The M.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies is dedicated to providing high quality, professional training in multiple conflict intervention and prevention skills such as mediation, negotiation, facilitation, restorative practices, violence prevention, and collaborative problem solving. Students engage in community-based learning through a variety of courses to build practice, intervention, and research skills. The program focuses on pragmatic approaches to solving personal and social problems in a variety of social settings. Students are exposed to an array of techniques and strategies to achieve nonviolent solutions to conflict that arises in diverse family, organizational and community environments.

The program promotes a systemic and critical perspective to the challenges facing individuals, families, organizations and communities in both a global and local analytical and practical perspective. With an interdisciplinary commitment to social justice and human rights, we train professionals to seek collaborative, constructive and conciliatory methods for resolving human conflict. Our goal is to mold reflective conflict professionals—practitioners with a critical understanding of theory, research and a range of methods, local and global perspectives, and an appreciation of diversity, peace development and social justice.

The M.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies requires completion of 33 credit hours for the online Transformative Peace and Conflict Concentration and 30 credit hours for the campus-based Sustainable Peace and Justice Concentration. The Sustainable Peace and Justice Concentration offers both Practicum and Thesis options (see the Requirements section for more details on the concentrations).  Flexible concentrations allow students of all ages, job requirements, technology, and delivery needs to participate in the learning process. Online classes are asynchronous and do not require specific meeting times.  Face-to-face courses are typically offered in the evenings to meet the needs and schedules of working adults.

For more information, visit http://pacs.uncg.edu or email the Graduate Program Director, Dr. Marcia Hale, mrhale@uncg.edu.

For information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission, please see https://grs.uncg.edu/programs/.

In addition to the application material required by the Graduate School, applicants must submit a personal essay on their interest and expectations of the M.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies and may be asked to complete an interview with members of the admissions committee.

Degree Program Requirements

Sustainable Peace and Justice Concentration

Required: 30 credit hours

Thesis Option

Practicum Option

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required Courses (12 credits)
PCS 621	Critical Foundations of Peace and Conflict Studies	3
PCS 622	Skills in Transformative Conflict	3
PCS 623	Community and Action Research	3
PCS 624	Peace and Justice in a Changing Climate	3
Electives (15 credits)
Select 15 credits of electives from graduate-level PCS courses *		15
Practicum (Capstone Experience (3 credits)
PCS 690	Integrated Practicum: Professional Development Project	3
Total Credit Hours		30

*

Students may select one course (3 credits) outside of PCS that fits their area of study in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. Students may select one online PCS graduate course as one of their electives.