This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://coursecatalog.bucknell.edu.

Peace Studies Minor

There are more than 160 higher learning institutions offering peace studies programs in the United States and more than 500 colleges around the world. The United States government gave official recognition to the field of peace studies in 1984, when it established the U.S. Institute of Peace. In 1987, the Peace Studies Association, a professional academic body, was established. In addition, the field is represented by the Consortium on Peace Research, Education and Development (COPRED). There are at least six scholarly journals devoted to peace studies.

Peace studies is an interdisciplinary field of study housed primarily in the social sciences. Other labels for peace studies include “peace and conflict studies,” “peace and justice studies,” and “conflict analysis and resolution." Peace studies explores the causes and nature of human conflict from the interpersonal to the global level. Historically, peace studies programs concentrated on “negative peace” or absence of war. Today, more attention is devoted to the concept of “positive peace” promoting social, political and economic justice. A partial list of topics under peace studies includes: violence, war, ethnic conflict, conflict management, conflict resolution, peacemaking, law, human rights, values, justice, environment, racism, sexism and nonviolence. Normatively, the goal of peace studies is to promote a more just and peaceful world.

The peace studies minor selects courses related to this topic from a variety of departments and programs, including: anthropology, biology, East Asian studies, economics, English, environmental studies, geography, history, international relations, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, sociology, and women’s & gender studies.

The peace studies minor allows students to group a number of courses to advance their interest in conflict, violence, justice and peace. A peace studies concentration will enrich students’ understanding of their respective majors and prove useful to careers or graduate studies in a variety of fields, including: journalism, education, media, politics, public policy, law, business, domestic and international organizations, and international relations.

The peace studies minor will consist of five courses: one core course and four electives. No more than two courses may be taken in the same department/program.

Select one of the following core courses: 11
International Law
War
Peace Studies: Conflict Resolution
Violence and Society
Select four of the following electives: 14
Animal Behavior
Animal Behavior
East Asian Politics
China Since 1800
International Relations in East Asia
Modern Japanese History
Chinese Politics
U.S.-China Relations
Intermediate Political Economy
African Economic Development
Gender, Race and Poverty
Introduction to African American Literature
Gender and Sexuality in America
Green Utopias
Environmental Injustice
Human Impact on Environment
Economic Geography
Urban Condition
Political Geography
American Civil War and Reconstruction
Contemporary Europe, 1890-1995
Europe Imperialism and Colonialism
Making Contemporary Africa: 'Early Modern' to the 'Post-Modern' World - 1400 to the Present
U.S. History since 1865
Chinese Politics
East Asian Politics
East Asian International Relations
Latin America: An Introduction
Contemporary Ethical Theory
Philosophy and Race
Philosophy of Revolution
Comparative Politics
International Politics
Politics of the Developing World
Latin American Politics
Government and Politics of the Middle East
Chinese Politics
East Asian Politics
Women and Politics
Philosophy of Race
American Foreign Policy
U.S. National Security Policy
Global Governance
East Asian International Relations
The International Relations of Latin America in the 21st Century
U.S. Foreign Policy and the Middle East
The Arab-Israeli Conflict
U.S.-China Relations
Social Psychology
Black Psychology
Animal Behavior
Trauma Psychology
Buddhism
Islam
Hinduism
Holocaust: Event and Reception
Environmental Ethics
Issues of Religion and Culture
Religion and Constitutional Law
Religion and American Politics
Criminology
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
How Holocausts Happen
Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
Women and Politics
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Students may propose to include another relevant course to count for the core or elective by consulting with and obtaining approval from the coordinator of the minor. Students also may manage to have an internship or fieldwork related to the minor count for credit. 

Faculty

Coordinator: Clare Sammells