Peace & Conflict Studies
College of Humanities
Bennion
Center
Capstones
Program
Courses
Getting Started
- Take PCS 3500 – Intro to Peace & Conflict Studies
- Discuss plans and interests with your advisor
- Explore PCS theme areas and courses
- Become familiar with the Degree Dashboard system
Making Progress
- Enroll in PCS core courses and select courses in your chosen theme area
- Consider adding a double major, minor, or certificate that may pair well your choice of theme
- Use your degree audit and follow up with your advisor to ensure you’re on track with major and degree requirements
- Explore Gen Ed courses that provide opportunities to connect PCS to other disciplines
Finishing Up
- Enroll in PCS 4950 – Dialogue Models
- Complete PCS 4800 – Integrative Seminar
- Apply for graduation by the registrar’s deadline
Community
Getting Started
- Join the PCS Club and meet other students in the program
- Explore volunteer opportunities with the Bennion Center
- Attend welcome events and learn about student groups on campus
Making Progress
- Apply to go on an Alternative fall/spring break
- Check the U’s events calendar and try something new
- Organize study groups with your peers
- Explore the College of Humanities calendar for upcoming events and guest lectures/presentations
- Gain leadership experience – apply to lead an alternative break or consider joining ASUU
Finishing Up
- Pursue a leadership position in the PCS Club or your student groups
- Broaden your volunteer experience
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Apply for scholarships
- Check out resources at the Marriott Library, such as the Writing Center and Learning Center
- Learn dialogue-facilitation and conflict resolution skills
Making Progress
- Meet with the Humanities internship coordinator to find internships and explore ways to gain practical experience
- Consider undergraduate research opportunities in OUR
- Participate in a workshop or training hosted by the Counseling Center, Mindfulness Center, or Center for Student Wellness
- Utilize services/resources in the CPDC
- Attend Undergraduate Research Symposiums to get ideas for your own research
Finishing Up
- Consider an independent study to refine your learning & broaden your knowledge base
- Conduct research through UROP and present your research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
Transformation
Getting Started
- Join student clubs/organizations on campus
- Attend campus events and try something new
- Learn how to work towards inner peace and hone your peace-making skills
Making Progress
- Start thinking about careers/internship opportunities that allow you to apply knowledge & skills gained in PCS coursework
- Connect with Learning Abroad to discover travel opportunities that enhance your major
- Explore the A-Z index on Utah.edu to find new opportunities and experiences
- Visit the Natural History Museum of Utah and attend events using your ArtsPass
Finishing Up
- Apply what you’ve learned in Senior Capstone in your everyday interactions
- Complete an Honor’s thesis, if applicable
Impact
Getting Started
- Meet with your advisor to map out an impact plan
- Explore career and post-graduation interests; talk to your professors and look into careers pursued by PCS alumni to get ideas
Making Progress
- Find volunteer opportunities that connect personal and academic goals
- Take a Community Engaged Learning course that complements your PCS theme area
- Participate in the Bennion Center’s Alternative Breaks program
- Explore ways to share your knowledge with others in the department and/or college (connect with your advisor for more info)
Finishing Up
- Use UROP research and the senior capstone to translate what you’ve learned into meaningful projects that extend beyond your undergraduate career
Careers
Getting Started
- Meet with a Career Coach to draft a resume and discuss your interests/goals
- Attend department events and network with guest presenters and other department faculty
Making Progress
- Review and edit your resume
- Attend career events on campus
- Discuss career options and paths with your advisor and professors
- Conduct an informational interview with alumni to learn about their career paths
- Start building an e-portfolio by keeping track of materials and experiences
- Activate your Handshake account and create a LinkedIn profile
Finishing Up
- Tailor your resume for jobs of interest
- Practice mock interviews
- Talk to your professors about letters of recommendation and application strategies
- Polish your e-portfolio for future use
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
Conflict is part of our shared human experience, and commonly exists within our own minds, as well as in our families, institutions, and local and global communities. If you want to develop the knowledge and skills to resolve conflict peacefully, the Peace and Conflict Studies (PCS) major may be a great fit for you.
Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary program that deals with conflicts ranging from the interpersonal to the global level, encouraging you to study peace and conflict both within the self and between others. You will tailor your major by selecting one of three themes—Conflict Resolution, Social Justice, or Global Perspectives. PCS courses cover topics such as conflict theory, war and terrorism, history of peace efforts and non-violent social movements, community-based conflict management and resolution, poverty and inequality, human rights, and the economics of race and gender. You gain direct experience studying conflict and peace-making efforts in capstone and seminar courses as well as a required internship. The PCS major offers the flexibility to tailor these practicum experiences to suit your interests in local and/or international contexts. You will develop communication, social awareness, and critical thinking skills that enable you to pursue careers in a variety of fields and contribute to the creation of more just and peaceable conditions in the home, workplace, and world.
Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary program that deals with conflicts ranging from the interpersonal to the global level, encouraging you to study peace and conflict both within the self and between others. You will tailor your major by selecting one of three themes—Conflict Resolution, Social Justice, or Global Perspectives. PCS courses cover topics such as conflict theory, war and terrorism, history of peace efforts and non-violent social movements, community-based conflict management and resolution, poverty and inequality, human rights, and the economics of race and gender. You gain direct experience studying conflict and peace-making efforts in capstone and seminar courses as well as a required internship. The PCS major offers the flexibility to tailor these practicum experiences to suit your interests in local and/or international contexts. You will develop communication, social awareness, and critical thinking skills that enable you to pursue careers in a variety of fields and contribute to the creation of more just and peaceable conditions in the home, workplace, and world.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the etiology (origins) and current dynamics of peace and conflict issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives, including those of anthropology, communication, economics, history, philosophy, literature, political science, psychology, social work, sociology, and theatre.
- Suggest creative approaches and interventions to contemporary peace and conflict issues. For example, students will be encouraged to make connections between the processes used at the interpersonal, group and community levels to discuss, debate, and resolve issues and the types of issues faced at broader levels of society.
- Synthesize the approaches to peace and conflict studies that are presented in different disciplines. Ultimately, students are encouraged to formulate personal approaches to dealing with peace and conflict, bringing together their scholarly investigations, discussions with peers, and practical experiences (for example, in community-based or international internships).
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.