2018-2019 Academic Catalog

Dec 04, 2024

2018-2019 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Peace Studies Concentration

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Overview

Undergraduate Concentration

Peace Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field. We ask questions such as “What are the causes of war? How can armed conflict be prevented? How do wars end?” We seek to understand and prevent mass atrocities of many kinds, including terrorism and genocide. And we seek to better understand how we can build more peaceful and just systems and societies.

Peace is defined as not only the absence of violence, but also the presence of the conditions that create sustainable peace, including social justice and human rights. The Peace Studies concentration encourages students to explore the individual, local, national, and international dimensions of peace and conflict. How can we transform conflicts in our society and worldwide so that they generate development and justice rather than oppression and destruction? When is nonviolent struggle effective? When is violence justified? Students will investigate these questions and develop skills to wage peace.

Undergraduates may concentrate in Peace Studies to complement any major. Students may also design a major in Peace Studies via the University’s self-designed major. The concentration draws together the knowledge of many disciplines, including Chemistry, Economics, Education, English, Geography, History, International Development and Social Change, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Screen Studies, Sociology, and Theatre.

Course work, research and internships enable students to apply their theoretical understanding of the issues of peace and conflict to situations in the U.S. and worldwide. Students who complete a concentration in Peace Studies are prepared to enter careers and graduate study in such fields as public policy, international development, labor relations, environmental policy and stewardship, and international relations, and to take an active role in shaping policies in the public sector and civil society.

For more information, please visit the Peace Studies Program’s website, or stop by the Peace Studies Office at CGRAS, first floor of Dana Commons.

Requirements and Advising

For the Concentration in Peace Studies

Six courses are required for the concentration in Peace Studies. At least two of these should be at the 200-level; two may be from the student’s major. Students must take either ID 112 Issues of Sustainability, Peace and Justice or ID/PSTD 101 Introduction to Peace Studies as the introductory course, and at least one course from each of the categories of courses examining the four tools for peace: governance, negotiation, nonviolent struggle for justice, and personal transformation. Students also are required to complete an internship, directed study, or research seminar that is approved in advance by the director and involves at least one of the tools of peacemaking.
When you declare the Peace Studies Concentration, you must choose an advisor. To do so, obtain a Concentration Declaration Form from the Registrar’s Office, which must then be signed by your prospective advisor (any of the faculty listed at the end of this handbook) or the Director of Peace Studies. You may change advisors at any time by requesting a change from the director.

For the Self-Designed Major in Peace Studies

Twelve courses are required for the self-designed major in Peace Studies. At least two of these should be at the 200-level; two may be from the student’s major. Students must take either ID 112 Issues of Sustainability, Peace and Justice or ID/PSTD 101 Introduction to Peace Studies as the introductory course, and at least one course from each of the categories of courses examining the four tools for peace: governance, negotiation, nonviolent struggle for justice, and personal transformation. Students also must take three additional courses that address the following arenas of conflict – interpersonal, group processes, and war and mass violence. One of these courses must be at the 200-level. Students must also select two electives from the Peace Studies course offerings and complete an experiential learning opportunity such as an internship or study abroad program that has been approved by the Program Director. Finally, they must complete a Senior Capstone project or independent study that involves a paper or presentation that must be supervised by one of the major’s faculty and presented at Academic Spree Day. In order to ensure sufficient specialization and adequate disciplinary grounding, majors must minor (or double major) in one of the disciplines represented in the program.

Self-designed majors are required to have a committee that includes their advisor and two additional faculty members. Each of the three committee members must represent different academic departments. Consult with your advisor to identify prospective Peace Studies faculty for your self-designed major committee.

Courses

The following is a list of Clark’s peace-studies offerings. Students may petition the Peace Studies Committee to receive concentration credit for courses other than those listed below, including courses that are available through the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts. More information may be obtained from the Peace Studies Office, 201 Jonas Clark, (508) 793-7663.

Introductory Course

PSTD 101 - Introduction to Peace Studies

Theories of Peace and Conflict

Skills and Methods

Geographic Breadth

Micro and Meso Level of Analysis: Individuals and Communities

Macro Level of Analysis: National and Transnational Interactions

Thesis, Internship and Capstone

Program Faculty

Jude Fernando, Ph.D.
Ora Szekely, Ph.D.
Johanna Ray Vollhardt, Ph.D.
Kristen Williams, Ph.D.

Affiliate Faculty

Taner Akcam, Ph.D.
Michael Butler, Ph.D.
Patrick Derr, Ph.D.
Debórah Dwork, Ph.D.
Anita Fabós, Ph.D.
Thomas Kuehne, Ph.D.
Douglas Little, Ph.D.
Ken MacLean, Ph.D.
Srinivasan Sitaraman, Ph.D.
Valerie Sperling, Ph.D.
Andrew Stewart, Ph.D.