What is unique about the Kroc Institute's
M.A. program?
An international student body brings diverse backgrounds
and perspectives, enriching the educational experience.
Faculty
members from over a dozen academic departments create a
multidisciplinary environment
centering on issues
of peace
and justice.
Students and faculty enter into dialogue
on the normative questions of war and peace, bringing
ethics
and values into discussions of theory and methodology.
Financial
aid in the form of scholarships, stipends, support
for travel, and funded internships is awarded to
over 90% of Kroc students.
Students live in a residential
community with other Kroc students from around the
world, complementing
the academic aspects of the program with an ongoing
experiential dimension.
A six-month practicum at field
sites in the United States and around the world integrates
theory and
practice.
Students join a global network of peacebuilders,
including Kroc graduates, fellows, and visiting
scholars, who work together to build a more tolerant and
just society.
Program Themes
Global Politics
and International Norms examines the concepts, theories and
findings of research
about war and peace, and explores the relationships
among international issues such as international
human
rights
and globalization, processes of international
law and global
governance, the role of the UN system, regional
organizations and NGOs, and the prospect for peace. Cognate
fields:
international relations; law; economics.
Religion and the Ethics of Conflict examines
the religious and ethical contexts of violence and nonviolence
across a range of traditions and with emphasis on “lived
religion.” Dialogue among diverse faith communities and the
role of religion in peacebuilding is a particular thrust
of this area of study. Cognate fields: comparative religion;
philosophy; theology; history.
Political Economy of War, Peace and Sustainable
Development examines the relation between political economy (interpreting
economics in a broad sense to include political and sociological
factors) and war and peace, discussing concepts, theories
and empirical findings regarding the causes, consequences,
and conduct of conflict. Special attention is given to the
political economy of development and the global economy.
Cognate fields: economics; political science; sociology.
Culture, War and Peace investigates
the problems of ethnic, gender-related and
communal violence, and looks at interpretations of war and
peace in cross-cultural
context. This focus area delves into the
experience
of individuals and communities in conflict and
explores the methods of grassroots
research, activism, and expression in survival,
healing and peacebuilding. Cognate fields: anthropology;
sociology;
cultural
and gender studies; the arts.
Conflict
Analysis and Transformation attends
to strategies, theories, and
case studies of conflict transformation,
resolution, and reconciliation.
Nonviolent social movements as forces for
peacebuilding are also considered as part of this focus area.
Methods
of mediation
and negotiation at levels from individual
to community to nation are studied. Cognate fields: political
science; psychology;
law; sociology.
Key Program Features
Faculty
Mentoring - Students indicate a
preliminary interest
in one of the
five Kroc themes at the time of application
to the program and must complete two electives
in a theme by the end of the program. Students will be assigned a faculty research advisor during
their first year who will
take on
the role of primary mentor and guide as the
student progresses
through
the program. He or she will help the student
prepare for the field experience, guide the student during
the five- to six-month practicum,
and serve as a mentor. The Director
of Academic Programs will serve as co-advisor
for all students, and other Kroc personnel
are available for guidance on specific issues.
The Field Experience -
A key component of the Kroc M.A. program is the field semester,
in which students integrate theories of peace-building
with
practical work in institutions, communities
and field settings in which peace, economic development,
human
rights, or
justice is at issue. Advisors will guide
students through placement
at practicum sites where the middle six months
of the program will be spent. Several sites are offered
each
year in locations
around the world. Interning with an appropriate
organization may be combined with conducting research on
conflict
and its resolution, writing and study to
create a meaningful field experience. Upon return, reflection
on the field
semester is joined with academic coursework
in the
final months of
the program.
The Master’s Project and Concluding Colloquium -
After returning to Notre Dame from the field,
all students will meet in a Master’s
Colloquium on Effective Peacebuilding for their
final semester of the two-year program. In
this forum, theory and practice are brought together in critical
discussion,
and students focusing
on all five thematic areas engage in dialogue with each
other and with Kroc faculty. Each student will produce an
individual
project, stemming
from his
or her work
during the field semester, which will serve as the final product
of their Master’s
degree work. These projects may take the form of academic papers
or other formats as agreed upon by faculty advisors, seminar
leaders, and the
Director of Graduate
Studies. An MA thesis is not required for this degree.
Program Structure
ORIENTATION - August
FALL TERM I - September through December
- Global Politics and Peacebuilding (core)
- Culture & Religion in Peacebuilding (core)
- Elective
- Elective
SPRING
TERM I - January through mid-May
- Political Economy of War and Peace (core)
- Conflict Transformation and Strategic Peacebuilding
(core)
- Elective
- Elective
SUMMER / FALL TERM II - July through
December
SPRING TERM II - January through April
- Master’s Colloquium: Effective Peacebuilding
- Elective
- Elective
GRADUATION - May
Requirements for Graduation
- Demonstrated proficiency in English plus one other language
- Forty-two (42) total credit hours
Including:
- Four core courses (12 credit hours)
- A minimum of six elective classes from the peace
studies curriculum, including two within the student's
thematic area of study (18 credit hours)
- A six-month field experience (6 credit hours)
- Master’s Colloquium: Effective Peacebuilding, including
production of a master's project ( 6 credit hours)
- Minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (a “B” average)
- Continuous enrollment in the Graduate
School of the University of Notre Dame during the
two-year program
Financial Support
Scholarships which cover tuition and a stipend for living
expenses for the two years of study are available. In principle,
the institute is committed to providing the necessary financial
support for all students who do not have access to other sources
of funding, and ninety percent of past students have been
awarded full assistance from the Institute.
Others have received funding from outside sources
such as Fulbright grants or national scholarships. Applicants
are urged to apply for any potential sources of outside funding
and are required to use any awards to support their participation
in the Kroc program to the fullest extent possible. The living
expense stipend for the 2006-07 academic year was $11,000.
The University estimates the cost
of living expenses in South Bend for a single student to be
a minimum of $1,000 per month. The Institute’s financial aid
package does not provide sufficient funding to support an
accompanying spouse or child. Graduate stipends are intended
to cover the student's living expenses including housing,
telephone, food, books, supplies, travel, and entertainment,
both while in residence on campus and during the field practicum.
Service as a teaching
assistant or research assistant is required.
Students are not permitted to obtain
outside employment while pursuing the M.A. degree. Graduate
stipends are taxable unless waived by the terms of a tax treaty
between the U.S. and the student's country of citizenship.
The Kroc Institute covers medical insurance for all funded
students during the course of study as well as travel to and
from the sites of the field practicum. Limited funding is
available to assist grad students to attend conferences or
professional development opportunities during their program
of study. For students who demonstrate serious need additional
scholarships are available for travel to and from their home
country.
Life at the Kroc Institute
The special
quality of the Kroc Master’s program is also shaped by the
residential experience. Participants in the program live
together in a block of apartments, about a ten-minute walk
from the Notre Dame campus. Students praise the residential
experience as one of the high points of Kroc graduate student
life. The challenges of living in a diverse community while
studying issues of conflict resolution and peacebuilding
are an important part of their total educational experience.
In addition, the Institute is host to a variety of guest
speakers, film events, and other activities, and students
in residence are able to take full advantage of these opportunities.
South Bend is a city of 100,000 people in the Great Lakes
region of the United States. It is about two hours from Chicago.
The University of Notre Dame itself is home to 10,000 students,
about 15% of whom are graduate students.
Notre Dame was founded
in 1842 by the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious
order, and today ranks among the most well-known universities
in the world. The Kroc Institute was inspired by the vision
of Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh who saw the potential for peace
in the education of young people.
The Alumni Network
The Kroc Institute coordinates an active
network of over 385 alumni of the MA program originating
from 93 countries.
Graduates have come from every continent and from a variety
of conflict areas. The internet helps alumni to stay in touch,
and to support each other in their varied efforts toward
peacebuilding.
Most Kroc alumni return to their home regions
upon completion of the program, and graduates are currently
working in 57 countries. Approximately half of Kroc graduates
have gone on for further graduate work after the MA, pursuing
doctoral or professional degrees.
The diversity of the student
body at the Kroc Institute is reflected in the diverse paths
taken by its graduates. This has included teaching (elementary
to graduate level), work with local and international Non-Governmental
Organizations,
UN agencies and other international organizations, journalism,
government and business.
To give just a few examples:
George
Wachira (Kenya) serves as Director of NPI-Africa (Nairobi
Peace Initiative), an NGO which works to promote resolution
of large-scale social conflicts in the Horn and Great Lakes
regions of Africa.
Emil Bolongaita (Philippines) earned a
Ph.D. in government, taught public policy in Mindanao, Manila
and Singapore, and now manages USAID’s governance and anti-corruption
program in Manila.
Estela Roman (Morelos,
Mexico), long involved with grassroots work on women’s issues
and traditional medicine, founded the International Center
for Cultural and Language Studies (CICE) in Morelos, where
she teaches Spanish and promotes cross-cultural learning and
protection of the environment.
Zoughbi Zoughbi (Palestine) founded and directs
the “Wi’am” Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center in Bethlehem
to address conflicts within the Palestinian Community and
is involved in inter-religious dialogue.
Vienna Colucci (USA)
is national outreach coordinator for Amnesty International
USA, coordinating human rights education, children’s action,
legal support and health professionals.
Michelle Parlevliet
(Netherlands) interned at the War Crimes Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia in The Hague, worked for the South African
Truth Commission and now serves as Project Manager for Human
Rights and Conflict Management at the Centre for Conflict
Resolution in Cape Town, South Africa.
Who Should Apply?
The Kroc Institute invites applications
from highly qualified women and men who have the equivalent
of a four-year U.S. undergraduate degree (B.A., B.S., or
similar) from an accredited college or university. Students
admitted to the Peace Studies program in the past have done
their undergraduate work in a variety of disciplines, including
the social sciences, humanities and legal fields; some have
an M.A. in related areas and are seeking supplemental training
in Peace Studies. Students admitted to the Kroc Institute
program must exhibit an outstanding academic record.
Students
should also have a demonstrated commitment to working for
positive social change; a year or more of work experience
in a related field is a plus. Some background in international
studies or cross-cultural experience is recommended. The
successful Kroc applicant is someone who is deeply motivated:
a person with solid academic credentials with a drive toward
activism.
Candidates must be fluent in English, both spoken and written.
Success in the program depends upon English language proficiency.
A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score is
required for candidates whose native language is not English.
A waiver to the TOEFL requirement can be granted if you
have studied
for a year or more at a university in which
English was the medium of instruction, (i.e. all the classes
are taught in English.) However, all non-native
speakers of English must still include a Verification of
English form written
by a native speaker of English along with their application
materials.
Applicants
whose native language is English must demonstrate at least
a second-year reading level in an additional language by
passing a written exam offered once per semester.
Each year, the Kroc Institute accepts 20 students
to the MA program from approximately 200 applicants. While
this represents a competitive admissions process, there is
no “formula” for success as a candidate. The Institute’s
application form requests that each student complete a Statement
of Intent, or personal essay, which is of great importance
in helping the admissions committee to get to know the candidates.
The Institute seeks a diverse and committed student body
whose talents, skills, and aims complement each other well.
See Frequently Asked Questions for further information regarding
who should apply.
The deadline for receipt of applications is January
5 each year for
the academic year beginning the following August. Applicants are notified of the decision of the Admissions Committee by April 1.
Further Information about the Program
How to Apply
Faculty and Staff
Courses: Spring 06 Fall 06
Career Resources
Alumni Network
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Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies,
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