Peace Studies

The Peace Studies courses listed below may be taken either as elective courses or as part of a course of study leading to the degree BA with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies: Peace Studies, administered through the Interdisciplinary Studies Program (IDS). For information on the major in Interdisciplinary Studies, consult the Director of IDS in O’Kelly Hall, Room 129. For the Peace Studies requirements, see the Program Director, Dr. Enru Wang, in the Geography Department in Ireland 156 (Ireland is a wing in the east end of O’Kelly Hall). The Peace Studies courses are taught by faculty members from the departments of Geography, Philosophy and Religion, History, Education, Economics, English, Psychology, Sociology, Languages, and the natural and physical sciences. Their goal is to encourage critical scholarly thinking and action by students and faculty in the growing areas of interest in issues of peace, war, social justice and human rights. They are excellent preparation for graduate study in a range of legal, governmental, social service, educational, theological and international fields.

The major requires a total of 36 credits, including all the following courses as listed below except for the Independent Study. If one or more courses are not offered within the timeframe that students have for their graduation, they may take alternative courses with the permission of the Program Director who serves as the academic advisor to PS students. Other courses may be selected by the student in consultation with the advisor to focus on an area of interest, for example, courses from the Chinese Studies minor, or other international or environmental topics.

Geog 161. World Regional Geography. 3 credits

This course investigates the development of the concept of region with analysis of the relationship of physical and cultural features to the contemporary world situation. F, S.

Geog 250. Introduction to Geopolitics. 3 credits.

The course surveys changing relations among states and the influences of national and transnational actors and events. It explores a myriad of important geopolitical issues and challenges that face the world today and provide the theoretical underpinnings for the analysis of causes and consequences of key issues of war, peace and social justice. S

Phil 209. Introduction to Ethics. 3 credits.

This course investigates the nature of the Good Life, of moral principles, and the application of moral systems to contemporary debate. These may include questions about the morality of war, capital punishment, sexual behavior, welfare, and so forth. F,S

IDS 280. Learning Across Disciplines. 3 credits.

This course will examine the nature of disciplines and fields and the way in which knowledge is organized. Basic assumptions and orientations will be compared and contrasted for scientific, social scientific, and humanities areas. Current literature in the field of interdisciplinary studies will be presented. F

Hist 335. Nuclear Weapons and the Modern Age. 3 credits.

An introduction to the history of: nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, their development and use during World War II, the nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., popular disarmament movements, and diplomatic efforts to control nuclear weapons and their proliferation. A final section will deal with the nuclear implications of the end of the Cold War and the development of new nuclear states in the last years of the 20th century. The course will include—from an historian’s point of view—some technical material necessary to a reasonable and realistic understanding of the subject. S/2

PS 394. Independent Study. 1-4 credits (maximum of 6 credits).

Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Supervised reading, study or research on an individual topic. On demand.

PS 497. Internship. 3-16 credits.

Prerequisites: Junior standing and approval of adviser. Provides direct experience in a peace-related, social change, human service/human rights or international agency. Peace Studies students are required to take a total of 6 or more credits in PS 497. F, S IDS 498. Senior Project. 3-6 credits.

IDS 491. Capstone Interdisciplinary Seminar. 1-3 credits. S

Prerequisites: Senior standing and advisor approval. Production of a major academic project, which is shared with other majors, and concludes the student’s program. (Samples of completed projects are on-file in the Peace Studies office.) S