Requirements

Concentration

Students can choose between two concentration tracks: Peace and Conflict Studies or Peace and Conflict Studies/Social Justice as outlined below.

Peace and Conflict Studies – Regular Track

Concentrators are required to complete six courses as follows.

At least one course in each of the following categories: 

  1. Ethical and philosophical approaches to peace, war and conflict. Courses in this category examine the arguments of different ethical, religious, or philosophical traditions on the conditions under which — if ever — war and violence may be justified. Courses include Philosophy on War and Peace, Christianity and Culture, Ethics and International Relations.
  2. In-depth examination of contemporary/modern large-scale conflict. Courses in this category provide a detailed focus on a particular violent conflict or conflicts. Recent courses that would fulfill this requirement include, but are not limited to, Introduction to International Relations, Europe and the Superpowers 1939-1991 and The Civil Rights Movement.
  3. Structural causes of violence and conflict. Courses in this category examine social phenomena that are regular causes of conflict or violence, including poverty, ethnic conflict, or racism. Courses that fulfill this requirement include Social Class and Power, Political Anthropology, and Modern Latin America.

Guidelines

  • Your concentration must include three different departments.
  • No more than two courses from your major, minor, or other concentration may be counted for concentration credit.
  • No more than three courses from any one department (excluding your major) may be counted for concentration credit.
  • No more than one semester of Montserrat may be counted for concentration credit
  • No more than two Study Abroad courses, with the director's permission, can be counted for concentration credit.

Peace and Conflict Studies - Social Justice Track

At least one course in each of the following categories: 

  1. Ethical and philosophical approaches to peace, war and conflict. Courses in this category examine the arguments of different ethical, religious, or philosophical traditions on the conditions under which — if ever — war and violence may be justified. Courses include Philosophy on War and Peace, Christianity and Culture, Ethics and International Relations.
  2. In-depth examination of contemporary/modern large-scale conflict. Courses in this category provide a detailed focus on a particular violent conflict or conflicts. Recent courses that would fulfill this requirement include, but are not limited to, Introduction to International Relations, Europe and the Superpowers 1939-1991 and The Civil Rights Movement.
  3. Structural causes of violence and conflict. Courses in this category examine social phenomena that are regular causes of conflict or violence, including poverty, ethnic conflict, or racism. Courses that fulfill this requirement include Social Class and Power, Political Anthropology, and Modern Latin America.

Guidelines

  • Your concentration must include three different departments.
  • No more than two courses from your major, minor, or other concentration may be counted for concentration credit.
  • No more than three courses from any one department (excluding your major) may be counted for concentration credit.
  • No more than one semester of Montserrat may be counted for concentration credit
  • No more than two Study Abroad courses, with the director's permission, can be counted for concentration credit.

For students interested in pursuing the Social Justice track, you may do so by taking the following as part of your six-course and three-department requirements:

One Academic Internship (AI) in Worcester dealing with PCON issues or a Director-approved Washington or New York Semester Program internship. (Alternately, with the Director's approval, relevant community-based learning (CBL) and other experiential learning experiences that are not already counted as Category 1 or Category 3 courses may be considered as alternatives for the AI. In this case, the student would need to complete an additional Category 1 or Category 3 course to fulfill the AI requirement)

One Senior Seminar on Social Justice (CISS 310: Seeking Justice), taken in the second semester of the student's Senior year. If this course is not offered in an academic year, alternate courses may be considered to fulfill this requirement.

If you have any questions about these requirements, please feel free to contact Professor Timothy Joseph, Director of Peace and Conflict Studies.

 

How to Apply

You may become a Peace and Conflict Studies concentrator at any time until the end of the second semester of your junior year, or at the director's discretion.

To declare the concentration:

  • On the STAR system, under My Academics, click on the Change of Academic Plan. Under the Student Forms and Flows heading, click on Declare Major/Minor/Concentration and follow the instructions for declaring the concentration.

After enrolling in the concentration, please contact the director to set up an appointment.

Professor Timothy Joseph
Director, Peace and Conflict Studies
Fenwick 427
508-793-3780
Email: tjoseph@holycross.edu