The Peace and Conflict Studies program will officially begin in the Fall Semester of 2008.  This website is under construction but these pages are intended to provide some overall information about this new minor.   For anyone who would like to find out more, please feel free to contact:

PACS Program Director, Dr. Marc Simon

Political Science Department

123 Williams Hall

Office Phone 419-372-7386

Email: msimon@bgsu.edu

International Conference on Media, War and Conflict Resolution

As part of the inauguration of the Peace and Conflict Studies minor, we are joining with the School of Communication Studies in hosting the above named conference from September 17 to 19, 2008.

For more information about the conference, click on this link.

The Peace and Conflict Studies Minor

The minor in Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide students with the conceptual and practical tools to understand and resolve conflicts and to build peace in a globalized world.  Students use methodologies from the social sciences and humanities to explore the causes and relationships that create conflict and peace. 

The program consists of an introductory course (PACS 200), two core classes, and a multidisciplinary capstone course (PACS 300).  In addition, all PACS minors complete a short term study abroad course (PACS 410) which exposes them to important themes and issues related to peace around the world.  Each student takes 4 elective courses which may emphasize particular disciplines or skills that are useful for their future careers in government, nonprofits, international organizations, business, or for graduate or professional school.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the minor, students in Peace and Conflict Studies are expected to:

• Understand and apply key concepts of peace and conflict studies (such as peace, conflict, coercion, conflict resolution, ethics of war, nonviolent resistance), toevaluate and solve conflicts in the real world
• Be able to analyze contemporary conflicts in a multidisciplinary (environmental, historical, political, socio-cultural, psychological, and economic) context
• Possess research skills necessary to conduct a research project using qualitative or quantitative evidence to evaluate and contribute to the resolution of a problem, issue, or controversy in the area of peace and conflict studies
• Possess critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and communication skills necessary to conduct conflict resolution by peaceful means.

Minor only (21 hours)

Required core courses (9 hours):

• PACS 200 (3)
• PACS 300 (3)
• And one of:  POLS 479 (Conflict Resolution) or JOUR 495 (Media Representation and Propaganda)

Field Experience Requirement (3 hours)

• PACS 410 (3)

Elective courses (9 hours total) 

Students are strongly encouraged to take one course from each of the following 3 areas: Determinants of Conflict; Conflict Management and Peace; Social Justice, Ethics, and Law.

Courses not included on the lists below may be substituted with the approval of the advisor.  In addition, students may apply 3 credit hours of PACS 400, PACS 470, or PACS 489 as elective credit toward the minor.

Determinants of Conflict:

ENG 200    Literature of War (3)
ENVH 210. The Global Commons: International Perspectives on Environmental Health and Protection (3).
ETHN 440. Women and Globalization (3).
GERM 403. Women and the Third Reich (3).
HIST 303. World War II (3).
HIST 337. The Vietnam War (3).
HIST 367. Hitler's Germany: Rise and Fall of Nazism (3).
HIST 456. The Holocaust and Anti-Semitism (3).
POLS 335. Global Resource Politics (3).
SOC 445. Soc Perspectives Interpersonal Violence (3). Prereq: SOC 101
SOC 460.Sociology of Gender (3).  Prereq: SOC 101

Conflict Management and Peace

POLS 479. Conflict Resolution (3)
JOUR 495: Topic: Media Representation and Practices in Times of War and Terrorism
ASIA 310. Hiroshima and Beyond (2).
PACS 410.  Peace and Conflict Studies Abroad (3)
ENVS 415. Strategies and Resources for Environmental Education (3).
GERM 316. Contemporary Germany (3).
RUSN 216. Contemporary Russian Society (3)
IPC 210. Interpersonal Communication in International Contexts (3).
JOUR 475. Perspectives on International Media (3)
PHIL 227 Philosophy of Punishment (3)
PHIL 339 Meditation: Practice and Theory (3)
POLS 475. International Organization (3).
SOC 341. Juvenile Delinquency (3). Prereq: SOC 101
WS 302. History of Feminist Thought and Action (3). Prereq: WS 200 or instructorconsent
WS 467. Gender, Media & Culture (3).

Social Justice, Ethics, and Law

ENVH 306. Environmental Regulation, Organization and Administration (3).
ENG 211. African-American Literature (3).
ETHN 301. Ethnicity in the United States (3).
ETHN 302. Women of Color in the United States (3).
ETHN 303. Race, Representation, and Culture (3).
ETHN 351. International Perspectives on Women (3).
JOUR 455. Diversity Issues in the Media (3).
PHIL 202 History of Ethics  (3)
PHIL 224 Socialism, Democracy, and Capitalism (3)
PHIL 218 Philosophy of Law (3)
PHIL 312 Political Philosophy (3)
PHIL 321 Indian and Chinese Philosophy (3)
PHIL 332 Environmental Ethics (3)
POLS 400  Human Rights (3)
POLS 473. International Law (3).
SOC 316. Minority Groups (3). D  Prereq: SOC 101
THFM 215. Exploring Cultural Diversity Through Performance (3).