Academics
Requirements for the Masters Degree
The Peace and Justice Program emphasizes the integration and use of theoretical and practical materials from ethics, world religions, world history, international relations, conflict resolution, and human rights along with the acquisition of skills necessary for successful pursuit of peace and justice goals. It begins in mid-August with a required proseminar that introduces students to the range of cross-disciplinary scholarship in the Program. Students in both tracks, take five required core courses as well as four courses within one of the areas of specialization. Both tracks conclude with a capstone project that requires students to apply skills and perspectives acquired in the Program to a current or developing problem that threatens or prevents peace and/or justice. The capstone projects will be shared with the incoming cohort of students. In the seventeen-month program, the MA Colloquium serves to integrate the practical experience of the internship with theory through critical discussion. Students from all four thematic areas will engage in dialog with each other and the Program’s faculty.
With the exception of the proseminar, capstone course and, for students in the seventeen-month track, the MA Colloquium, substitutions of required courses with electives can occur with the approval of the Program Director if a required course duplicates previous academic work of the student.
Requirements for the Degree: 12-Month Track
- Full-time status as a graduate student
- Approval of courses by the Program Director
- Proseminar
- 30 units of graduate work with a 3.0 or higher
- 5 core courses – 15 units (see below)
- 4 courses within one of the areas of specialization – 12 units (see below)
- Capstone Project (3 units) must be at “B” or better performance, and the grade is pass/fail.
- No more than 6 units of course work at the 300 level or 400 level can be counted toward the 30 units.
Requirements for the Degree: 17-Month Track
- Full-time status as a graduate student
- Approval of courses by the Program Director
- Proseminar
- 36 units of graduate work with a 3.0 or higher
- 5 core courses- 15 units (see below)
- 4 courses within one of the areas of specialization – 12 units (see below)
- Internship – 3 units
- MA Colloquium – 3 units
- Capstone Project (3 units) must be at “B” or better performance, and the grade is pass/fail.
- No more than 6 units of course work at the 300 level or 400 level can be counted toward the 36 units.
