Peace and Conflict Studies, M.A. Sustainable Peace and Justice Concentration

The Sustainable Peace and Justice Concentration is campus-based (residential) and requires the completion of 30 credit hours. The program focuses on social justice, environmental sustainability, and community engagement.

Students are prepared to think about peace, justice, and conflict in new ways and to envision nonviolent, respectful approaches to human relationships in our families, communities, and across cultures, religions, and ethnicities from local to global spheres. Students become well-versed in multiple conflict prevention and intervention skills; these include mediation, negotiation, conflict transformation, violence intervention, and collaborative problem solving.

Program values include:

• fostering interdisciplinary collaboration
• striving for positive peace
• maintaining patience in the long-term philosophy of conflict transformation
• building evidence-based skills in conflict management and resolution
• engaging actively in the community
• doggedly pursuing peace research and praxis
• maintaining critical pedagogy and scholarship
• empowering social and ecological sustainability
• honoring equity and justice

The Student Experience

• Students in the program have the opportunity to study abroad and gain global experiences that are incorporated into class readings, discussions and projects.
• Community engagement is fostered in Guilford County and around the globe.
• Students are educated in conflict management and peace-building, enabling them to gain a systematic perspective on the challenges facing individuals, families, organizations, communities, and social and political systems, learning peace-building, development, and conflict transformation skills and knowledge that’s applicable to multiple settings.

After Graduation

• Upon program completion, graduates may work in multiple disciplines or lines of work, because sustainable peace and justice has many applications.
• A diplomat or peace builder could be in the government, either domestic or abroad (EU, NATO, OSME), or in a non-governmental organization (NGO); an educator or trainer (in a non-profit organization or community organization); a mediator or arbitrator (private practice, education, business, or law); or as a negotiator.

Apply to Program

• Admission to the master’s program is on a rolling basis year-round.
• Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate work; three (3) letters of recommendations (preferably by someone capable of speaking about your academic work or academic potential. Please avoid strictly personal references); GRE is not required; write a 250-300 word personal statement explaining your personal goals and why you wish to study Peace and Conflict Studies.
• As part of the admission process, you may be called for a short personal interview, either in person, by telephone, or via Skype.