.

Requirements: 20 credits hours are needed to complete the minor: 8 credits required from PCS classes and 12 credits from PCS electives.

PCS 3500 – Foundations of Peace and Conflict Studies (4 credits). Usually offered in the Spring.

Peace in practice: 4 credits from the following options#

PCS 1210 -Intro to Mediation (2 credits) and PCS 1220 Collaboration Across Differences (2 credits) PCS Research, PCS Independent study, PCS Internships (1 to 4 credits)

#Seniors can substitute the Peace in practice portion by substituting it for a 4-credit elective.           Please contact the coordinator (fpous) on how to proceed about this substitution.