Peace and Conflict Studies Minor

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The Peace and Conflict Studies minor takes a dynamic and interdisciplinary approach to studying inclusive and sustainable strategies for managing, transforming, and resolving conflict and promoting peaceful societies, systems, policies, and institutions.

The curriculum explores theoretical foundations and practical strategies (advocacy, consensus-building, partnership development, and intervention tools) for advancing human rights, social justice, restorative goals, and cultural awareness by exploring real life settings and situations.

The minor also provides students with an enhanced understanding of the varied causes, conduct, and consequences of conflict, representations of conflict and peace, theories of conflict mitigation and resolution, practices in humanitarian assistance, and related mechanisms for the prevention and containment of violence through statecraft and international peace promotion efforts and organizations.

A) Foundation Course

Take one (1) course from the following* (3 credits):

HIST 461 The Pursuit of Peace - 3 credits
HIST 462 The Causes, Conduct, and Consequences of War - 3 credits
* The course not taken to fulfill the Foundation Course (B) requirement may be counted toward the Thematic Courses (C) requirement.

B) Thematic Courses

Take three (2) courses from the following* (6 credits):

ARTH 349 Representations of Peace and Conflict in the Arts - 3 credits
COMM 345 Communication Activism - 3 credits
COMM 470 Communication and Conflict Management - 3 credits
HIST 301 Dealing with the Past in Post-Conflict Societies - 3 credits
HIST 321 Topics in Diplomatic History - 3 credits
HIST 338 War and Memory - 3 credits
HIST 342 Twentieth Century Europe - 3 credits
HIST 344 Conflict and Society - 3 credits
HIST 456 Genocide in Comparative Perspective - 3 credits
HIST 461 The Pursuit of Peace - 3 credits
HIST 462 The Causes, Conduct, and Consequences of War - 3 credits
INTEL 343 Terrorism and Political Violence - 3 credits
INTEL 344 Weapons of Mass Destruction - 3 credits
PACS 308 Special Topics in Peace and Conflict Studies - 3 credits
POLI 342 European Union Institutions and Policymaking - 3 credits
POLI 408 Utopian Political Thought - 3 credits
PHIL 305 Contemporary Moral Issues - 3 credits
PHIL 311 Ethical Theory - 3 credits
RELG 300 Religion in Public Life - 3 credits
SOC 309 Social Inequality - 3 credits
SOC 380 Collective Action and Social Movements - 3 credits
WGST 310 Women and Allies in Action - 3 credits
WGST 401 Feminist Theories - 3 credits
*Students are encouraged to pursue related upper-level coursework across the disciplines. Special topics courses, independent studies, senior theses, and courses offered with study-abroad programs with significant content in Peace and Conflict Studies may also be approved by the minor adviser.

C) Topical Electives

Take two (2) courses from the following* (6 credits):

Peace and Conflict Studies Minor

A) Foundation Course

B) Thematic Courses

C) Topical Electives

Total Credits Required: 15 Credits