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Peace and Conflict Studies - B.A.

The School of Peace and Conflict Studies offers an undergraduate major in Peace and Conflict Studies that prepares students for careers or graduate study in a variety of fields including conflict management, social sciences, dispute resolution, and human services.  The School also offers two minors:  Peace and Conflict Studies, and Environment, Peace and Justice.

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Bachelor’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies

91²Ö¿â's Bachelor of Science in Peace and Conflict Studies provides students with an in-depth understanding of the causes, dynamics, and resolution of conflicts at all levels, from local communities to global arenas. The program emphasizes practical approaches to conflict management, peacebuilding, and social justice, offering students tools to address issues such as violence, inequality, and human rights. Through interdisciplinary coursework and hands-on experiences, the B.S. in Peace and Conflict Studies prepares graduates for careers in conflict resolution, diplomacy, humanitarian work, and advocacy, as well as for advanced studies in related fields.

Program Information for Peace and Conflict Studies - B.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Peace and Conflict Studies prepares students for careers or graduate study in the field of conflict management, peace studies and dispute resolution. This major gives students a solid background in managing conflicts in constructive, not destructive, ways. Students learn skills that are not only useful in a variety of workplace settings, but in everyday life and relationships as well.

Program areas of focus include mediation, negotiation, environmental conflict resolution, international conflict resolution, workplace conflict management, nonviolent action and community organizing. As this is an applied program, students learn skills and build professional networks through the internship, which can be completed in a wide variety of contexts.

Students may apply early to the and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the in the University Catalog for more information.

Admissions for Peace and Conflict Studies - B.A.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to 91²Ö¿â’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at 91²Ö¿â’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former 91²Ö¿â students who have not attended another institution since 91²Ö¿â and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving 91²Ö¿â must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the research and analytical skills that will be useful while working in the field of peace studies and conflict management.
  2. Analyze the dynamics of social conflicts and apply the principles of nonviolent theory and practice in order to wage conflict constructively to bring about social or political change.
  3. Utilize conflict management and peace-building skills and knowledge to effectively develop, teach and/or implement approaches to preventing, managing and resolving conflicts.
  4. Demonstrate an ability to identify and analyze the cultural dimensions of conflicts and conflict management.
  5. Describe and interpret the roles that gendered power dynamics play in conflicts and conflict management.
  6. Demonstrate a broad grounding in the field of peace and conflict studies by being able to explain the historical evolution of the field, by identifying and analyzing a full range of conflict dynamics and by designing constructive and appropriate intervention tactics and strategies.
  7. Demonstrate an ability to explain the main theories on causes, expression and consequences of international conflicts, and comparatively evaluate different mechanisms of prevention, management and resolution of international conflicts.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
PACS 11001INTRODUCTION TO CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (DIVD) (KSS) 3
PACS 31002GENDER, POWER AND CONFLICT 3
PACS 31003NONVIOLENCE: THEORY AND PRACTICE 3
PACS 31010CONFLICT THEORY 3
PACS 32030INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION (DIVG) 3
PACS 35092INTERNSHIP IN PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES (ELR) 1,23
PACS 41010RECONCILIATION VERSUS REVENGE: TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE (DIVG) (WIC) 33
PACS 48080MEDIATION: THEORY AND TRAINING 3
Major Electives, choose from the following: 29
PACS 30000
MAY 4 1970 AND ITS AFTERMATH
PACS 32020
STRATEGIC PLANNING
PACS 32040
CROSS-CULTURAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (DIVG)
PACS 33030
CONFLICT IN THE WORKPLACE
PACS 34010
CAREER PATHWAYS IN PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES
PACS 35050
ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION
PACS 35095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES
PACS 40089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES (DIVG) (ELR)
PACS 40090
STUDY AWAY: PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES (ELR)
PACS 44040
NEGOTIATION
PACS 45050
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING: PEOPLE, POWER AND PEACEFUL CHANGE
PACS 49091
VARIABLE CONTENT SEMINAR IN PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)10-16
6
3
9
3
6-7
6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)43
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Maximum 3 credit hours of PACS 35092 may count toward the major. Students may enroll in 1-9 additional credit hours, which can count toward upper-division credit hours.

2

Students who have completed the Columbus Program in State Issues or Washington Program in National Issues (total 15 credit hours for POL 41990 or POL 42990, respectively) may substitute 3 credit hours for PACS 35092 and 6 credit hours for major electives. The remaining 6 credit hours may be used to fulfill the upper-division requirement and/or as course substitutions for required courses. Course substitutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with a program faculty advisor.

3

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete the following:

  1. Elementary I and II of any language (or equivalent) and
  2. One of the following options:
    1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
    2. Elementary I and II of a second language
    3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
      1. Intermediate I of the same language
      2. One to two college-level course(s) completed outside the United States
      3. Courses: ARAB 21401, ASL 19401, CHIN 25421, MCLS 10001, MCLS 20001, MCLS 20091, MCLS 21417, MCLS 21420, MCLS 22217, MCLS 28403, MCLS 28404

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer courses. This may be accomplished in one of three ways:

  1. Passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level
  2. Receiving credit through one of the offered by 91²Ö¿â
  3. Demonstrating comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language

Certain programs may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need a particular language proficiency.

Roadmap

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours13
Semester Three
Foreign Language and/or General Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
PACS 11001 INTRODUCTION TO CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (DIVD) (KSS) 3
Foreign Language and/or General Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
PACS 31002 GENDER, POWER AND CONFLICT 3
PACS 31010 CONFLICT THEORY 3
PACS 32030 INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION (DIVG) 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
PACS 41010 RECONCILIATION VERSUS REVENGE: TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE (DIVG) (WIC) 3
PACS 48080 MEDIATION: THEORY AND TRAINING 3
Major Elective 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Third Summer Term
PACS 35092 INTERNSHIP IN PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES (ELR) 3
 Credit Hours3
Semester Seven
PACS 31003 NONVIOLENCE: THEORY AND PRACTICE 3
Major Elective 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Major Elective 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Requirements for Previous Catalog Years

Starting in Fall 2019, the course prefixes changed from CACM to PACS.  Some of the course names also changed to reference Peace and Conflict Studies rather than Applied Conflict Management.  For students who took our classes or have catalog years prior to Fall 2019, a chart is available (see link below) that shows the older CACM course numbers and the new PACS numbers and names.

Click to Download CACM to PACS Course Equivalencies Chart

 

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Peace and Conflict Studies - B.A.

Graduates of 91²Ö¿â’s B.S. Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies are well-equipped for careers in conflict resolution, diplomacy, humanitarian work, and social justice advocacy. The program’s interdisciplinary approach provides students with the skills to analyze, manage, and resolve conflicts in diverse settings. Graduates often pursue roles as mediators, peacebuilding specialists, policy analysts, and nonprofit leaders, contributing to fields such as international relations, community development, and human rights.

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators

7.7%

faster than the average

7,300

number of jobs

$66,130

potential earnings

Community and social service specialists, all other

11.7%

much faster than the average

105,200

number of jobs

$46,770

potential earnings

Lawyers

4.0%

about as fast as the average

813,900

number of jobs

$126,930

potential earnings

Human resources managers

6.3%

faster than the average

165,200

number of jobs

$121,220

potential earnings

Human resources specialists

7.0%

faster than the average

666,500

number of jobs

$63,490

potential earnings

Postsecondary teachers, all other

2.0%

slower than the average

245,900

number of jobs

$71,950

potential earnings

Social and community service managers

17.0%

much faster than the average

175,500

number of jobs

$69,600

potential earnings

Social scientists and related workers, all other

0.8%

little or no change

38,800

number of jobs

$87,260

potential earnings

Social workers, all other

5.1%

faster than the average

62,500

number of jobs

$64,210

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Professionals in business or finance (purchasing/sales/management/insurance/banking/financial advising)
  • Community organizers, activists, and social justice advocates
  • Corporate social responsibility and donor relations specialists
  • Diplomats and peacemakers
  • Humanitarian aid and development workers
  • Law enforcement officers
  • Transitional justice practitioners
  • Government officials and public servants
  • Ministers and clergy
Careers Requiring Additional Education
  • Lawyers
  • Social workers, all other
  • Postsecondary teachers, all other
  • Social scientists and related workers, all other
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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