In contribution to the mission of Bluffton University, a peace and conflict studies minor offers students the opportunity to pursue peacemaking and conflict management in coordination with an academic major. The peace and conflict studies minor seeks to:
The peace studies coordinator will serve as a second advisor for students for the PCS minor and will oversee the students' completion of the minor as outlined above and in coordination with the major advisor. More info...
Minor (20-22 hours)
Core: (9 hours)
PCS 230 Theories of Peace and Conflict (3)
PLS 272 Global Politics (3)
REL 373 War, Peace and Nonviolence (3)
Two of the following: (6 hours)
CRJ 200 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
EBA 382 Economic Development and the Environment (3)
PSY 258 Social Psychology (3)
One of the following: (3 hours)
HIS 245 Regional and National Studies (3) (with appropriate theme)
HIS 301 Studies in American History (3) (with appropriate theme)
HIS 302 Studies in European History (3)
HIS 305 African American History (3)
HIS 310 U.S. Women’s History (3)
PLS 285 Comparative Politics (3)
PLS 303 Studies in Political Science (3)
Electives: (2-4 hours)
In consultation with advisors, students will select one course that will broaden or deepen an understanding of peace and conflict studies as it applies to the student's particular interests.
PCS 380 Project (3-4)
PCS 405 Peacemaking Seminar (2)
This minor fits especially well with those who have participated in the cross-cultural term in Northern Ireland, though such participation is not required for the minor. After returning from Northern Ireland, students may obtain the PCS minor by taking the above three core courses.
Courses
PCS 230 Theories of Peace and Conflict (3)
Beginning with a nontechnical understanding and then drawing from writings and research in the social sciences, philosophy and biblical studies, this course will focus on a descriptive knowledge of the concepts of conflict and peace. Some attention will be given to the role of communicative interaction in particular social and organizational contexts. Offered alternate years.
PCS 380 Project (3-4) Courses offered in Northern Ireland PLS 260 Government and Politics of Northern Ireland (3) LAS 225 Peace Building through Reconciliation (3) PCS 303 Practical Mediation Skills and Conflict Transformation (3) LAS 300 Practical Work Placement (2)
An upper-level project involving the application of peace and conflict studies to the student's major. The project may be an internship, a practicum or an independent study. If the student's major includes a field work or internship component or a seminar, this project could be a part of such an experience, on approval of the PCS advisor and the faculty member supervising the major course. Offered on demand.
For more information on the Northern Ireland Program, visit the Off-campus programs page.
This course covers the background to “The Troubles,” examines Partition, significant political leaders in Irish politics, the different types of government in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain, the different political parties in Northern Ireland, inter-governmental relations between Britain and the Irish Republic, and relevant issues, groups, parties, and paramilitary organizations. Some sample essay questions for this course have included: Why was the Unionist government unable to resolve the political crisis in Northern Ireland between l968 and l972? Assess the record of the Anglo-Irish Agreement as a strategy for promoting political consensus in Northern Ireland. Why has there been a growth of U.S. involvement in Northern Ireland politics since l985?
This course covers a general introduction and discussion on the different meanings of reconciliation, defining some important terms, e.g. stereotyping, prejudice, scapegoating, alienation, polarization, conflict and violence, conflict resolution and conciliation. The class includes seminar meetings with speakers from all of the political parties in Northern Ireland, a field trip to meet the security forces and meetings with religious and community leaders. As an example, the 1995 group met with senior politicians from all of the four constitutional parties and speakers from the Sinn Fein and the Loyalist fringe parties to explain their party positions and to discuss their current and future role in Northern Ireland.
This course is designed to introduce students to the practical application of mediation skills through a process of experiential learning. The course will look at different models of mediation and the different skills that need to be applied during a mediation session. Students will become familiar with how mediations work in cultural, neighborhood, relationship and commercial disputes, in both local and international conflict situations.
Students will be placed in community service agencies involved in community building and conflict resolution in a cross-cultural context. The placement contains elements of observation as well as the student practicing within the agency, under supervision. The overall aim of the placement is to try to help the student identify some of the problems and understand more clearly the difficulties and complexities of living in a society in the midst of violent conflict and to determine the everyday problems of people using the agency and how the violence has an impact on their lives. Criteria for evaluation include: attendance, comprehension of agency goals, successful completion of a range of tasks agreed upon in writing, daily journaling, written reflection of the placement and written evaluation by agency supervisor. Students living in home-stays with Roman Catholic families will be placed in Protestant agencies and vice versa.
