Peace and Conflict Studies Minor

The interdisciplinary minor in peace and conflict studies consists of six courses and a capstone project. The curricular model incorporates three types of courses: required courses, elective courses in a variety of disciplines, and a capstone seminar research project. In order to provide students with adequate conceptual tools and conciliation skills, the program of study is multi-disciplinary in both method and instruction. The introductory courses orient students to basic concepts and approaches in peace and conflict studies. The elective courses, selected from several disciplines, enable students to shape a personal program of emphasis that taps the analytic and practical resources of various academic fields. The capstone project requires students to synthesize concepts and knowledge from several disciplines in order to address a research problem of practical or theoretical interest.

For further information, contact the Department of Religious Studies. The requirements for the Peace and Conflict Studies minor are:

Required introductory courses: Peace and Conflict Studies 160; Religion 165 and Religion 264.

Elective Courses: (3 courses) from the following: Business Administration 251; Communications 251, 252; Economics 311, 312; English 251; History 212; Occupational Therapy H302; Peace and Conflict Studies 460; Political Science 245; Psychology 235; Religion 245, 261, 269, 283, 344; Sociology. 204, 301; or Social Work 160. No more than two elective courses shall be chosen from any one department, and at least two of the elective courses must be taken outside the student’s major department.

Capstone: A required capstone project designed to integrate previous work and culminate in a major research paper: Peace and Conflict Studies 465.

PCS160 Conflict Resolution Practicum

2 credits. Basic skills required for nonadversarial conflict resolution are provided., with significant devotion to exercises and simulated conflict solutions that teach the practice of alternative dispute resolution. Two principal paradigms of conflict resolution: mediation and conferencing receive specific attention.

PCS 460 Internship in Peace and Conflict Studies

Variable credit. Internships with advocacy groups, government agencies, research institutes, and other not-for-profit organizations in the fields of nonviolence, social justice, human rights, disarmament, environmental protection, and Third World development are encouraged. Up to six hours of academic credit may be earned for the internship. Prerequisites: PCS 160, Rel 165. Prof. M.G. Long.

PCS 465 Directed Research Project in Peace and Conflict Studies

4 credits. This course is a capstone seminar designed to integrate previous coursework and produce a major research project. Prerequisites: All other requirements for the PCS minor. Prof. M.G. Long.