Peace and Conflict Studies, M.A. Sustainable Peace and Justice Concentration
Overview
The Sustainable Peace and Justice Concentration is campus-based and requires the completion of 30 credit hours. The program focuses on social justice, environmental sustainability, and community engagement.
Students are prepared to think about peace, justice, and conflict in new ways and to envision nonviolent, respectful approaches to human relationships in our families, communities, and across cultures, religions, and ethnicities from local to global spheres.
Students become well-versed in multiple conflict prevention and intervention skills. These skills include mediation, negotiation, conflict transformation, violence intervention, and collaborative problem solving.
Program values include:
- fostering interdisciplinary collaboration
- striving for positive peace
- maintaining patience in the long-term philosophy of conflict transformation
- building evidence-based skills in conflict management and resolution
- engaging actively in the community
- doggedly pursuing peace research and praxis
- maintaining critical pedagogy and scholarship
- empowering social and ecological sustainability
- honoring equity and justice
The Sustainable Peace and Justice Concentration offers both Practicum and Thesis options. For both options, in-person courses are typically offered in the evenings to meet the needs and schedules of working adults.
What Students Learn in the Program
Students in the program have opportunities to study abroad and gain meaningful global experiences that are directly integrated into course readings, discussions, and projects. The program emphasizes community engagement both locally in Guilford County and internationally, encouraging students to connect theory with real-world practice. Through focused instruction in conflict management and peace-building, students develop a systematic understanding of the challenges facing individuals, families, organizations, communities, and broader social and political systems, while building practical skills in peace-building, development, and conflict transformation that are applicable across a wide range of settings.
Possible Career Paths Upon Graduation
- Upon program completion, graduates may work in multiple disciplines or lines of work, because sustainable peace and justice has many applications.
- A diplomat or peace builder could be in the government, either domestic or abroad (EU, NATO, OSME), or in a non-governmental organization (NGO); an educator or trainer (in a non-profit organization or community organization); a mediator or arbitrator (private practice, education, business, or law); or as a negotiator.
APPLY TO PROGRAM
- Admission to the master’s program is on a rolling basis year-round.
- Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate work; three (3) letters of recommendations (preferably by someone capable of speaking about your academic work or academic potential. Please avoid strictly personal references); GRE is not required; write a 250-300 word personal statement explaining your personal goals and why you wish to study Peace and Conflict Studies.
- As part of the admission process, you may be called for a short personal interview, either in person, by telephone, or via Skype.
