Ph.D. in Peace Studies

What are the cultural, social, and historical contextual dimensions of structural and violent conflict? How does an ethnographic focus create the possibility for better crafting conflict transformation? The Peace Studies and Anthropology doctoral program at the University of Notre Dame equips students with the theoretical and methodological tools of anthropology to answer these and related questions.

What are the historical or root causes of violent conflict? How have various social movements evolved over time? In what way is history manipulated for the sake of attaining political goals? How is foreign policy informed by historical information or knowledge? The Peace Studies and History doctoral program at the University of Notre Dame equips students with the analytical and conceptual tools of history to address these questions and related questions of peace and conflict.

What are the sources of violent political conflict? What institutions, strategies and tools are available to secure peace and justice? How can international and domestic actors foster peace, and what are the roles of norms, values and beliefs in continued peace efforts? The Peace Studies and Political Science doctoral program at the University of Notre Dame provides students with the theoretical and methodological tools of political science to answer these and related questions.

How and why does political violence affect individuals, especially young people? What are the implications for the continuation or mitigation of violent conflict? The Peace Studies and Psychology doctoral program at the University of Notre Dame equips students with the theoretical lens and methodological tools of psychology to answer these and related questions. The integration of interdisciplinary peace research methods ensures practical applications for policymakers and for individuals in war, violent conflict, and post-war settings.

How does the structure of society influence conflict or post-conflict peacebuilding? What variables affect the capacity of nonviolent civil resistance movements? How do religious norms and practices contribute to conflict and peacebuilding?

The Peace Studies and Sociology doctoral program at the University of Notre Dame provides its students with the theoretical background and methodological tools to answer these and related questions. The doctoral program provides rigorous training in both sociology and peace studies.

How do theological thought and practice shape violent conflict? What is the relationship between theological thought, practice and peacebuilding? What do sacred scripture, ethics, liturgy, history and systematic theology contribute to peace and conflict in theory and practice?

The Peace Studies and Theology doctoral program at the University of Notre Dame equips students with frameworks and methodologies to help them think theologically about peace and conflict.

What do we mean when we talk about peace? Is it simply the absence of war or something more substantive? How is the nature of conflict changing? What strategies and tools exist to promote peace in the world, at global, national and local level, and how could we develop these to meet new challenges? The interdisciplinary PhD program in International Peace Studies offers the opportunity to bring together, in a flexible and innovative way, approaches and methods from across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to address a range of contemporary issues of peace.