The interdisciplinary minor (15 credit hours) and the supplementary major (24 credit hours) in peace studies begin with Introduction to Peace Studies. This course draws on insights from the social sciences (such as anthropology, psychology, and political science) and shows how they contribute to ending violent conflict and injustice. The course also examines the best thinking of experts in modern peace research and encourages students to reflect deeply on how to build stable peace.
The minor and the major in peace studies conclude with a senior-level seminar, which includes a research paper and a capstone experience that bridges students' primary major and peace studies.
In between, students take required classes and electives, including (for example):
- Terrorism, Peace and other Inconsistencies
- Conflict Resolution
- Rich, Poor, and War
- World Poverty and Inequality
- Nonviolent Social Change
- U.S. Foreign Policy
- Women’s Human Rights
- Conflict and Democracy in American Literature
- Global Activism
- Rise and Fall of World Communism
- Borders, Boundaries and Frontiers
- Christianity in Africa
- Anthropology of Human Rights
- Structural Violence
- International Human Rights Movement
- Conflict and Development
A complete list of undergraduate peace studies courses is available in Notre Dame’s Undergraduate Bulletin of Information. For more information, contact Anna Van Overberghe, undergraduate program manager, vanoverberghe.11@nd.edu.
Students considering a peace studies major or minor are welcome to contact Professor George A. Lopez, lopez.1@nd.edu.
