Peace Studies
Printer-friendly versionShaul E. Cohen, David A. Frank, and Cheyney C. Ryan, Committee Cochairs
541-346-4500
107G Condon Hall
Steering Committee
Shaul E. Cohen, geography
David A. Frank, honors college
Gregory McLauchlan, sociology
Cheyney C. Ryan, philosophy
About the Program
The Peace Studies Program offers systematic study of peace—what it means and how it is achieved. Interdisciplinary in its orientation, the program encourages students to approach the problem of peace from a variety of viewpoints. The focus of the program addresses the conditions that give rise to violence and how to prevent them, the conditions that constitute alternatives to violence and how to promote them, and the strategies for achieving peace in its various forms.
The peace studies minor is available to university undergraduate students. There are no requirements for admission to the program.
Graduate students who want to concentrate on peace studies should contact a member of the steering committee. Most 400-level courses, including courses numbered 407 and 410, are offered for graduate credit under 500-level numbers.
Minor Requirements
The interdisciplinary minor in peace studies requires a minimum of 32 credits, 15 of which must be upper division. A grade of mid-C or better must be earned in each of the eight courses taken to fulfill requirements for the peace studies minor. Course requirements consist of three core courses and five elective courses selected from the three groups listed below.
Core
Choose three courses for a total of 12 credits:
Value Systems in Cross-Cultural Perspective (INTL 250) or World Value Systems (INTL 430)
Social and Political Philosophy (PHIL 307)
Systems of War and Peace (SOC 464)
Group I: Conditions that Give Rise to Violence
Choose two courses for a total of 8 credits:
History. War in the Modern World I,II (HIST 240, 241)
Psychology. Social Psychology (PSY 456)
Sociology. Race, Class, and Ethnic Groups (SOC 345), Sociology of Race Relations (SOC 445), Systems of War and Peace (SOC 464)
Group II: Values and Arrangements Necessary to Transcend Violence
Choose one or two courses for a total of 4–8 credits:
Geography. Political Geography (GEOG 441)
International Studies. Value Systems in Cross-Cultural Perspective (INTL 250)
Planning, Public Policy and Management. Introduction to Public Service Management (PPPM 322)
Political Science. Political Ideologies (PS 225), Environmental Politics (PS 497)
Sociology. Sociology of Developing Areas (SOC 450)
Group III: Strategies for Achieving Peace
Choose one or two courses for a total of 4 to 8 credits:
Anthropology. Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective (ANTH 314)
History. American Radicalism (HIST 350, 351)
International Studies. International Community Development (INTL 420), Gender and International Development (INTL 421), Cross-Cultural Communication (INTL 431)
Planning, Public Policy and Management. Socioeconomic Development Planning (PPPM 446)
Political Science. International Organization (PS 420)
Sociology. Social Issues and Movements (SOC 313)
Internships are offered through some of the departments listed above.
Students may take a maximum of 9 credits of courses in any one department. With advisor’s consent, students may substitute a course numbered 199, 407, 408, or 410 for one approved group-satisfying course for the minor.
More information is available from a cochair.