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Peace Institute > Academic Programs > Peace & Conflict Resolution Major

Peace & Conflict Resolution Major

In cooperation with the Interdisciplinary Studies BA Program, the Matsunaga Institute for Peace is offering a major for undergraduates in Peace and Conflict Resolution.  The major is interdisciplinary in nature and is concerned with the academic study of war and other forms of conflict (both direct and structural).  This major focuses on conflict resolution and on ways to prevent destructive conflict.  With the exception of four required courses, students are free to design their own program with the guidance of an Interdisciplinary Studies and Peace Institute faculty advisor.

Qualifications to earn a Bachelor's of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

  • You must be enrolled in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences. 

  • You must submit for approval a proposal of your course of study.

  • You must have a minimum Grade Point Ratio (GPR) of 2.0-although keep in mind that this may need to be higher if you are including courses from other programs in which admission demands are higher.

  • Upon the acceptance of your Peace and Conflict Resolution proposal, a minimum of 21 credits must still be completed under this program at the start of subsequent semester.

  • Required GPA in your major is 2.5 and no grade below a C.

Orientation

Before getting started, it is imperative that you attend an orientation at the Interdisciplinary Studies office early in your Junior year. 

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The Proposal

Your proposal lists all courses to be counted for graduation, including credits already earned, transfer credits, and courses still to be taken.  In total, you must earn at least 124 semester hours of credits, of which at least 104 are to be in the colleges of Arts and Sciences.  These courses are arranged in three categories:  

  1. "Core" or "General Education Requirements":
    Interdisciplinary Studies majors need to meet University core requirements.  Because these may differ slightly according to each individual's case (e.g., the student's date of entry, the core currently in place, etc.), students will save time and effort by checking early and by attending a Junior Matriculation and Planning (JUMP) Session with the Arts and Science Student Academic Services, located in Hawaii Hall basement, Room 108.
  2. Equivalent of Peace & Conflict Resolution Major:
    These courses total 36 credit hours and come from the following combinations:
    1. PACE 310 "Survey Peace and Conflict Studies"
    2. POLS 201 "Problems of War & Peace"
    3. PACE 345/ANTH 345 "Aggression, War & Peace"
    4. PACE 495 "Practicum & Internship
    5. The remaining 24 credit hours or eight courses to meet the major's minimum requirement of 36 credit hours must be selected from either the Peace Studies Stream or the Conflict Resolution Stream as long as at least one course is done from the other stream.  For example, a student may elect to do seven Conflict Resolution courses but would have to do one of the Peace Studies courses.  Or the student may elect to concentrate in the Peace Studies stream at a 7:1 ratio.  The mix could also be 6:2, 5:3 or 4:4. The list of courses below is meant as a guide and not an exhaustive list.

    Peace Studies Stream
    1. ANTH 423 Social & Cultural Change
    2. BIOL 310 Environmental Issues
    3. COM 459 Topics of Communication & Peace
    4. ECON 454 Economics and Cooperation
    5. ECON 466 Growth & Crisis in the Global Economy
    6. GEOG 336 Geography of Peace & War
    7. PACE 315 Personal Peace: Stories of Hope
    8. PACE 373/POLS 496 Nonviolent Political Alternatives
    9. PACE 399 Directed Reading
    10. PACE 410 History of Peace Movements
    11. PACE 412 Ghandi, King & Nonviolence
    12. PACE 485 Topics in Peace & Conflict Resolution
    13. PACE 496 Internship
    14. POLS 394/WS 353 Democracy in Organizations
    15. WS 304 Women, War & the Miltary

    Conflict Resolution Stream
    1. COM 340 Intercultural Communication
    2. PACE 247 Survey of Conflict Resolution
    3. PACE 340 Negotiation
    4. PACE 399 Directed Reading
    5. PACE 447 Mediation Skills: UH Basic
    6. PACE 477 Culture & Conflict Resolution
    7. PACE 478 International Law & Disputes
    8. PACE 485 Topics in Peace & Conflict Resolution
    9. PACE 495 Internship
    10. POLS 319 International Organization
    11. POLS 375 Public Law & Judicial Behavior
    12. SP 455 Conflict Management

    A student may not apply towards the major more than 9 credit hours from any combination of PACE 399, PACE 495, and PACE 496.
  3. Electives
    These are all other courses that you intend to take, many of which will be non-introductory.

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Counseling

A fundamental part of this program requires that you have two faculty advisers, one in Interdisciplinary Studies and the other, someone who specializes in your field of study in the Peace Institute.  They advise you about meeting your degree requirements and help you in selecting appropriate courses.

Student Status

  1. The Peace Studies major should have Junior standing (55 credits) and a JUMP session at Arts & Sciences, Student Academic Services, Hawaii Hall 108.
  2. At the time your Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution proposal is accepted, you must have at least 21 credits to still complete, beginning with subsequent semester.

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Your Senior Year...

  1. Have a senior check (Office of Student Academic Services, Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Hawaii Hall 108.
  2. In order to graduate from UH Manoa, you must be living in Hawaii during your final semester.
  3. Attend a Graduation Audit (GRAD) session.
  4. Pay the diploma fee at the cashier's office.

For further information, be sure to attend an orientation at Interdisciplinary Studies no later than your early Junior year.

To view a downloadable informational brochure regarding the undergraduate major in Peace and Conflict Resolution, click here.

For courses offered in Summer 2008, click here (pdf).

The following courses will be offered in Spring 2008

Core Courses

Spring Session: January 14, 2008 to May 16, 2008

PACE 310
Section 001

Survey Peace/Conflict Studies (WI, DS)
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:00 - 4:15 pm, Spalding 257
Instructor: Brien Hallett

CRN 86553

PACE 345
Section 001

Aggression, War, and Peace (DS)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 - 11:45 am, Saunders 541
Instructor: Leslies Sponsel
(Cross Listed as ANTH 345)

CRN 87918

PACE 495
Section 001

Practicum and Internship
TBA, TBA
Instructor: Brien Hallett

CRN 83029

POLS 201
Section 001

Problems of War and Peace (WI, DS)
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:30 to 11:45 am, Saunders 637
Instructor: C. Stephenson

CRN 88365

Elective Courses

Spring Session: January 14, 2008 to May 16, 2008

Peace Studies Stream

COM 459
Section 002

Special Topics
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:00 - 4:15 pm, Edmondson 254
Instructor: Thomas Kelleher

CRN 88658

GEOG 315
Section 001

Personal Peace: Stories of Hope, Transformative Learning (DH, O)
Wednesdays, 4:00 - 6:30 pm, Saunders 541
Instructor: Jeannie Lum

CRN 86271

PACE 410
Section 001

History of Peace Movements (DH, O)
Wednesdays, 1:00 - 3:30 pm, BusAd E204
Instructor: Jeannie Lum

CRN 86805

PACE 412
Section 001

Gandhi, King, and Nonviolence (DH, W)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 - 2:45 pm, Saunders 637
Instructor: Brien Hallett

CRN 86806

PACE 485
Section 001

Topics: Peace & Conflict Resolution (Practices in Peacemaking) (DS, O)
Mondays, 4:00 - 6:30 pm, Saunders 541
Instructor: Jeannie Lum

CRN 86270

PACE 485
Section 002

Topics: Peace & Conflict Resolution (Human Rights and Peace) (DS, W)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00 - 4:15 pm, Webster 103
Instructor: Carole Petersen
To View Syllabus, Click Here

CRN 87919

WS 304
Section 001

Women, War, and the Military (DS, ETH)
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10:30 - 11:20 am, Webster 103
Instructor: Kathy Ferguson

CRN 88815

Conflict Resolution Stream

COM 340
Section 001

Intercultural Communication
Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:00 - 1:15 pm, George 215
Instructor: G. Fontaine

CRN 86185

PACE 478
Section 001

International Law and Disputes (DS)
Thursdays, 6:00 to 8:30 pm, Saunders 244
Instructor: B. Barnes

CRN 83028

FAMR 350
Section 001

Leadership and Group Processes (OC)
Wednesdays, 3:30 to 6:00 pm, Miller 2
Instructor: M. Cheang

CRN 81606

FAMR 350
Section 002

Leadership and Group Processes
Online
Instructor: R. Jarman

CRN 88334

SOC 433
Section 001

Analysis in Law and Social Change
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30 to 5:45 pm, Kuykendall 407
Instructor: D. Chandler

CRN 83636

SP 455
Section 001

Conflict Management (DS)
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:30 to 11:45 am, Webster 203
Instructor: W. Sharkey

CRN 88053

To view a printable version of the Spring 2008 flyer, click here.
For instructor contact information, click here.
**Course information is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the UH Manoa Class Availability Website.