Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

The Certificate in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to help people work together effectively and manage conflicts constructively. Building peace in the community, the nation, and the world depends on the ability of people to collaboratively solve problems. As one Peace Studies graduate said, "Just because we don't all think the same, doesn't mean we can't solve a problem together."

In all occupations, as the world becomes more inter-connected there is a critical need to help people:

• work through differences;

• bridge diverse perspectives; and

• resolve conflicts efficiently. 

The Certificate in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution enables students to develop these key skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the world in which we live. The curriculum is flexible enough to enable students to pursue their individual interests, incorporating overseas study, research or internships and drawing from classes offered in an array of departments. Yet it provides a solid foundation in both theory and practice of international mediation and negotiation.

Eligibility

The Certificate is open to students majoring in any field, to students who previously recieved a bachelor's degree from UWM or any other accredited college or university, and to those who do not plan to pursue a college or university degree (non-degree students) but who have a strong interest in this subject.

Bachelor's degree candidates are awarded the Certificate at the time of graduation. Non-degree candidates are awarded the Certificate upon completion of 18 credits of designated coursework. 

Requirements

Overall Requirements -18 credits

Students must complete 18 credits in the program. Nine of these must be in advanced level courses (300 level and above). A 2.5 grade point average must be achieved in all courses counting toward the Certificate and at least one-half of the work (9 credits) toward the Certificate must be completed at UWM.

Required Courses -6 credits

Students are required to take two of the following courses

• Peace Studies 201: Introduction to Conflict Resolution and Peace
• Political Science 175: Introduction to International Relations
• Communication 665: Introduction to Mediation
• Communicaton 675: International Mediation and Peacebuilding

Fieldwork -3 credits

The purpose of this requirement is to enable the student to engage in peace studies through "practical" experience or research. The student should be engaged in the "practice of peace" through community service, conflict indentification and education, environmental awareness, governmental politics, or social chang. The area of study must be approved by the Peace Studies Program and meet requirements of the department through which it is being offered.

The fieldwork requirement can be fulfilled in one of three ways:

• Internship-A number of internships are available through Peace Studies and a variety of organizations and departments.
• Study Abroad-Many study abroad programs fulfill this requirement but not all do-be sure to check with your Peace Studies advisor.
• Independent Study-A research project proposed by the student to a professor in an area of interest. The Independent Study should also be approved by Peace Studies. 

Electives -9 credits

Students are encouraged to construct an area of concentration from their elective credits. Suggested areas of concentration may be geographic and/or thematic, such as:

• world regions and countries;
• world religions and practices;
• conflict resolution skills;
• international relations;
• sustainable development;
• peace studies/education;
• environmental studies;
• social change/social justice; and
• economic development.

Student select electives in a variety of fields, including:

Africology
218 Conflict and Cooperation in Black-White Relations
265 Psychological Effects of Racism
300 Urban Violence
322 Order and Disorder in the Quest for Social Justice

Anthropology
150 Multicultural America

Communication
350 Intercultural Communication
363 Communication in Human Conflict
500 Communication and Community Service
631 Current Topics in Interpersonal Communication/Conflict Management: (with approved subtitle)
661 Current Topics in Communication: (with approved subtitle)
662 Seminar in Communication: (with approved subtitle)

Comparative Literature
192 Freshman Seminar: (with approved subtitle)
230 Literature and Society: (with approved subtitle)
231 Literature and Religion: (with approved subtitle)
232 Literature and Politics: (with approved subtitle)
233 Literature and Film: (with approved subtitle)
433 Comparative Mythology

Conservation and Environmental Science
210 Introduction to Conservation and Environmental Science
471 Principles of Natural Resources Management
490 Senior Seminar: Conservation and Environmental Science

Criminal Justice
416 Domestic Violence Research
420 Violence and the Criminal Justice System
592 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice: (with approved subtitle)

Economics
353 Economic Development

Educational Policy and Community Studies
411 Conflict and Change
520 Peace Education
521 Nonviolence in Education
522 Gender Violence in the Community
579 Current Topics in Cultural Foundations of Education: (with approved subtitle)

English
150 Multicultural America
192 Freshman Seminar: (with approved subtitle)
247 Literature and Human Experience: (with approved subtitle)
293 Literature and Media: (with approved subtitle)

Ethnic Studies
250 Selected Topics in Ethnic Studies: (with approved subtitle)
350 Advanced Topics in Comparative Ethnic Studies: (with approved subtitle)

Exceptional Education
617 Cooperative Learning: (with approved subtitle)

Geography
120 Our Physical Environment
125 The Challenge of Our Physical Environment
350 Conservation of Natural Resources

Global Studies
101 People and Politics
201 Economics and the Environment
202 Globalization and Information Technology
311 Contexts for Global Management
371 Rethinking Global Security
411 Cross-Cultural Management
471 Strategies for Realizing Security in Global Contexts
499 Ad Hoc: (with approved subtitle)

Hebrew Studies
238 Topics in Hebrew/Jewish Literature, Art, and Culture: (with approved subtitle)
254 Studies in Hebrew Culture: (with approved subtitle)
275 Introduction to Middle Eastern and Western Religions

History
150 Multicultural America
200 Historical Roots of Contemporary Issues (with approved subtitle)
249 The Second World War in Europe
275 Introduction to Middle and Western Religion
280 Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca. 500-1258
281 Islamic Civilization: The Middle Period, ca. 1200-1805
282 The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
283 Arab-Israeli Relations: The Search for Peace
286 The Korean War
287 The Vietnam War
363 Germany: Hitler and the Nazi Dictatorship
364 The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism & the Fate of Jewish People in Europe, 1933-45
370 Topics in the History of Religious Thought: (with approved subtitle)
399 Honors Seminar: (with approved subtitle)
433 American Constitutional Development, 1876 to the Present
434 The United States as a World Power in the 20th Century
440 History of the American Working Classes
457 Military History of the United States
600 Seminar in History: (with approved subtitle)

Honors
200 Honors Seminar: (with approved subtitle)

International Studies
550 Senior Seminar in International Studies: (with approved subtitle)

Philosophy
204 Introduction to Asian Religions
244 Ethnical Issues in Health Care: (with approved subtitle)
255 Philosophy of Political Action
271 Philosophic Traditions: Western Great Lakes American Indian Philosophy
275 Introduction to Middle Eastern and Western Religions
355 Political Philosophy
475 Special Topics in Indian Religious Thought: (with approved subtitle)

Political Science
175 Introduction to International Relations
316 International Law
317 Principles of International Law: Conflict resolution
333 Seminar in Comparative Politics: Collective Violence and the State
337 International Organization and the United States
338 Seminar in International Relations
339 European Integration
340 Politics of Nuclear Weapons
359 Problems in American Foreign Policy
360 International Relations Theory
361 History of International Political Thought
362 Ethics and International Relations
365 Theories and Methods in International Politics
370 International Conflict
371 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
419 Constitutional Interpretation
464 Women and the Law

Psychology
611 Current Topics: (with approved subtitle)

Sociology
101 Introduction to Sociology
104 Introduction to Social Psychology
150 Multicultural America
215 Religion and Society
307 Industrial Sociology
325 Social Change
327 The Social Organization of Technology: A Comparative Perspective
330 Economy and Society
338 Small Groups
361 Research Methods in Sociology
450 Environmental Sociology

Spanish
795 Hispanic Culture: (with approved subtitle)

Urban Studies
360 Perspectives on the Urban Scence: (with approved subtitle)

Women's Studies
150 Multicultural America