Peace and Conflict Studies, BA

Requirements for the Major

The major consists of 36 course credit hours, including 6 hours internship or service learning credits. Relevant study abroad courses may be counted toward the major with permission of the program director.

• Introduction to the Field  (3 credits required)

• Peace-building/conflict resolution skills (3 credits required)

• Methods (3 credits required)

• Peace(building), Conflict (Resolution), Violence (3 upper-level credits).

• Internship: 6 credit hours

• Electives: 15 hours required, at least 12 of which must be taken at the 300 level or above; 3 hours may be taken at the 200 level.  Elective options are listed here and in the schedule of classes each semester.

• Capstone Course/Thesis: 3 credits from 400-level class or thesis  

Introduction to the Field

An introductory peace, conflict, and violence course (3 credits).

• PO 102 - Introduction to Peace Studies Min Units: 3
• SW 240-PO - Gender and Generations: War and Peace Min Units: 3
• HST 205 - Questions in History Min Units: 3

• Black Women & the Carceral State Since 1865 Credits / Units: 3

• TI 240-PL - Ethics of War and Peace Min Units: 3
• SW 245-PO - Politics from the Margins Min Units: 3

Peace-Building & Conflict Resolution Skills

Practical training in activism, constructive dialogue, and/or conflict resolution (3 lower-level course credits).

• PO 220 - Community Mediation Min Units: 3
• PO 230 - Activism Min Units: 3

• Additional courses in this area will be counted as electives (subject to the 200-level course credit restriction)

• ORG 253 - Interpersonal Communication Min Units: 3

Research Methods

Research theory, methods, and analysis skills development (3 credits)

• AN 352 - Ethnography Min Units: 3
• HST 301 - Historiography Min Units: 3
• PO 201 - Research and Analysis Min Units: 3
• RGSS 304 - RGSS Theories and Methodological Issues Min Units: 3

• Transformation of this course into RGSS Theories & Methodological Issues is underway

• SO 393 - Research Methods Seminar Min Units: 3

Peace(building), Conflict (Resolution), Violence

3 upper-level credits in a course (or courses) that center at least 2 PACS SLOs.

• AN 345 - Conflict Resolution Through Arts Min Units: 3
• EI 325 - Social Entrepreneurship Min Units: 3
• ENV 310 - Global Environmental Conflicts Min Units: 3
• IS 390 - The United Nations and Other International Organizations Min Units: 3
• HST 354 - American In/Justice: The Prison as a Social History of the US Min Units: 3
• ORG 358 - Communication and Social Responsibility Min Units: 3
• ORG 481 - Topics Communication Studies Min Units: 3
• PO 330 - Humanitarianism - The Politics of Policy and Practice Min Units: 3
• PO 340 - The Earth Charter Min Units: 3
• PO 380 - Topics in Political Science Min Units: 3

• Restorative Justice

• RL 363 - Religion, Politics, and Conflict in South Asia Min Units: 3
• SO 357 - Abolition Min Units: 3
• SO 360 - Selected Topics in Criminology Min Units: 1

• Additional courses in this area will be counted as electives.

• SP 390 - Community-based Learning in Spanish Min Units: 3

Electives

Fifteen elective credit hours are required, and at least 12 credits must be at the 300 level or above. Elective options are listed in the schedule of classes each semester. Relevant study abroad courses may be counted toward the major with permission of the program director. Examples of past elective courses include the following:

Internship

6 credit hours earned through 1 or more internships that develop PACS knowledge, analytical skills and practical training.

• PACS 403 - Internship Min Units: 3
• PACS 406 - Internship Min Units: 6

Capstone

3 credits from 400-level capstone course or thesis (excluding the 400-level courses identified as electives).

• HST 401 - Senior Capstone Project Min Units: 3
• IS 410 - The Global Society Min Units: 3
• PO 490 - Seminar in Political Science Min Units: 3
• AN 460 - Capstone Seminar in Anthropology Min Units: 3