Peace & Conflict Studies Minor
Amal Khoury, Coordinator, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies
The interdisciplinary field of peace and conflict studies examines the nature of conflict and violence, the possibilities of social change and the means for resolving and transforming conflict nonviolently. The minor draws on Guilford’s Quaker heritage by seeking the roots of situations of injustice and oppression, exploring nonviolent social change, emphasizing each individual’s search for truth within different levels of community and focusing on practical problem-solving. Peace and conflict studies melds two related fields of study, conflict resolution and peace studies, in a complementary, creative interaction. It encourages an interdisciplinary, holistic relationship between personal and social change, structured modes of conflict resolution and creative nonviolent activism, careful analysis of structural violence and exploration of spiritual foundations for peaceable living and action.
Students in the minor engage in critical analysis in several key components of the field: theories of war and peace; central concepts in peace research; the interrelation among the personal, local and global levels of conflict and possibilities of reducing conflict; and methods and practices of conflict resolution, reduction and transformation. Students build skills that help them to solve problems of violence and conflict, to listen carefully and caringly to others in the midst of conflict and to contribute to organizing groups and actions concerned with social change and conflict resolution and transformation.
The minor in peace and conflict studies is not available to peace and conflict studies majors.
Minor Requirements
The minor requires a minimum of 16 credit hours (four courses).
- PECS 110 Introduction to Peace & Conflict Studies – 4 credits
- One course at the 200-level or above from: 4 credits
- PECS 246 Mediation/Conflict Intervention
- PECS 235 Peacebuilding in Divided Societies
- PECS 250 Special Topics
- PECS 315 Human Rights
- PECS 316 Globalization: Economics & Social Justice
- PECS 330 Nonviolence: Theories and Practice
- PECS 345 Social Change: Promoting Peace
- PECS 350, 450 Special Topics
- PECS 360, 460 Independent Study
- PECS 363 Reconciliation and Justice
- PECS 390 Internship
- Two courses at the 300 or 400-level from: 8 credits
- PECS 315 Human Rights
- PECS 316 Globalization: Economics & Social Justice
- PECS 330 Nonviolence: Theories and Practice
- PECS 345 Social Change: Promoting Peace
- PECS 350, 450 Special Topics
- PECS 360, 460 Independent Study
- PECS 363 Reconciliation and Justice
- PECS 390 Internship
- PECS 445 Conflict, Culture, Negotiation
- PECS 465 Senior Seminar
- PECS 468 Religion, Spirituality and Social Change
Total credit hours required for Peace and Conflict Studies Minor – 16 credits
Credit for courses taken at other institutions or while studying abroad: Before attending other institutions, students should obtain a “Request to Take Coursework at Another Institution” form from the registrar’s office and have their courses approved in writing by the PECS department chair. Departmental approval to take a course off campus is contingent upon the content and evaluation requirements of the course, whether the course appropriately fits the PECS curriculum, the student’s academic standing and level, and the extent to which the course is consistent with the student’s educational goals.
