Certificate in Peace Studies

About this programme

Planned outage: Beginning Nov. 1, you will not be able to access the USask admission application and event registration system for up to six days. Learn more . The Certificate in Peace Studies cultivates an interdisciplinary approach to the academic study of peace, conflict, (re)conciliation, the nature of substantive justice and the practice of nonviolent resistance. Peace studies is concerned with both the analysis and creative transformation of conflict and injustice. Within the field, peace is defined as not only the absence of war but also by positive conditions such as social justice, gender and racial equality, and ecological health. You will learn about the causes and consequences of conflict, violence and injustice, as well as theoretical and practical strategies to transform conflict. Through case studies, discussions and classes in various disciplines, you will study real-world examples of peace-making in various places and times, allowing you to apply your knowledge in your own discipline, future profession and community. What is peace? What is justice? What are the causes that lead to violent conflict, what strategies can bring violent conflict to an end, and what conditions promote human flourishing? This course introduces students to the various ways scholars and activists define peace and the challenges they face in securing peace. The course surveys the major causes of direct and structural violence; the various definitions of "peace" and the conditions under which it is achieved and sustained; and the comparative success of various strategies to promote