Seeking Justice, Making Peace, Transforming the World...
Welcome! The Peace and Conflict Studies minor is an interdisciplinary academic area of study concerned with issues related to conflict, conflict transformation, war, social justice, human rights, peace, social change, and nonviolent alternatives to violence. This minor and certificate program consist of courses drawn from a number of disciplines that analyze the factors that contribute to peace with justice, various functions of conflict, and processes by which conflict may be managed and transformed. The Peace and Conflict Studies minor and certificate foster skills for both study and action that are rooted in human rights and ethical decision making. Peace and Conflict Studies is an enrichment to liberal education and a pre-professional field relevant to a variety of careers, both traditional and emerging. Students who complete work in the Peace and Conflict Studies go for careers and graduate study in law, politics, communications, education, mediation, government, international relations, and nonprofit/not-for-profit public interest and advocacy organizations.
It should be noted that this is an 18-credit academic minor only and/or 12-credit undergraduate certificate, not a major, and will not lead to a bachelor's or master's degree. Transcript recognition will be given.
For a detailed overview of the Minor and the Certificate click the buttons below. For quick reference guides click here:
Quick Guide Minor in Peace and Conflict Studies
Quick Guide Undergraduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation and Management
From Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham AL. Place where Bull Connor released firehoses and dogs on the protestors. Many were children. It is across the street from the 16th St Baptist Church where the four little girls were killed and a fifth badly injured. Photo Credit: D. Johnson October 2017.
Minor in Peace and Conflict Studies
The Peace and Conflict Studies Minor consists of 18 credits, some of which also may be used to fulfill other degree requirements. This minor may be taken as one of the minors in the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies general degree program.
Quick Guide Minor in Peace and Conflict Studies
Required Courses (6 Hours)
PAX 200 Introduction to Peace and Conflict StudiesPAX 400 Peace & Conflict Studies Seminar
Elective Courses (12 Hours) Select one course from each of the following four categories (three of the four classes should be at the 300-level or above. No more than two classes can come from one discipline, unless that discipline is PAX/PHI.)
Political Thought/International Relations
CRJ 304 Introduction to Comparative Justice Systems
GEO 332 Environmental Crises
GEO 352 Geopolitics
PAX 315 Peace and Conflict Studies Travel Seminar
PAX 370 Israel, Palestine, Power and Peace
PHI 207 Philosophies of Non-violence
PHI 355 Political Philosophy
PHI 411 The Problem of War
PHI 481 Philosophy of Human Rights
PSC 301 Women and Politics
PSC 317 Contemporary International Relations
PAX 301 Global Perspectives in Peace and Justice
PSC 320 U.S. Foreign Policy
PSC 340 Latin American Culture and Politics
SOC 341 Social Stratification
SOC 372 Globalization Across Societies and Cultures
SWO 225 Race Relations
WOS 306 Transnational Feminisms
WOS 260 Globalization and the Ethics of Sustainability
WOS/HIS 329 Gender and Peace
WOS?SOC 366 Gender, Labor and Globalization
WOS/PHI385 Feminist Theory
Dynamics of Activism and Advocacy
COM 340 Political Communication
GEO 230 Environmental Conservation and Sustainability
JRN 335 Ethical Issues in Mass Media
LIT 309 Thoughts/Writings of Martin Luther King
PAX 315 Peace and Conflict Studies Travel Seminar
PAX 377 Community Organizing: Strategies and Practice
PHI 207 Philosophies of Non-violence
PHI 481 Philosophy of Human Rights
PSC 322 Public Opinion, Media and Politics
PSC 352 Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
SOC 369 Social Movements
SWO 321 Generalist Social Work Practice II
WOS 310 Women and Activism
WOS/HIS 329 Gender and Peace
WOS/PHI 385 Feminist Theory
WRH 315 Propaganda, Power, and Politics
WRH 335 Activism and Advocacy Writing
YES 300 Youth Empowerment and the Urban Context
YES 301 Seminar in Youth-Led Media and Inquiry
Communication/Negotiation Skills
COM 204 Interpersonal Communication OR COM 214 Relational Communication
COM 333 Small Group Communication OR COM 215 Organizational Communication
COM 332 Conflict Resolutions
CRJ 470 Interpersonal Relations
HIS 362 Violence in America
HIS 373 African-American History
PAX 345 Mediation and Conciliation
PAX 373 Conflict Transformation
PHI/WOS 385 Feminist Theory
PSC 323 Racial/Ethnic Politics
SOC 335 Racial and Cultural Minorities
SOC 341 Social Stratification
SWO 300 Family Systems
SWO 321 Generalist Social Work Practice II
Power and Politics/Social Justice
COM 340 Political Communication
CLS 258 Women's Literature I
EDF 300 Democracy and Education
GEO 332 Environmental Crises
GEO 352 Geopolitics
HIS 332 The Holocaust
HIS 362 Violence in America
HIS 373 African-American History
HIS 375 A History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
JRN 335 Ethical Issues in Mass Media
LIT 202 African American Literature I
LIT 309 Thoughts/Writings of Martin Luther King
PAX 315 Peace and Conflict Studies Travel Seminar
PAX 370 Israel, Palestine, Power and Peace
PHI 207 Philosophies of Non-violence
PHI 282 Animal Ethics
PHI 481 Philosophy of Human Rights
PSC 301 Women and Politics
PSC 323 Racial/Ethnic Politics
PSC 340 Latin American Culture and Politics
PSC 352 Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
SOC 335 Racial and Cultural Minorities
SOC 341 Social Stratification
SOC 369 Social Movements
WOS 310 Women and Activism
WOS 260 Globalization and the Ethics of Sustainability
WOS 329 Gender and Peace
WOS/PHI385 Feminist Theory
Additional Community-Based Requirements
Students are expected to attend four Peace and Conflict-related campus events. Those events that qualify will be announced on the Peace and Conflict Studies website and tracked by the program director.
Certificate in Conflict Transformation and Management
The undergraduate certificate in Conflict Transformation and Management consists of 12 credits, some of which may also be used to fulfill other degree requirements. The certificate is intended to enhance any major by providing practical skills for dealing with conflicts more effectively.
Quick Guide Undergraduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation and Management
Official Advising Sheet Certificate in Conflict Transformation and Management
Required Courses (6 Hours)
PAX 200 Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies
PAX 345 Mediation and Conciliation
Elective Courses (6 Hours)
Select one course from the following.
COM 332 Conflict Resolutions
PAX 373 Conflict Transformation
Select one course from the following.
COM 204 Interpersonal Communication OR COM 214 Relational Communication
COM 333 Small Group Communication OR COM 215 Organizational Communication
MDC 250/COM 250 Intercultural Communication
CRJ 470 Interpersonal Relations
PHI 207 Philosophies of Nonviolence
For More Information Contact:
The Philosophy Department
Anderson Hall 220
725 S. Church Street
West Chester, PA 19383
Photo from "The Skate Show" Fall 2109. Credit: D. Johnson