Certificate in Peace Studies

Peace Studies is an interdisciplinary field focusing on: the analysis of conflict and its causes; transformation of conflict through nonviolent methods; and the proactive practice of peace building at the individual, community, national and international levels. The Certificate in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Transformation is open to students within any major or college at UofL.

Program Overview

The undergraduate certificate in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Transformation is housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, but also encompasses courses and activities in other colleges. It is intended for students who wish to retain their planned major and minor, yet enrich their undergraduate education in a coherent manner that enhances their lives as global citizens and better prepares them for prospective employers or graduate school. Specific learning objectives for students:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding broader than that generally provided within a single department or discipline;
• Demonstrate extended, deepened, and refined skills in critical thinking, research,and writing;
• Demonstrate knowledge among different contexts to underscore the interdependence of thought;
• Demonstrate comprehension of the cross-connections among violence and justice on the micro, meso, and macro levels and to understand tools to increase justice and decrease violence;
• Demonstrate critical thinking elements and standards such as relevance, assumptions, and accuracy;
• Demonstrate ability to undertake a culminating peacebuilding experience that focuses on praxis, the application of theories and examples learned in class. Students will volunteer with an off-campus organization whose mission addresses at least one aspect of peace, justice, or conflict transformation (examples among many include conflict, bullying, violence, social justice);
• Demonstrate strong engagement as human beings and global citizens responsible for the world around them, present and future;
• Demonstrate initial understanding of a vast topic that can be a locus for lifelong learning.

For additional information on the Peace Studies program click here.

Curriculum

The Peace Studies certificate requires 12 hours of coursework. In addition to three required PEAC courses, students choose electives from approximately 150 courses offered by units across campus. The certificate culminates with PEAC 550, “Service Learning in Peacebuilding,” with an approved local, national, or international organization located off campus.

Contact

Aaron Rollins, Ph.D., Program Director
Phone: (502) 852-7955
Email: aaron.rollins@louisville.edu