Academics
Peace and Justice Seminars and Courses
Core Courses
- International Justice and Human Rights
- Comparative Religious Ethics
- Conflict Theory and Analysis
- Intervention Methodology
- Research Methodology
Specializations
- Crisis Analaysis and Conflict Resolution
- Development
- Human Rights
- Human Security
Peace & Justice Studies Program
P&J 500 - Proseminar for Peace and Justice Studies
P&J 510 - Morality, Justice, and Rights
P&J 515 - Comparative Religious Ethics
P&J 556 - Introduction to Conflict Analysis, Prevention, and Resolution
P&J 560 - Diplomatic Decision-Making
P&J 565 - Peace and Justice in World Politics: Theory and Practice
P&J 566 - International Negotiations
P&J 570 - Environmental Justice in a More-than-Human World
P&J 580 - International Justice and Human Rights
P&J 594 Special Topics in Peace and Justice Studies
P&J 595 - Peace and Justice Capstone
Department of Environmental Studies
ENVI 112 - Introduction to GIS
P&J 500 Proseminar for Peace and Justice Studies (1)
The seminar is designed to introduce students to the three pillars of the Peace and Justice curriculum - conflict resolution, international relations, and human rights/ethics - through readings and discussion. Orientation to the Catholic tradition that sees peace as inseparable from justice will occur, and background information on the intellectual disciplines represented in the Program will be presented.
P&J 510 Morality, Justice, and Rights (3)
Examination of major moral theories - ethical egoism, virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological theories - and their relation to justice and rights. Major contemporary theories of social justice including utilitarian, libertarian, liberal-egalitarian, radical-egalitarian, and communitarian (and conservative) theories along with feminist and multiculturalist perspectives. The use of such theories to assess social, economic, political, and environmental institutions, programs, and policies. Particular application to such problems as world hunger; economic inequalities within and between nations; and inequalities and oppression based on gender, race, ethnicity, and/or national origin.
P&J 515 Comparative Religious Ethics (3)
A comparative study of the bases and processes of character formation and moral action in selected major religious traditions. Emphasis will be placed on the role that narrative, symbol, doctrine, and ritual play in behavior in cultures in which thinking and feeling are embedded in religious world views. Attention will be given to arguments over whether and to what extent any moral values - particularly those embodied in Western human-rights discourse - can be said to have universal validity. The course will aim at providing students with tools for understanding the impact of religious values on contemporary issues of peace and justice with special attention to the contributions of Catholic social teaching.
P&J 556 Introduction to Conflict Analysis, Prevention, and Resolution (3)
This course will examine how conflicts are identified and analyzed, from low-level political violence to major armed conflict, and what theories and tools exist to resolve these conflicts. Students will read classic works in this interdisciplinary field, gaining an understanding of the different scholarly approaches taken to prevent and resolve armed conflict. Students will work in teams on particular case studies, applying theories learned.
P&J 560 Diplomatic Decision-Making (3)
This seminar is designed to teach students to think historically about the uses of diplomacy, the peaceful and non-peaceful resolution of crises, and the development of U.S. foreign relations. Themes to be addressed in the readings and discussion include negotiating tactics such as coercion and concessions, comparisons of realist vs. idealist motivations, alliance politics, advisory processes, the role of individuals, historical analogies, national security interests, and political, ideological, cultural, social, and economic environmental factors. Although this class takes a comparative approach in examining American influence on the world and vice versa, we will focus on a number of case studies in U.S. foreign relations to allow for a more in-depth evaluation of the foreign policy of one country. There exists in the United States a widespread and often controversial belief in the exceptionalism of American institutions and policies. The course will assess how the United States has attempted to export this belief to other nations and how these countries have responded.
P&J 565 Peace and Justice in World Politics: Theory and Practice (3)
An analysis of the theoretical literature on the causes of war and conditions of peace and justice focusing on issues of sovereignty, global governance, military and non-military aspects of security, human rights, and positive and negative peace. Seminar format with extensive student-centered discussions of readings.
P&J 566 International Negotiations (3)
This is an analytic and skills training course offering advanced training in the theory and practice of negotiations. Simulated negotiations of increasing complexity are carried on both inside and outside the classroom. Later in the course, students are introduced to various negotiation contexts including cross-cultural and cross-gender issues. Course participants from the Peace and Justice program will be integrated into the law school course which is composed of a mixture of U.S. law students and non-U.S. lawyers who are enrolled in USD's LLM-CL program.
P&J 570 Environmental Justice in a More-than-Human World (3)
Examination of environmental justice and its relationship to sustainability and the protection of the non-human world. Local, national, and global issues and cases will be considered. Multidisciplinary pedagogical approaches grounded by political and environmental philosophy will be used. Particular attention will be drawn to environmental, social, political, and economic inequalities, injustices, and oppression based on differences of gender, race, ethnicity, class, national origin, and species membership.
P&J 580 International Justice and Human Rights (3)
A study of the philosophical ideas underpinning human rights and a focus on the development of human rights in international law through an examination of international legal documents and cases. Issues such as war crimes, the rights of indigenous peoples, and just and unjust wars will be explored. Seminar format with extensive student-centered discussion.
P&J 594 Special Topics in Peace and Justice Studies (3)
A specialized course focusing on a topic in international affairs, conflict resolution, or ethics and human rights. The course can be repeated if the topic changes.
P&J 595 Peace and Justice Capstone (2)
A case study of a current or a developing problem that threatens or prevents peace and/or justice. The case study will integrate skills and perspectives acquired in the Program. Student reflection on the Catholic tradition that sees peace as inseparable from justice will be expected. Assessment of learning outcomes in the Program will be conducted. Prerequisite for the course is approval of a case study prospectus. Grading for the course is on a high-pass/pass/fail basis.
Department of Environmental Studies
ENVI 112 Introduction to GIS (3)
An overview of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including its history, role in complex spatial analysis projects, and geographic data management. Related technologies such as global positioning system (GPS) and remote sensing also will be introduced. Laboratory exercises will emphasize digital cartography using ArcView software. Prerequisite: Mathematics 11.
