Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Catalogue 
    
2019-2020 Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Peace and Justice Studies


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The interdisciplinary Peace and Justice Studies major prepares students with the theoretical and practical knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to help shape a more just and peaceful world. Courses familiarize students with the major ideas, concepts, and theories of peace and justice; detailed knowledge of problems, issues and challenges such as poverty, racism, and war; and various approaches to solutions.

Additional requirements include:


In consultation with her/his advisor, the student will select a minimum of four elective courses developed around a major theme (e.g. international conflict, conflict resolution, social inequality, gender or race, etc.). These will include a minimum of two descriptive courses and two normative/theoretical courses. In addition, students will immerse themselves in the issues of peace and justice through an experiential component involving service learning, internships, and/or study-abroad in appropriate settings. 

Elective Courses, Peace and Justice Major (4 courses)


Students will complete a minimum of four of the following electives. At least two must be selected from the Descriptive courses and at least two from the Normative/Theoretical.

Descriptive


Courses seen as descriptive are those that primarily involve the empirical study of the economic, political, social, and cultural realities of society, and the historical events that produce them.

Normative/Theoretical


Courses seen as normative/theoretical primarily use models and theories to draw conclusions from past and present experience. They usually involve a moral judgment on existing societies; study of alternative possibilities; and analysis of the moral values at stake.

Experiential Learning


Integrative learning is a key feature of the Peace and Justice Studies major. Its aim is to provide students with the opportunity to combine insights from different disciplines so as to develop a broad understanding of the integrated nature of peace and justice; to explore how their own serious questions about faith, peace and justice are related to concrete work for peace and justice.

In matters of peace and justice, integrative learning cannot occur without a significant focus on experience and the concrete. Through both individual and communal service learning experiences, students will engage in an “Experiential Learning Cycle” providing a framework for understanding the nuances and complexities of issues of peace and justice.

The integrated experiential component must be broadly related to the student’s senior thesis project. Additional experiential learning may include service learning, communal service projects for majors in the local community or in international experiences (i.e. Peru summer program).

Students interested in the Peace and Justice Studies major must complete one of the following experiential learning components:

  1. Service Learning in TWO of the Peace and Justice Studies major courses OR
  2. an internship OR
  3. a program of international study or urban immersion OR
  4. an alternative experiential component as approved by the program director.

Course Sequence Outline


Freshman Year


Sophomore Year


Peace and Justice Studies majors generally take Conflict Resolution and their research methods requirement (SO 211 or PO 203 or CJ 202).  Depending on initial placement, they may also be completing their modern or classical language requirement.  The remainder of their schedules can be filled by Peace and Justice electives, other core requirements, general electives or courses for a minor or double major.

Junior Year


Peace and Justice Studies majors generally take two or three Peace and Justice electives.  The rest of their schedules can be occupied with core requirements, general electives or courses for a minor or double major.

Senior Year


Peace and Justice Studies majors generally take their final Peace and Justice electives and their Senior Seminar requirement.  The rest of their schedules can be occupied with core requirements, general electives or courses for a minor or double major.

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