Peace Studies

Dr. Thomas Ferguson
Director of the Program

The Peace Studies Program is dedicated to the search for solutions to the problems of war and human injustice. It is an interdisciplinary academic program that examines the following problem/ opportunity areas:

• Arms Races and Wars

• Economic, Political, and Social Justice

• Conflict Creation, Management, and Resolution

• Nonviolent Philosophies and Strategies of Resistance

• World Community and World Government

The courses are taught by faculty from the social sciences, the humanities, the physical and life sciences, and the applied sciences. Teaching and research examine “negative” peace—dysfunctional human cultural, social, and economic organization—and “positive” peace—successful human enterprises that result in justice, harmony, and reconciliation. Manhattan College offers Peace Studies as a major or minor field of study leading to the B.A. degree, and as a Certificate program for those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree. Many students interested in Peace Studies pair it with another academic discipline, and complete a double major. Peace Studies is housed in the School of Arts, but is also available as a major or minor for students in the Schools of Science and Engineering, and is possible as a minor for students in the Schools of Education and Business.

The Peace Studies major emphasizes Peace and Justice issues. Majors may also choose to concentrate in the areas of Peace Studies and the Americas and Economic and Environmental Justice. For these concentrations, see the program director.

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Requirements

Majors must take 30 credits, including the following:

PEAC 201	Introduction to Peace Studies	3
PEAC 401	Senior Seminar in Peace	3
Two of the following Concepts in Peace Studies courses: *		6
GOVT 351	International Relations
PHIL 238	Philosophies of War and Peace
PSYC 321	Social Psychology
RELS 381	Religious Dimensions of Peace
RELS 434	Non-Violent Revolution
SOC 304	Social Class and Inequality
SOC 327	Power and Conflict
Two of the following Past and Present Conflicts courses:*		6
GOVT 251	Global Issues
HIST 307	Genocide and Racism
HIST 362	US Foreign Relations, 1900 to the Present
HIST 366	US Labor Patterns and Movement
HIST 390	Terror and Terrorism: The Uses of Political Violence
RELS 342	Islam and Politics
SOC 212	Migration, Globalization, and Culture
SOC 262	Displacement and Development in Contemporary Latin America
SOC 301	Social Problems
Field work or internship		3
PEAC 451	Peace Field Project
PEAC 475	Internship
Electives		9
Total Credits		30

*	Courses should be selected from different departments.

Students may choose to write a senior thesis, for which they should register for PEAC 421 Independent Study and PEAC 422 Independent Studies: Peace. Because intercultural communication is so important to peace, all students are encouraged to develop fluency in a foreign language and to study or work abroad.

A minimum grade of C is required for credit toward the major.

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Minor

Minors must take 15 credits, including the following:

PEAC 201	Introduction to Peace Studies	3
One of the following Concepts in Peace Studies courses:		3
GOVT 251	Global Issues
PHIL 238	Philosophies of War and Peace
PSYC 321	Social Psychology
RELS 381	Religious Dimensions of Peace
RELS 434	Non-Violent Revolution
SOC 304	Social Class and Inequality
SOC 327	Power and Conflict
One of the following Past and Present Conflicts courses:		3
GOVT 251	Global Issues
HIST 307	Genocide and Racism
HIST 362	US Foreign Relations, 1900 to the Present
HIST 390	Terror and Terrorism: The Uses of Political Violence
SOC 301	Social Problems
6 additional credits chosen in consultation with the Director		6
Total Credits		15

A minimum grade of C is required for credit toward the minor.

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Certificate

For a Certificate in Peace Studies, a student must take 15 credits, including the following:

PEAC 201	Introduction to Peace Studies	3
One of the following Concepts in Peace Studies courses:		3
GOVT 251	Global Issues
PHIL 238	Philosophies of War and Peace
PSYC 321	Social Psychology
RELS 381	Religious Dimensions of Peace
RELS 434	Non-Violent Revolution
SOC 304	Social Class and Inequality
SOC 327	Power and Conflict
One of the following Past and Present Conflicts courses:		3
GOVT 251	Global Issues
HIST 307	Genocide and Racism
HIST 362	US Foreign Relations, 1900 to the Present
HIST 390	Terror and Terrorism: The Uses of Political Violence
SOC 301	Social Problems
6 additional credits chosen in consultation wtih the Director		6
Total Credits		15

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 Courses for Peace Studies Majors and Minors

BIOL 223	Ecology	3
COMM 340	Media Criticism	3
COMM 371	Intercultural Communication	3
ECON 332	Environmental Economy	3
ECON 334	International Economics	3
ECON 412	Economic Growth and Development	3
ECON 422	History of Economic Thought	3
ENGL 265	Contemporary World Fiction	3
ENGL 279	Literature and the Environment	3
ENGL 345	Environmental Literature and Ecocriticism	3
ENGL 347	Literature and War	3
ENGL 348	Postcolonial Literature	3
GOVT 223	Environmental Politics	3
GOVT 251	Global Issues	3
GOVT 332	Government and Politics of Central and Eastern Europe	3
GOVT 343	Government and Politics of the Middle East	3
GOVT 344	Government and Politics of Caribbean	3
GOVT 345	Government and Politics of Latin America	3
GOVT 346	Government and Politics of Africa	3
GOVT 351	International Relations	3
GOVT 352	International Organizations	3
GOVT 412	Senior Seminar: Women in Politics	3
GOVT 420	Senior Seminar: Conflict Resolution	3
GOVT 426	Senior Seminar: The Politics of Race, Ethnicity, and Class in the United States	3
GOVT 457	Model United Nations I	3
GOVT 458	Model United Nations II	3
GOVT 491	Washington Center Course	12
GOVT 493	Washington Center Semester	3
GOVT 494	American University Seminar Program	0-15
HIST 307	Genocide and Racism	3
HIST 313	Vietnam to the Philippines	3
HIST 319	The Crusades	3
HIST 326	Diplomatic History of Europe 1815-1914	3
HIST 328	Cold War Diplomacy in Asia	3
HIST 355	East Europe in Modern Times	3
HIST 357	Nazi Germany and the Holocaust	3
HIST 362	US Foreign Relations, 1900 to the Present	3
HIST 383	Civil War and Reconstruction	3
HIST 390	Terror and Terrorism: The Uses of Political Violence	3
INTL 201	Global Issues Seminar	3
MGMT 450	Negotiation and Conflict Management	3
PHIL 201	Ethics	3
PHIL 238	Philosophies of War and Peace	3
PSYC 321	Social Psychology	3
PSYC 344	Group Dynamics	3
RELS 205	Urban America and Catholic Social Teaching	3
RELS 254	Catholic Social Teaching	3
RELS 336	Native American Religions	3
RELS 338	Theologies of Liberation	3
RELS 342	Islam and Politics	3
RELS 354	Buddhism: Its Development and Interpretation	3
RELS 355	Islam	3
RELS 357	Religions of China and the Far East	3
RELS 358	Religions of India	3
RELS 361	Yoga: Philosophy, Praxis, and Art	3
RELS 362	Ethics in the Workplace	3
RELS 374	Women in Western Religion	3
RELS 377	Religion and Environmentalism	3
RELS 381	Religious Dimensions of Peace	3
RELS 390	Sexuality and the Sacred	3
RELS 404	Religion and Social Justice	3
RELS 434	Non-Violent Revolution	3
SOC 212	Migration, Globalization, and Culture	3
SOC 301	Social Problems	3
SOC 302	Race and Ethnicity	3
SOC 304	Social Class and Inequality	3
SOC 319	Practicing Empowerment	3
SOC 327	Power and Conflict	3
SOC 328	Societies and Cultures of Latin America	3