Peace & Justice Studies / Minor
Minor Credit Hours: 22
Students must have completed their 10000-level theology requirement to declare a Peace & Justice Studies Minor. Students interested in pursuing a minor must consult with one of the Peace Studies program co-directors to declare the minor and to customize their program of study. One foreign language course (3 hours) may be applied to the program requirements with the consent of a Peace Studies Co-Director. Nine credit hours (THEO 25000 Foundations of Peace Studies, THEO 45000 Capstone: Peace Studies Seminar, and 1 other upper-division course) must apply exclusively to the Peace Studies minor and may not apply to any other minor or major that Lewis University offers.
Objectives
Rooted in Catholic social teaching and shaped by Lasallian global praxis, the Peace & Justice Studies minor is an interdisciplinary program within the College of Humanities, Fine Arts, and Communication. This program critically engages students in addressing contemporary social justice problems and building "just peace." Cooperating with a Peace Studies advisor, the student in this minor is able to design an individualized program of interdisciplinary coursework and service-learning experiences. Enriched by faculty in a variety of disciplines, this program promotes examination of calls to justice as prerequisites to peace. It investigates the social, political, cultural, philosophical, and theological frameworks out of which just and unjust local and global realities emerge. Program participants explore peace studies theories and practices by examining conflicts and their transformations. The minor includes course options in communications, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, social work, sociology, theology, and justice, law and public safety studies. It provides a framework for the systematic understanding of numerous contemporary social, political, religious, ecological, and economic issues. It trains students to recognize and critically evaluate roles played by governments, groups, and individuals in peaceful solutions. Students interested in international relations, criminal justice, history, pastoral ministry, philosophy, political science, pre-law, or psychology are particularly encouraged to consider adding this minor. Some careers for which a Peace Studies program prepares students are negotiator, mediator, government official, educator, activist, community organizer, human rights advocate, environmental protection agent, interfaith dialogue facilitator, international lawyer, victim/offender advocate, and restorative justice practitioner.
The Peace & Justice Studies program works in collaboration with the Office of Service Learning to encourage civic engagement and community-based experiences through course-related peacebuilding initiatives. Successful students will be able to understand just peace strategies and nonviolent conflict tactics as tools for positive social change at the local, national, and/or global level; critique sources of information about peace and justice issues; analyze and synthesize complex social issues and options for conflict resolution and transformation; interpret historical examples of U.S. and international social movements and the alternatives to violence that have been presented in troubled communities and conflict/war situations; demonstrate an understanding of philosophical, religious, and ethical perspectives on peace and justice, including knowledge of Catholic social teaching and interdisciplinary perspectives on the concept of social justice; explain the intersection of justice and diversity in U.S. culture with special focus on racism, gender issues, sexual orientation, religious tradition, and mental/physical challenges; reflect on service learning/community-based learning as a vehicle to greater understanding of social issues and diverse communities; and demonstrate the use of conflict management and dialogue skills.
Minor Requirements
Minor: PJST
I. Required Courses (10)
THEO 39700 Theology Workshop: Focusing the Just Peace Lens: The primary purpose of this workshop is to reinforce knowledge and apply skills related to the just peace lens. Prerequisites include THEO 10000 or THEO 10600; THEO 25000; or permission of a Peace Studies advisor.
II. Electives (12)
Select an additional 12 credit hours from a variety of Peace Studies courses and workshops. Course selections must represent at least two different disciplines, in addition to Theology. The specific program of study is developed with the advice and consent of an advisor from the Peace Studies program.
A. Select one interpersonal, spiritual, and/or familial peacebuilding course: (3)
B. Select one or two local, regional, and/or systemic peacebuilding courses: (3-6)
C. Select one or two national, multinational, and/or global peacebuilding courses: (3-6)
III. One Foreign Language course may be applied to the minor with advisor consent.