Ph.D. in Peace Studies

Peace studies is an interdisciplinary field that draws on political science, history, sociology, anthropology, psychology, philosophy, theology, law, and other disciplines to address some of the world's greatest challenges and shape the future of humanity and the planet. The University of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute, a leading center for peace research and teaching, offers five distinct yet related doctoral degrees.

Profiles in Peacebuilding

Ph.D. in History & Peace Studies
Ph.D. in Political Science & Peace Studies
Ph.D. in Sociology & Peace Studies
Ph.D. in Psychology & Peace Studies
Ph.D. in Theology & Peace Studies

The Kroc Institute offers Ph.D. students full financial support in the form of fellowships, graduate assistantships, and tuition scholarships, plus a stipend for living expenses (usually for five years).

Students are trained in the research methodologies associated with one of the five disciplines and immersed in the questions and findings of interdisciplinary peace research.

Graduates are credentialed in one of the five disciplines as well as in peace studies. They are prepared for positions in research and teaching — in history, political science, psychology, sociology, theology, or peace studies — and for contributions to peacebuilding practice.

The application deadline is December 15.  Application guidelines »

Kroc faculty provide the distinctive interdisciplinary knowledge of peace research, while departmental faculty provide methodological depth from a single discipline. The core interdisciplinary courses of the doctoral program are similar for all peace studies doctoral students. Research methods vary according to the disciplinary partnership students choose. Meet the Director of Doctoral Studies »