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Consider your future and the future of the world -- study peace in college. Do you find yourself concerned about the current state of the world? Are you troubled by the profuslon of ethnic and regional disputes? Does the destruction of the rainforests and the possibility of global warming alarm you? Does a world stockpiled with nuclear weapons seem pointless? Do you wonder if poverty and homelessness are avoidable? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions and are college bound, a school with a peace studies program may be of special interest to you. Such a program would allow you to explore international peace and justice issues while earning your college degree. (Click on the links above to jump to list of undergraduate peace studies programs organized by region.) WHAT IS PEACE STUDIES?
Peace studies programs vary greatly from school to school. Some offer majors in the field, while others offer minors or "concentrations." At some colleges, students can earn peace studies "certificates" in addition to their traditional majors. Many students also choose to take one or more peace studies courses as electives. At many colleges, course work can be enriched by an internship with a related organization or agency. Courses in peace studies emphasize the relevance of a college education to the search for solutions to critical international problems, and instill in students a positive sense of social responsibility. Peace studies develops traditional academic skills such as analytical thinking, research methods, and written and oral communication. The field gives students all of the beneflts of a solid liberal arts education along with special skills and insights, thus opening up job opportunities in teaching, law, diplomacy, journalism, politics, dis- pute resolution, and many other professional flelds. (For a discussion of career opportunities for graduates of Peace Studies programs, consult the Guide to Careers and Graduate Education in Peace Studies, available for $4.50 from the Five College Program in Peace and World Security Studies.) The United States government gave official recognition to the field of peace studies in 1984, when it established the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), a federal agency that supports education and research on peace and conflict issues. Numerous professional organizations have also shown support for peace studies, including the International Association of University Presidents, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the National Education Association. Peace studies have received coverage in The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, Chronicle of Higher Education, and other publications. In 1987, directors of several college and university programs in the field established the Peace Studies Association, a professional academic body dedicated to the enhancement of teaching and resources in the field. With the winding down of the Cold War, peace studies is in a state of transition. Whereas nuclear weapons and U.S.-Soviet relations once dominated courses in the fleld, today most college programs are examining such concerns as regional and ethnic warfare, relations between the industrial and non-industrial nations, international mediation and peacekeeping, and environmental protection. (For detailed information on curriculum development in the field and sample syllabi of courses, consult Peace and World Security Studies: A Curriculum Guide, available from PAWSS.) While no one can be sure which of these concerns will predominate in the years to come, it is certain that peace studies will be at the cutting edge of education and research on critical international issues. For more information on peace studies programs and perspectives, contact: The Five College Program in Peace and World Security Studies (PAWSS), c/o School of Social Science, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA 01002. (Publishes Guide to Careers and Graduate Education in Peace Studies Peace and World Security Studies: A Curriculum Guide, and World Security: Challenges for a New Century. Peace Studies Association (PSA), c/o Conflict and Peace Studies Program, Box 471, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309. Consortium on Peace Research, Education and Development (COPRED), c/o Center for Conflict Resolution, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. (Publishes Directory of Peace Studies Programs.)
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