Peace & Conflict Studies

Minor Requirements

1. PECS 110

   Introduction to Peace & Conflict Studies. 4. Explores the relationship of peace and social justice to conflict resolution through the use of key concepts in the fields, such as positive and negative peace. Explores the relationship of theory and practice and introduces students to academic journals and internet sites for peace and conflict studies, to professional organizations and practitioner/ activist organizations in peace and justice and conflict intervention work. Fulfills social science and intercultural requirements (1998). Social/behavioral science and sociocultural engagement requirements

   As published: “Introduction to Peace & Conflict Studies”
   4
2. Select one course at the 200 level or above from the following:

   Not resolved to a course
   4
3. PECS 235

   Peacebuilding in Divided Societies. 4. This course explores the various methods and techniques of peacebuilding and conflict resolution that have been applied in the midst of deep-rooted conflicts in divided societies. Several case studies (such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, and South Africa) will be critically reviewed and examined to distill essential elements of peacebuilding during on-going conflict. Fulfills sociocultural engagement requirement (2019). Fulfills the reflection seminar II requirement for the CQ

   As published: “Peacebuilding in Divided Societies”
4. PECS 236

   Conflict Transformation for Peacebuilding and Justice (JPS 236). 4. Provides an overview of various models of conflict transformation and expands our understanding of the conceptualizations of conflict, justice and peace. This skill-based course is designed to introduce students to third party-intervention methods. These methods include: interpersonal nonviolent communication, sustainable peacebuilding, negotiation, mediation, community-based conflict transformation, public apology processes and Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRC), indigenous methods of conflict transformation, TRACK II diplomacy and art-based approaches. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “Conflict Transformation for Peacebuilding and Justice (JPS 236)”
   2019
5. PECS 250

   Special Topics. 1-8

   As published: “Special Topics”
6. PECS 315

   Human Rights. 4. Provides an overview of the formulation and spread of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of the course?s main goals is to develop a critical understanding of the concept of human rights by paying attention to how power operates, and avoiding conflating the need to ensure the well-being of all human and other (in the case of certain other world-views) beings with the human rights movement in its dominant form. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “Human Rights”
   2019
7. PECS 316

   Globalization: Economics & Social Justice. 4. Examines sociological explanations for how these global and concomitant local events and structures came about, along with ethical evaluations of values that influence some of the dominant global ideologies, as well as their consequences. These analyses serve to relativize and question the assumptions and theories that claim the current global economic structures as the inevitable evolutionary stage of human society

   As published: “Globalization: Economics & Social Justice”
8. PECS 330

   Nonviolence: Theories and Practice. 4. Non-violence is not only an alternative to taking up arms but a strategy of resistance to oppression or specific policies in the form of acts of civil disobedience. While non-violence includes these, the course aims to analyze it in all its fullness, as a way of life and spirituality that addresses certain forms of thinking and living as violent and includes nature and the rest of animal life among the subjects to be treated non-violently. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “Nonviolence: Theories and Practice”
   2019
9. PECS 345

   Social Change: Promoting Peace. 4. Explores the role of individuals and groups in social change. Specifically, it looks at the role of social identity and conceptions of justice implicit in the dynamics of individual and group conflict. By taking an interdisciplinary approach to global conflict analysis and resolution as well, its connection to the study of social movement organization, the course will focus particular attention on the role of justice and identity in conflict formation, escalation and de-escalation. The course explores justice and identity as critical to both local and global peace. It also looks at the value commitments implicit in social change by exploring different strategic intervention models and frameworks

   As published: “Social Change: Promoting Peace”
10. PECS 350

    Special Topics. 1-8

    As published: “Special Topics”

    or: PECS 450 Special Topics
11. PECS 360

    Independent Study. 1-8

    As published: “Independent Study”

    or: PECS 460 Independent Study
12. PECS 363

    Reconciliation and Justice. 4. This course explores the multidimensional aspects of the relationship between reconciliation and justice in a post-conflict context. The course examines case studies of reconciliation projects in several different countries to explore the tension between the demand for reconciliation and the demand for justice as well as the challenges such tension poses for the application and design of reconciliation projects to promote sustainable peace rather than short-term settlement

    As published: “Reconciliation and Justice”
13. PECS 390

    Internship. 1-8

    As published: “Internship”
14. Select two courses at the 300 or 400 level from the following:

    Not resolved to a course
    8
15. PECS 315

    Human Rights. 4. Provides an overview of the formulation and spread of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of the course?s main goals is to develop a critical understanding of the concept of human rights by paying attention to how power operates, and avoiding conflating the need to ensure the well-being of all human and other (in the case of certain other world-views) beings with the human rights movement in its dominant form. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

    As published: “Human Rights”
    2019
16. PECS 316

    Globalization: Economics & Social Justice. 4. Examines sociological explanations for how these global and concomitant local events and structures came about, along with ethical evaluations of values that influence some of the dominant global ideologies, as well as their consequences. These analyses serve to relativize and question the assumptions and theories that claim the current global economic structures as the inevitable evolutionary stage of human society

    As published: “Globalization: Economics & Social Justice”
17. PECS 330

    Nonviolence: Theories and Practice. 4. Non-violence is not only an alternative to taking up arms but a strategy of resistance to oppression or specific policies in the form of acts of civil disobedience. While non-violence includes these, the course aims to analyze it in all its fullness, as a way of life and spirituality that addresses certain forms of thinking and living as violent and includes nature and the rest of animal life among the subjects to be treated non-violently. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

    As published: “Nonviolence: Theories and Practice”
    2019
18. PECS 345

    Social Change: Promoting Peace. 4. Explores the role of individuals and groups in social change. Specifically, it looks at the role of social identity and conceptions of justice implicit in the dynamics of individual and group conflict. By taking an interdisciplinary approach to global conflict analysis and resolution as well, its connection to the study of social movement organization, the course will focus particular attention on the role of justice and identity in conflict formation, escalation and de-escalation. The course explores justice and identity as critical to both local and global peace. It also looks at the value commitments implicit in social change by exploring different strategic intervention models and frameworks

    As published: “Social Change: Promoting Peace”
19. PECS 350

    Special Topics. 1-8

    As published: “Special Topics”

    or: PECS 450 Special Topics
20. PECS 355

    Culture, Conflict, Negotiation. 4. Focuses on the role of culture in conflict and negotiation. Addresses different cultural approaches to conflict and the various methods of dispute resolution, particularly the different styles of negotiation applied by different cultures; explores issues of communication styles, mores, values and norms from a cross-cultural perspective

    As published: “Culture, Conflict, Negotiation”
21. PECS 360

    Independent Study. 1-8

    As published: “Independent Study”

    or: PECS 460 Independent Study
22. PECS 363

    Reconciliation and Justice. 4. This course explores the multidimensional aspects of the relationship between reconciliation and justice in a post-conflict context. The course examines case studies of reconciliation projects in several different countries to explore the tension between the demand for reconciliation and the demand for justice as well as the challenges such tension poses for the application and design of reconciliation projects to promote sustainable peace rather than short-term settlement

    As published: “Reconciliation and Justice”
23. PECS 390

    Internship. 1-8

    As published: “Internship”
24. PECS 465

    Senior Seminar. 4. Serves as a departmental independent study pass/fail capstone course. Majors must complete a major independent project/research proposal on an agreed upon topic as directed by a faculty member. This course is intended to foster students, integration and synthesis of the discipline, further develop and assess student competencies and problem-solving skills, and enhance students preparation for careers and postgraduate education. Fulfills the Senior Seminar requirement for the Integrative Experience.Prerequisite: PSCI 230 or PSCI 455

    As published: “Senior Seminar”
25. PECS 468

    Religion, Spirituality and Social Change. 4. Analyzes the role of religion and spirituality in motivating and sustaining struggles for social change. The course aims to develop an understanding of the current thinking about the intersection between religion and conflict; an ability to comparatively articulate the practical problems encountered by social movement activists/third party professional engaged in both religious and secular attempts at peace; and an appreciation of the interconnection between the body and mind, the seen and the unseen, the sacred and the profane

    As published: “Religion, Spirituality and Social Change”