Minor in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Transformation
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 minor in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Transformation is open to students within any major in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Program Overview
The undergraduate minor in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Transformation is intended for students who wish to retain their planned major, 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.
Curriculum
The minor in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Transformation requires 18 credit hours (6 courses) of coursework, including four required courses and two electives.
For full information on the courses required and available for the minor, consult the UofL Undergraduate Catalog.
Contact
Matthew H. Ruther, Ph.D., Program Director
Phone: (502) 852-8151
Email: matthew.ruther@louisville.edu