Undergraduate

Peace and Conflict Studies Minor

Offered through the Humanities and Western Civilization Program, the Peace & Conflict Studies Minor is a multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approach to the study of human conflict among world cultures. It examines the origins and nature of conflict within and between societies and the various ways in which humans address conflict (through war, mediation, law, diplomacy, institutions, peaceful resistance, among others). Combining coursework and experiential learning, students will gain a better understanding of the importance of building peaceful and equitable forms of social coexistence.

Requirements for the minor

18 credit hours of which 12 must be in courses numbered 300 or above. HWC 120 Introduction to Peace Studies and HWC 650 Senior Seminar in Peace & Conflict Studies are required of all students. (NB: Only three hours can be shared between the minor and any one major or other minor. Students cannot take more than 9 hours of course work in any one department or program toward completion of the minor).

1. Foundation course:
   HWC 120          Introduction to Peace Studies (3)

2. Core courses: Students are to choose two courses from the following for a total of 6 hours.
   HWC 550          Classics of Peace Literature (3) (Same as EURS 550)
   REL 667            Religious Perspectives on War and Peace (3)
   SOC 534           Comparative Racial and Ethnic Relations (3)
   HIST 329           History of War and Peace (3) (same as EURS 529)
   POLS 679         International Conflict (3)

3. Elective courses: Students are to choose two courses from the following or the core for a total of 6 hours. This list is not exhaustive. See the HWC program office for a complete list of electives by semester.
   ANTH 465         Genocide and Ethnocide (3)
   ENGL 479         The Literature of: Human Rights (3) (same as EURS 565 and HWC 565)
   EURS 505         Studies in Exile Literature (3)
   EURS 565         The Literature of Human Rights (3) (same as HWC 565 and ENGL 479)
   HIST 343           The Holocaust in History (3)
   HIST 369           Colonialism and Revolution in the Third World, Honors (3)
   HIST 370           Violence and Conflict in Latin American History (3)
   HWC 565          The Literature of Human Rights (3) (same as EURS 565 and ENGL 479)
   HWC 555          Topics in Peace & Conflict Studies: ___________ (3)
   HWC 560          Directed Study in Peace & Conflict Studies (3)
   PHIL 555           Justice and Economic Systems (3)
   POLS 671         International Cooperation (3)
   POLS 673         International Organizations (3)
   POLS 685         International Law: War, Territory, Diplomacy (3)
   POLS 650         Palestinians and Israelis (3)
   PSYC 572         Psychologies and International Conflict (3)
   REL 669            Human Conflict and Peace (3)
   SOC 531           Global Social Changes (3)

4. HWC 650 Senior Seminar in Peace & Conflict Studies (3) required for completion of minor. (NB: students must have completed at least 9 hours in the minor before enrolling in the seminar).

Can I get a scholarship?

The program administers the Donna Evans Kingsbury scholarship for women in the humanities.

For information about other scholarships based on academic merit, diversity, major, and residence, write or call the University of Kansas, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, KU Visitor Center, 1502 Iowa St., Lawrence, KS 66045-7576, (785) 864-3911, www.admissions.ku.edu.

For information about grants, loans, and other need-based financial aid, write or call the University of Kansas, Office of Student Financial Aid, Strong Hall, 1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 50, Lawrence, KS 66045-7535, (785) 864-4700.

What can I do with a degree in Humanities and Western Civilization?

Writing and critical thinking skills will give you a competitive edge in any field. Your ability to understand cultural issues and relationships between ideas will help you in business, journalism, marketing, library science, government and public service, social services, or international relations. The HWC majors provide excellent preparation for graduate study and teaching and offer exciting options for double majors with other fields of study.

Where can I get more information?

Write or call the University of Kansas, Humanities and Western Civilization Program, Bailey Hall, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 308, Lawrence, KS 66045-7574, (785) 864-3011, e-mail: hwc@ku.edu.

Why should I choose KU's Humanities and Western Civilization Program?

• Your Overall Education. The overall quality and breadth of your education is one great reason for coming to KU. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers hundreds of courses and has excellent teachers. You will meet many international students and teachers who bring a cultural richness to campus and who will introduce you to the diverse viewpoints and customs so important to your undergraduate education. Concerts and shows in the Lied Center Series bring outstanding performers to KU each year.
  
• The Writing Program. HWC is a pioneer in writing across the curriculum at KU. In 1992, the program began a collaborative effort with KU’s Writing Center to devise an intensive writing experience for undergraduates in Western civilization. The writing component will help you accomplish the learning goals of Western civilization classes. It also reinforces the training in composition skills that you received in your required English courses and includes opportunities for peer tutoring and extracurricular writing workshops.
• Study Abroad. HWC students can take Western Civilization I and II along with a course in European studies and a course in the history of art for a total of 12 credit hours. The group spends half the semester in Florence, Italy, and half in Paris, France, where they experience European history, art, and culture — both ancient and modern — first hand.
• Resources. The Humanities and Western Civilization Program offers a variety of enrichment activities. Museum visits, a lecture series, and a newly formed HWC majors’ organization are among the resources available. KU’s museums and libraries rank among the best on college campuses. KU hosts lectures, film series, theatre and music programs, distinguished visitors, and cultural activities that will broaden your awareness.