Peace & Conflict Studies Major
Contact:
Vernie Davis, Director of Peace and Conflict Studies and the Conflict Resolution Resource Center
Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary major that studies the nature of conflict and violence, the possibilities of social change, and the means for resolving and transforming conflict nonviolently. The major 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 peace and conflict studies engage in critical analysis in several key components of the field: central concepts in peace research, the interrelation between the personal, local, and global levels of conflict and possibilities of transforming conflict, theories of war and peace, 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.
Degrees Offered
The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in peace and conflict studies.
General Requirements
Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary major which must be taken along with a second disciplinary major. A student must have an advisor from the Peace and Conflict Studies Core Faculty as well as an advisor from the second major. Because Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary major, students must select courses from at least two Areas of Study (e.g., Humanities and Social Sciences).
Specific Course Requirements
The major consists of a minimum of 32 credit hours (16 of which must be taken at
- PECS 101, Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies (0ne credit);
- three Core Courses, selected from at least two Areas of Study (e.g., Humanities and Social Sciences);
- an internship in the junior or senior year that builds on a student's prior course work and incorporates peace and conflict studies analysis with site work;
- a Peace and Conflict Studies Capstone Experience, which in some cases may also fulfill the college IDS requirement (although a senior thesis or an independent study may be substituted in special circumstances);
- additional courses (to complete 32 credit hours) selected from either additional Core or Supplementary Courses.
The following courses are the current regular offerings in peace and conflict studies. Special topics courses (250 or 450) are frequently available and new courses are being added to the major. Please contact the director for current listings of courses.
Core Courses:
- REL 103: Voices of Liberation
- REL 330: Nonviolence: Theories and Practice
- REL 315: Human Rights
- REL 316: Globalization from an Ethical Perspective
- SOAN 246: Mediation & Conflict Intervention
- SOAN 345: Social Change: Promoting Peace
Supplementary Courses:
- ECON 432: International Economics
- GST 250: Community Development (Mexico)
- HIST 225: African American History
- HIST 237: Europe in Revolution
- HIST 238: War & Peace in 20th Century Europe
- HIST 255: The Second World War
- HIST 308: The Underground Railroad
- HIST 315: Civil Rights Movement
- IDS 435: Understanding Poverty
- JPS 220: Community Building Fundamentals
- JPS 244: Conflict Resolution Strategies
- JPS 424: Trust and Violence
- JPS 425: Family Violence
- PHIL 249: Pacifism and Just War Theory
- PSCI 103: International Relations
- PSCI 275: Asia and the World
- PSCI 345: Avoiding War, Making Peace
- PSCI 445: Globalization and Its Discontents
- REL 233: Peace, War, and Justice
- REL 350: Global Women's Voices
- SOAN 105: The Anthropology of Colonialism
- SOAN 325: Understanding Poverty
- SOAN 413: Gender Violence
- SOAN 425: Latin American Politics
Internship
Internship. A peace and conflict studies internship involves practical experience that focuses on social change, nonviolent intervention, conflict resolution or transformation, and/or building a culture of peace. The internship includes critical reflection on the student's experience and analysis of activities, experiences, and structures that contribute to the reduction and transformation of violence and/or the maintenance of systems of violence and domination. Students should register for PECS 390 with the director of Peace and Conflict Studies.
Senior Capstone Experience
The Senior Capstone Experience enables the student to integrate many of the elements of the peace and conflict studies major. In some instances these courses may fulfill the college IDS requirement. In special circumstances, the Senior Capstone Experience may be an independent study or senior thesis.
- IDS 405: Quakers, Community, Commitment
- IDS 445: Culture, Conflict, Negotiation
- IDS 468 / REL 468: Religion, Spirituality, and Social Change
- SOAN 445: Culture, Conflict, Negotiation
Independent Studies and Senior Theses
If students have special interests that they wish to pursue that are not covered in peace and conflict studies courses, they may arrange an independent study with an interested faculty member or pursue a senior thesis. We recommend that independent studies be done in the junior or senior year.