Why Peace Studies?
Why Peace Studies?
Despite great strides
in science and technology, the modern world continues to be plagued by war and
social conflicts. A growing number of institutions of higher education have
come to the conclusion that just as we have service academies to educate young
people in the ways of war, we need Peace Studies programs to train students how
to work toward the peaceful solution of world problems. More than 200
university level Peace Studies programs have emerged across the United States.
Chapman, at the forefront of this movement is among the relatively few universities to offer a full scale academic major in this new field. The Chapman Peace
Studies Program is premised on the belief that peace implies more than just the
absence of war. Positive peace involves social justice as well as non-violent
conflict resolution. Peace is something which must be built, using methods
which themselves are non-violent.
How Might a Student Use a
Degree in Peace Studies?
Employment opportunities include public service with the
government or multi-national institutions such as the United Nations.
Specialization in conflict resolution can lead to opportunities in labor
management relations or community relations. A wide variety of peace and social
action organizations seek persons who are both committed to service and
academically grounded in peace and social justice issues. Finally, many
churches and religious organizations employ peacemakers.
Academic Program in Peace
Studies
Since Peace Studies is an inherently interdisciplinary major, it is built
around a core of five courses: Introduction to Peace Studies; Conflict
Resolution; Political Economy; Nonviolent Social Change; and the Senior
Seminar. These are supplemented with five additional course offered in Peace
Studies or related fields. Examples include: Peace and conflict in the Middle
East; Race and Change in the U.S. and South Africa; Vietnam: War, Peace &
Legacy; International Law; International Organization and World Order; A Life
of Service; Gender Roles. Finally, the Peace Studies student takes a
concentration in one department of four courses to provide expertise in an area
appropriate to his or her career choice. Internships in Peace Studies are
encouraged to permit students the possibility of gaining practical experience.
Included among the offerings are occasional study tours to countries such as
Mexico (Chiapas), Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Cuba, and South Africa. Peace Studies
majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad; recent graduates have done so
in Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, England, Austria,
Spain, Morocco, Northern Ireland, and Nicaragua.
The Model United Nations
Program
A popular course among Peace Studies majors is Model United Nations (MUN).
Annually, during the spring break recess, Chapman sends a delegation to the
National Model United Nations held in New York City.
Learn more about the
Model United Nations Program
