Peace Studies, Minor

The Peace Studies Minor offers an interdisciplinary analysis of conflict and nonviolent movements both in the U.S. and globally. The Peace Studies Minor combines Human Communication’s multicultural and ethical reflexivity with Global Studies’ purview of complex global systems.

Student learning is supported through our commitment to assets-based learning models and the minor’s dual approach of process (conflict resolution and nonviolence skills) and content (global conflict, feminist theory of violence, religious peacemaking, histories and philosophies of nonviolence). Peace Studies minors will engage the campus community with the surrounding communities in shared commitments to developing scholarly and applied strategies for peace building.

Required Courses

Please note: Twelve of the units taken to complete a minor (6 of which are upper division) may not be used in fulfillment of other minors, concentrations, or major requirements.

Complete one of the following courses:
GS 350 - Global Gender Issues Units: 4
GS 360 - Relig’n/Violence/Peacemaking Units: 4
GS 390 - Global Politics Units: 4
SBS 350 - Domination and Resistance: US since 1880 Units: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
HCOM 340S - Topics in Social Movements Service Learning Units: 4
HCOM 404 - Restorative Justice Units: 4
GS 360 - Relig’n/Violence/Peacemaking
Units: 4
Complete one of the following courses:
HCOM 312 - Deliberation and Advocacy Units: 4
HCOM 412 - Multicultural Conflict Resolution Units: 4
Complete one of the following courses:
GS 330 - World Views Units: 4
HCOM 309 - Interracial Communication Units: 4
HCOM 343 - Race and Gender Justice Units: 3
SBS 381 - US in Vietnam and Asia-Pacific: Peoples, Colonization, Conflicts, Resources Units: 4
Complete one of the following courses:
HCOM 340S - Topics in Social Movements Service Learning
Units: 4
GS 380S - Building an Int’l NGO Units: 6

Learning Outcomes

Dynamics and Arenas of Conflict

This outcome provides students the opportunity to learn case studies of conflict and various theoretical approaches to conflict.

Theories and Strategies for Social Justice and Peace

This outcome provides students with the opportunities to study movements for social justice and peace past and present, secular and faith-based, and think critically about their relative successes and challenges.

Cooperative Argumentation and Conflict Resolution

This outcome will be met by one of a series of courses based in the model of cooperative argumentation.

Building Projects for Social Justice and Peace

In particular through SL curriculum (currently only the 340S is available) students will work via the SL outcomes interfaced with a focus on justice AND in peace based community projects, students will have the opportunities to serve community identified needs in building peaceful solutions. Students may also do faculty sponsored individual projects to meet this outcome.