Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies
Master peace building and conflict resolution
In the Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies major, you will critically examine the origins and root causes of violence and conflict, and learn strategies for resolving interpersonal, communal and international conflicts peacefully. You will master the theoretical and intellectual frameworks related to peace building, human rights advocacy and justice development by learning to interpret real life situations and applying strategies for advocacy, consensus-building, partnership development and other intervention tools.
You will complete an internship with an organization related to peace, social justice or conflict resolution.
Take advantage of DePaul’s Study Abroad programs in order to gain an international perspective on the causes of violence and conflict, as well as strategies for negotiation and resolution.
In addition to various combined degree programs, we offer the 3+3 BA/JD, which allows high-achieving first-year undergraduate students to be admitted simultaneously to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (LAS) and the College of Law (LAW). You’ll complete your first three years in LAS and your final three years in LAW.
Classes
Coursework
- International Conflict and Peace-building
- Social Justice and Social Change
- Conflict: Intervention, Negotiation and Advocacy
- Human Rights: Promise and Problematics
- Social Engagement for Peace and Justice
- The Theory and Practice of Nonviolent Action
Resources
Career Options
Common Career Areas
- Ethics
- Law
- Social service
- International relations
- Humanitarian efforts
- Political work
- Education
- Journalism
- Public policy
91%
of Interdisciplinary Program graduates were employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment after graduation.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
The Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies (PAX) major requires 48 credit hours, as follows:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PAX 250 | TOPICS: TOOLS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE 1 | 4 |
| or PAX 251 | TOPICS: TOOLS TO SUPPORT JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND PEACEBUILDING | |
| PAX 210 | INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEBUILDING | 4 |
| PAX 212 | SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL CHANGE | 4 |
| PAX 214 | CONFLICT: STORYTELLING, INTERVENTION, NEGOTIATION | 4 |
| PAX 218 | HUMAN RIGHTS: PROMISE AND PROBLEMATICS | 4 |
| PAX 392 | INTERNSHIP IN PEACE , JUSTICE, AND CONFLICT STUDIES (taken for Liberal Studies EL requirement) | 4 |
| Select 12 credit hours of Seminars at the 300-level from the following, including any courses crosslisted with them: | 12 | |
| TOPICS SEMINAR | ||
| THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF NONVIOLENT ACTION | ||
| TOPICS IN MIGRATION AND FORCED MIGRATION | ||
| TRANSCENDING COEXISTENCE: TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND RECONCILIATION | ||
| BEYOND CONFLICT RESOLUTION: THE EVOLUTION OF GRASSROOTS PEACEBUILDING | ||
| PRINCIPLES AND PRACTCES OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | ||
| THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS: ORIGINS AND CONTROVERSIES | ||
| HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT: CHALLENGES AND INTERVENTIONS | ||
| LITERATURE OF WAR IN THE 20TH CENTURY | ||
| TOPICS IN NONVIOLENCE | ||
| TOPICS IN PEACE BUILDING | ||
| TOPICS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL CHANGE | ||
| TOPICS IN CONFLICT INTERVENTION | ||
| TOPICS IN ACTIVISM AND ADVOCACY | ||
| TOPICS IN HUMAN RIGHTS | ||
| LIBERATION THEOLOGY | ||
| GENDER, VIOLENCE AND RESISTANCE | ||
| TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE: THEORY AND PRACTICE | ||
| WOMEN, WAR AND RESISTANCE | ||
| POLITICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY | ||
| Select three electives approved by the PAX program (listed below) | 12 | |
| PAX 350 | CAPSTONE IN PEACE, JUSTICE & CONFLICT STUDIES (taken for Liberal Studies Capstone requirement) | 4 |
| 1 |
PAX 250 (2 courses at 2 credit hours each), PAX 251 (one course for 4 credit hours). |
The four-course sequence PAX 210-PAX 212-PAX 214-PAX 218 forms the foundation of the program and should be completed in the first or second year of study. Courses do not need to be done in sequence. An internship, PAX 392, offered once a year in the fall, should be completed prior to taking PAX 350. If possible, students should take the internship prior to senior year. Seniors should plan to take the capstone, PAX 350, offered once a year, usually in winter. Students will complete either two sections of PAX 250 (for 2 credit hours each) or PAX 251 (for 4 credits hours), ideally prior to senior year.
300-Level Seminars
The courses that can be taken as 300-level seminars are approved by the PAX Program Advisory Board. These do not include all 300-level PAX courses, many of which are crosslisted from other departments. For any questions, check with the Program Director, since new ones are approved now and then.
Senior Capstone
PAX 350 is usually offered in winter quarter. Students doing study abroad during winter quarter of their senior year must do the capstone in their junior year. This is required even for a double-major who must do a capstone in the other major.
Program Approved Electives
Courses cross-listed with any course listed below are accepted as PAX electives. Check with the PAX Director for topics courses approved as PAX electives each quarter or to approve a course not on this list. PAX electives also include any courses approved for the PAX minor requirement of a community-based service learning course: See list under the PAX Minor.
LAS: African and Black Diaspora Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WORLD REFUGEE CRISIS |
LAS: Catholic Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT IN CONTEXT |
LAS: Community Service Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRISON | ||
| MASCULINITY, JUSTICE AND LAW | ||
| LAW AND POLITICS: PRISON POLICIES AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE |
LAS: Comparative Literature
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| VOICES OF WAR AND PEACE; ART, LITERATURE AND FILM | ||
| PICTURES OF INJUSTICE: NARRATIVE ARTS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS |
LAS: English
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NATIVE LITERATURE |
LAS: Geography
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RACE, JUSTICE, AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT | ||
| GEOGRAPHY, FOOD AND JUSTICE |
LAS: History
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WORLD REFUGEE CRISIS | ||
| HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN EUROPE | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY TO 1800 | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, 1800-1900 | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, 1900 TO PRESENT | ||
| ORIGINS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 1871-1917 | ||
| ORIGINS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, 1914 - 1941 | ||
| ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR, 1917 - 1953 | ||
| SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA |
LAS: International Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MIGRATION AND FORCED MIGRATION | ||
| GLOBAL EMPIRES | ||
| RACE, SEX, DIFFERENCE | ||
| NATURE, SOCIETY AND POWER | ||
| CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY | ||
| INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS | ||
| LAW OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANZIATIONS, NGOS AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE | ||
| THE LONG LIFE OF EMPIRE | ||
| LANGUAGE AND THE POLITICS OF TERROR | ||
| INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT |
LAS: Islamic World Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RELIGION AND POLITICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST |
LAS: Latino and Latin American Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FOUNDING MYTHS AND CULTURAL CONQUEST IN LATIN AMERICA | ||
| STRUGGLE AND RESISTANCE IN LATIN AMERICA | ||
| INDIGENOUS POLITICAL STRUGGLES |
LAS: Lesbian, Gay, Queer & Transgender Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LGBTQ POLITICS | ||
| SEXUAL JUSTICE: LESBIANS, GAYS AND THE LAW |
LAS: Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EVERYDAY CONFLICT: ANALYSIS, EVALUATION, AND PRACTICES FOR MOVING FORWARD | ||
| CHICAGO AND STRATEGIC NONVIOLENCE | ||
| CHICAGO JUSTICE AND THE WORK FOR SOCIAL CHANGE | ||
| COMMUNITIES WORKING FOR SUSTAINABLE JUSTICE AND PEACE: SERVICE IN CHICAGO AND THE U.S. | ||
| FRAMEWORKS FOR PEACE: PRACTICAL MODELS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE | ||
| ACTIVE NONVIOLENCE: PRACTICAL AND CREATIVE APPROACHES | ||
| SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE | ||
| TRANSNATIONAL GRASSROOTS SOCIAL MOVEMENTS | ||
| IDENTITY, PRIVILEGE, AND SOCIAL CHANGE | ||
| ANALYZING POVERTY, ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES | ||
| THE ETHICS OF POVERTY | ||
| VOICES OF WAR AND PEACE: ART, LITERATURE AND FILM | ||
| PICTURES OF INJUSTICE: NARRATIVE ARTS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS | ||
| TOPICS: TOOLS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE | ||
| TOPICS: TOOLS TO SUPPORT JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND PEACEBUILDING | ||
| FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION | ||
| DESPAIR AND HOPE | ||
| DISABILITY JUSTICE STUDIES: AN INTRODUCTION | ||
| GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISIS | ||
| DISABILITY JUSTICE, RIGHTS, AND POLICY | ||
| TOPICS ON JUSTICE AND PEACE | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY | ||
| TOPICS SEMINAR | ||
| THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF NONVIOLENT ACTION | ||
| TOPICS IN MIGRATION AND FORCED MIGRATION | ||
| GLOBAL EMPIRES | ||
| NATURE, SOCIETY AND POWER | ||
| CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY | ||
| TRANSCENDING COEXISTENCE: TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND RECONCILIATION | ||
| BEYOND CONFLICT RESOLUTION: THE EVOLUTION OF GRASSROOTS PEACEBUILDING | ||
| TOPICS IN CRITICAL THEORY, PHILOSOPHY, POLICY | ||
| TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE: THEORY AND PRACTICE | ||
| PRINCIPLES AND PRACTCES OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | ||
| THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS: ORIGINS AND CONTROVERSIES | ||
| LIBERATION THEOLOGY | ||
| HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT: CHALLENGES AND INTERVENTIONS | ||
| WOMEN, WAR, AND RESISTANCE | ||
| INDIGENOUS POLITICAL STRUGGLES | ||
| CAPSTONE IN PEACE, JUSTICE & CONFLICT STUDIES | ||
| LANGUAGE AND THE POLITICS OF TERROR | ||
| TOPICS IN WAR AND PEACE | ||
| TRAUMA, ART & RESILIENCE | ||
| LITERATURE OF WAR IN THE 20TH CENTURY | ||
| TOPICS IN GLOBAL JUSTICE | ||
| TOPICS IN PEACE, JUSTICE AND RELIGION | ||
| TOPICS IN LAW, JUSTICE, AND HUMAN RIGHTS | ||
| INTERNSHIP IN PEACE , JUSTICE, AND CONFLICT STUDIES | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY |
LAS: Philosophy
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHILOSOPHY, CONFLICT AND PEACE | ||
| PHILOSOPHICAL CRITIQUES OF COLONIALISM |
LAS: Political Science
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INEQUALITY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY | ||
| RIGHTS-BASED SOCIAL MOVEMENTS |
LAS: Public Policy Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| URBAN POVERTY |
LAS: Religious Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SLAVERY, RACE AND RELIGION | ||
| FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION | ||
| DESPAIR AND HOPE | ||
| COLONIZATION, RELIGION AND RESISTANCE | ||
| LIBERATION THEOLOGY |
LAS: Sociology
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RACE AND ETHNICITY IN THE CITY | ||
| RESISTING WHITE SUPREMACY | ||
| CRIMINALIZATION, PUNISHMENT, & RESISTANCE | ||
| REVOLUTIONS AND PEASANT REBELLIONS |
LAS: Women's and Gender Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GENDER, SEXUALITY AND VIOLENCE | ||
| BLACK FEMINIST THEORIES IN A U.S. CONTEXT | ||
| GENDER, VIOLENCE AND RESISTANCE | ||
| WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST: BEYOND THE VEIL | ||
| ANTIRACIST FEMINISMS | ||
| TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE: THEORY AND PRACTICE | ||
| SEXUAL JUSTICE: LESBIANS, GAYS AND THE LAW | ||
| QUEER PIONEERS: CULTURE, GENDER, AND POLITICAL ACTIVISM | ||
| WOMEN, WAR AND RESISTANCE | ||
| GENDER, COMMUNITY, AND ACTIVISM: COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING IN WGS | ||
| GLOBALLY QUEER: TRANSNATIONAL LGBTQ POLITICS | ||
| POLITICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY | ||
| INTERNSHIP |
College of Communication
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GENDER AND COMMUNICATION | ||
| PERFORMANCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE |
College of Education
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN EDUCATION | ||
| EDUCATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE |
College of Science and Health: Environmental Science and Studies
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY |
College of Science and Health: Psychology
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PSYCHOLOGY |
Open Electives
Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.?
