Updated 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog | 20255

Peace and Justice Studies cert

The Peace & Justice Studies Certificate examines injustice and conflict in society through an interdisciplinary lens and prepares students to work towards a more just and peaceful society. We critically analyze the root causes of injustice and conflict through coursework oriented in disciplines like sociology, victimology, anthropology and gender studies and prepare students to engage in community-based work informed through such theoretical knowledge. Taking micro-meso-macro level approaches we analyze social issues like race, gender, social class, human rights, poverty, conflict resolution and crime and apply this analysis to creating opportunities for social change. Students who complete this certificate will learn to analyze how social change has occurred historically and be prepared to engage in community-based work oriented in the practices of restorative justice.

Required Credits: 18
Required GPA: 2.25

I REQUIRED COURSES

Complete the following courses:

• JUST 1000 Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies (3 credits)
• JUST 4477 Restorative Justice (3 credits)

II ELECTIVE COURSES

Choose any 4 of the following courses:

• ANTH 3400 Anthropology of Current World Issues - Religion and Nationalism (3 credits)
• COMM 3500 Communication and Conflict (3 credits)
• JUST 3407 Global Perspectives in Victimology (3 credits)
• SOC 2230 Race and Ethnic Relations (3 credits)
• SOC 2240 Sociology of Gender - Current Topics (3 credits)
• SOC 3210 Social Movements - How to Change the World (3 credits)
• SOC 3310 Community Organizing for Social Change (3 credits)
• SOC 3925 People of the Environment: Sociology Perspective (3 credits)

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts like peace, justice, conflict, non-violence, human rights and human development frameworks.
2. Apply framework of restorative justice practices to critically assess alternative conceptualizations of a just society.
3. Analyze historical and contemporary social change using empirical evidence and scientific methods.
4. Analyze social inequalities through micro-meso-macro level perspectives of social factors like race, gender, sexuality, social class etc.
5. Apply knowledge of theories of justice to community-based work via field visits, research projects and service learning.