Director: Michael Duffey, Ph.D.
Both the Major in Peace Studies and the Minor in Justice and Peace offer an interdisciplinary curriculum that addresses the causes of social and political conflict and explores methods of resolving conflict within and between nations and transnational groups. Students analyze such topics as the processes of peace-building, power, justice, human rights, and social and economic development, among many others. Students are prepared for further study and practice in fields of law (e.g., human rights, immigration), social and political development, public health, peace and development organizations, and more. By the very nature of the distinct academic discipline of Peace Studies, this interdisciplinary major and minor explore cultural, historical, and other identity issues as an important framework for understanding and resolving global conflicts. They also attend to the interpersonal realities, community, and sources and solutions of issues and conflicts with which our students will be faced in both the present and the future.
Major in Peace Studies
The goals of the major in Peace Studies are to teach students to discover and analyze the causes of social and political conflict and to develop methods and skills for resolving conflict at local, national, and international levels through an interdisciplinary lens. Students analyze means of securing justice and human rights, building peace, and securing development. This major equips students with the cross-disciplinary knowledge and tools with which to address peacemaking challenges.
Students will be able to:
- analyze theories of peace building
- evaluate issues of power, justice and human rights
- evaluate the processes of social and economic development
The major in Peace Studies consists of 36 credit hours: six required Foundational Core courses (18 cr. hrs.) and six elective courses (18 cr. hrs.) with two courses selected from each of the three Focal Areas: 1) Peace Building, 2) Power, Justice, and Human Rights, 3) Social and Economic Development. Additional background courses in economics, English, history, philosophy, political science, psychology and theology are required to meet the prerequisites for the required and elective courses.
| Foundational Core Courses | ||
| Required Courses: | ||
| CMST 3100 | Communication and Conflict | 3 |
| ECON 4070 | Economics and Ethics | 3 |
| INJP 2010 | Introduction to Peace Studies | 3 |
| INJP 4997 | Capstone Seminar in Justice and Peace | 3 |
| PHIL 3710 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| THEO 2500 | Theology, Violence, and Nonviolence | 3 |
| Elective Courses: Choose two courses from each Focal Area listed below | ||
| Focal Area 1: Peace Building - Choose two courses | 6 | |
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Criminal Violence in America | ||
| American Military History | ||
| United States-Latin American Relations | ||
| Restorative Justice Clinic (with permission) | ||
| Contemporary Ethical Problems | ||
| World Conflict and Security | ||
| International Politics of the Middle East | ||
| International Politics of Asia | ||
| United States-Latin American Relations | ||
| Studies in Moral Theology (Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and Justice) | ||
| Islam: Faith and Practice | ||
| Focal Area 2: Power, Justice, and Human Rights - Choose two courses | 6 | |
| Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in American Literature and Culture | ||
| Studies in Race and/or Ethnic Literature | ||
| Comparative Twentieth-Century Genocides | ||
| Justice and Power | ||
| International Law | ||
| Introductory Social Psychology | ||
| The Psychology of Prejudice | ||
| Arab and Muslim Americans | ||
| Christian Faith and Justice | ||
| Studies in Moral Theology (Martin, Malcolm, and Baldwin) | ||
| Focal Area 3: Social and Economic Development - Choose two courses | 6 | |
| The Russian Economy | ||
| Philosophy of the Environment | ||
| Earth and Environmental Physics | ||
| Politics of the Developing World | ||
| International Organization | ||
| The Political Economy of Development | ||
| Social Inequality | ||
| Advocacy and Social Change Theory and Practice | ||
| Faith-based Activism | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Justice and Peace Minor
The minor consists of seven courses (21 credit hours): 4 required courses (12 credit hours) and 3 elective courses (9 credit hours) as listed below.
| Required Courses: | ||
| CMST 3100 | Communication and Conflict | 3 |
| INJP 2010 | Introduction to Peace Studies | 3 |
| INJP 4997 | Capstone Seminar in Justice and Peace | 3 |
| THEO 2500 | Theology, Violence, and Nonviolence | 3 |
| Electives - Choose one course in each focal area. | ||
| Focal Area 1: Peace Building | 3 | |
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Criminal Violence in America | ||
| American Military History | ||
| United States-Latin American Relations | ||
| Contemporary Ethical Problems | ||
| World Conflict and Security | ||
| International Politics of the Middle East | ||
| International Politics of Asia | ||
| United States-Latin American Relations | ||
| Studies in Moral Theology (Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Justice) | ||
| Islam: Faith and Practice | ||
| Focal Area 2: Power, Justice, and Human Rights | 3 | |
| Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in American Literature and Culture | ||
| Studies in Race and/or Ethnic Literature | ||
| Comparative Twentieth-Century Genocides | ||
| Justice and Power | ||
| International Law | ||
| Introductory Social Psychology | ||
| The Psychology of Prejudice | ||
| Arab and Muslim Americans | ||
| Christian Faith and Justice | ||
| Studies in Moral Theology (Martin, Malcolm, and Baldwin) | ||
| Focal Area 3: Social and Economic Development | 3 | |
| The Russian Economy | ||
| Philosophy of the Environment | ||
| Earth and Environmental Physics | ||
| Politics of the Developing World | ||
| International Organization | ||
| The Political Economy of Development | ||
| Social Inequality | ||
| Advocacy and Social Change Theory and Practice | ||
| Faith-based Activism | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
Notes:
- Relevant upper-division independent study, special topics and internship courses can count toward the course requirements with the prior approval of the program director.
- Any substitutions must be approved by the program director.
- A number of the courses listed above have pre-requisites that must be met prior to taking the course.
Courses
INJP 2010. Introduction to Peace Studies. 3 cr. hrs.
An interdisciplinary, introductory seminar for students interested in the Interdisciplinary Minor in Justice and Peace (INJP). Students explore faith-based and secular theoretical approaches to the concepts of justice and peace, through critical discussion of relevant texts and reflective writing. Prereq: Soph. stndg.
INJP 4997. Capstone Seminar in Justice and Peace. 3 cr. hrs.
Senior seminar for students completing the Interdisciplinary Minor in Justice and Peace (INJP) designed to bring interdisciplinary approaches to bear on questions of justice and peace. Students explore paths to justice and peace through text-based inquiry, multidisciplinary theoretical analysis, and integration of prior course work in the minor. Service and experiential learning opportunities may be offered. Prereq: Sr. stndg. and INJP minor.
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Interdisciplinary
- Africana Studies
- Applied Mathematical Economics
- Asian Studies Minor
- Broad Field Science
- Broad Field Social Science Minor
- Catholic Studies Minor
- Environmental Ethics Minor
- Ethics Minor
- Family Studies Minor
- International Affairs
- Medieval Studies Minor
- Peace Studies
- Public History Minor
- Urban Affairs Minor
- Women's and Gender Studies
