Students will understand the causes and dynamics of conflict, violence and peace at the intergroup and international levels.

• Students will understand, compare and evaluate theories and research on the causes of intergroup and international conflict and violence.
• Students will understand, compare and evaluate theories and research on the conditions for peaceful and just social systems.
• Students will understand, evaluate and be able to use the techniques and channels available for peaceful conflict management, resolution, and transformation.
• Students will understand, compare and evaluate theories and research on nonviolent social and political power.
• Students will understand, compare and evaluate religious and ethical theories concerning violence, peace and justice.

Students will apply peace studies concepts and skills in experiential learning settings.

• Students will apply peace studies concepts and skills through the required peace studies internship.
• Students who wish to do so will be able to apply peace studies concepts and skills through service-learning options available in some peace studies courses.

Mission Statement

The peace studies program encourages students to think and act with responsible human freedom and to be capable of effective service to others. Inside and outside of the classroom the Peace Studies Department seeks to cultivate an environment for learning which draws its deepest inspiration from a desire for the truth, for justice and for charity. Our commitment to community-based education is evidenced by the internships and service learning activities that peace studies majors and minors undertake.

Practitioners in the field of peace studies are aware that any concrete situation reflects multiple issues. Effective peacemaking and conflict resolution thus requires an ability to synthesize the strands involved in the conflict, including gender and ethnicity, economics and environment, religion and philosophy, culture and government, history and literature, psychology and social structure.