Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Explore the roots of conflict and violence.

• Identify methods for implementing conflict management, nonviolence, social justice, and conflict transformation in multiple contexts.

• Explain direct, structural, and cultural violence and its impacts on communities and identify examples of positive and negative peace.

• Share how culture, religion, economics, gender, and ethnicity impact conflicts;

• Identify stages of the peace development process.

• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the potential for peace education and peace work to contribute to positive fundamental social change.

• Critically analyze claims, arguments, artifacts, or information.

• Construct coherent, evidence-based arguments.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Discussions/Class Engagement	29 points
Thought Design Assignments (3)	39 points
Major Assignments (2)	32 points

Grading scale: A 94-above, A- 90-93, B+ 87-89, B 83-86, B- 80-82, C+ 77-79, C 73-76, C- 70-72, D+ 67-69, D 63-66, D- 60-62, F below 60

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance/participation is not a graded component included in the student's final grade for this course.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

• Lederach, J. P. (2003). The little book of conflict transformation. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.

• Reimer, et al. (2015). Transformative Change: An Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies. Lexington Books.