About

Peace and Conflict Studies focuses on nonviolent forms of conflict resolution, social justice, and peace building in various social settings from the global to local, such as by international agencies, NGOs, community organizations, nonprofits, and in education.

We emphasize social justice, environmental sustainability, and community engagement and equips students with valuable and in-demand skills such as negotiation, mediation, group facilitation, collaborative problem solving, and violence intervention. The program is popular with international and globally-minded students and offers opportunities for study abroad and other international experiences.

Recent graduates of our programs hold job titles such as Program Director for North Carolina for Community and Justice, Employee Engagement Manager at Peace First, Advocate at the Sexual Assault Resource Agency, Dance Educator, Employee Relations Specialist, and Education Coordinator at Wake Forest Baptist Health.

Out programs routinely receive very high rankings and attract Fulbright applicants and international students in addition to domestic students. Faculty continue to evolve curricular offerings to meet student needs and societal demands.

Degrees Offered

We offer Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees, as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate, all available via both fully online and face-to-face modes of delivery. The online programs, some of the only available in the country, have strong reputations and are commended for student engagement.

Undergraduate students gain hands-on experience through a practicum, and master’s students choose from a practicum or a thesis track. Completely asynchronous or in-person modes of delivery options for both the B.A. and the M.A. programs allow students of all ages, challenges, job requirements, and technological access to participate in the learning process. A PCS minor or post-baccalaureate certificate is an excellent complement to many majors.

The master’s program has concentrations in Sustainable Peace and Justice and Transformative Peace and Conflict, both of which are unique within the field, teaching the latest theories and models as well as practical skills such as negotiation, mediation, group facilitation, collaborative problem solving, and violence intervention.

Department Highlights

• Asynchronous online options
• Environmental justice
• Environmental sustainability and climate crisis focus
• Community engagement
• Interdisciplinary collaborations (e.g., Environment and Sustainability, Kinesiology, Geography)