Program Overview

Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Program

The Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies (PAX) program at DePaul University offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding peace, justice, and conflict. The program provides students with a deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding peace and conflict, and equips them with the skills and knowledge necessary to become active participants in creating a more just and peaceful world.

Program Overview

The PAX program is designed to provide students with a broad-based education in the fields of peace studies, conflict resolution, and social justice. The program draws on a variety of disciplines, including sociology, psychology, philosophy, politics, and anthropology, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues surrounding peace and conflict.

Course Offerings

The PAX program offers a wide range of courses that explore the complex issues surrounding peace and conflict. Some of the courses offered include:

• PAX 101: Everyday Conflict: Analysis, Evaluation, and Practices for Moving Forward
• PAX 102: Chicago and Strategic Nonviolence
• PAX 112: Chicago Justice and the Work for Social Change
• PAX 200: Communities Working for Sustainable Justice and Peace: Service in Chicago and the U.S.
• PAX 201: Frameworks for Peace: Practical Models for Social Change
• PAX 202: Active Nonviolence: Practical and Creative Approaches
• PAX 206: Boundaries and Identities
• PAX 210: International Conflict and Peacebuilding
• PAX 212: Social Justice and Social Change
• PAX 214: Conflict: Storytelling, Intervention, Negotiation
• PAX 218: Human Rights: Promise and Problematatics
• PAX 220: Social Engagement for Peace and Justice
• PAX 225: Transnational Grassroots Social Movements
• PAX 228: Identity, Privilege, and Social Change
• PAX 231: Analyzing Poverty, Its Causes and Consequences
• PAX 235: The Ethics of Poverty
• PAX 238: Topics on Homelessness and Poverty
• PAX 240: Voices of War and Peace: Art, Literature and Film
• PAX 241: Human Rights Under the Lenses of Film and Other Arts
• PAX 242: Pictures of Injustice: Narrative Arts in Social Justice Movements
• PAX 243: Visualizing Poverty Through Film and Narratives
• PAX 244: Archeology of Power: Testimonies from Film, Literature, and Narratives
• PAX 250: Topics: Tools for Social Change
• PAX 251: Topics: Tools to Support Justice, Human Rights, and Peacebuilding
• PAX 252: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
• PAX 253: Despair and Hope
• PAX 255: Love, Hate and Reconciliation
• PAX 256: Inner Peace: Experience and Philosophical Approaches
• PAX 268: Disability Justice Studies: An Introduction
• PAX 270: Peace Movements Throughout History
• PAX 271: Global Refugee Crisis
• PAX 275: Movements for Gender and Trans Justice
• PAX 278: Disability Justice, Rights, and Policy
• PAX 290: Topics on Justice and Peace
• PAX 299: Independent Study
• PAX 300: Topics Seminar
• PAX 301: The Theory and Practice of Nonviolent Action
• PAX 303: Border Matters: Literature & Culture in the Latino/a Borderlands
• PAX 304: Topics in Migration and Forced Migration
• PAX 308: Nature, Society and Power
• PAX 313: Beyond Conflict Resolution: The Evolution of Grassroots Peacebuilding
• PAX 316: Topics in Critical Theory, Philosophy, Policy
• PAX 320: Transformative Justice: Theory and Practice
• PAX 321: Principles and Practices of Restorative Justice
• PAX 330: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Origins and Controversies
• PAX 331: Liberation Theology
• PAX 340: Human Rights in the Global Context: Challenges and Interventions
• PAX 344: Topics in Environmental Justice
• PAX 345: Women, War, and Resistance
• PAX 348: Indigenous Political Struggles
• PAX 350: Capstone in Peace, Justice & Conflict Studies
• PAX 351: Geography, Food and Justice
• PAX 360: Topics in Development Studies
• PAX 364: Political Autobiography: Transnational Feminist Tales of Healing and Resistance
• PAX 365: Topics in War and Peace
• PAX 372: Trauma, Art & Resilience
• PAX 373: Literature of War in the 20th Century
• PAX 379: Disability Justice, Rights, and Policy
• PAX 380: Topics in Nonviolence
• PAX 381: Topics in Peace Building
• PAX 382: Topics in Social Justice and Social Change
• PAX 383: Topics in Conflict Intervention
• PAX 384: Topics in Activism and Advocacy
• PAX 385: Topics in Human Rights
• PAX 386: Topics in Global Justice
• PAX 387: Topics in Peace, Justice and Religion
• PAX 388: Topics in Law, Justice, and Human Rights
• PAX 389: Topics in Community Development, Advocacy, & Activism
• PAX 392: Internship in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies
• PAX 398: Senior Thesis
• PAX 399: Independent Study

Program Requirements

The PAX program requires students to complete a minimum of 40 quarter hours of coursework, including a capstone course. Students must also complete a minimum of 25 hours of community service or internship experience.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the PAX program are prepared for careers in a variety of fields, including:

• Non-profit management
• Community organizing
• Conflict resolution
• Social justice advocacy
• Human rights work
• International development
• Public policy
• Education
• Research

Research Areas

The PAX program faculty are engaged in a variety of research areas, including:

• Peace studies
• Conflict resolution
• Social justice
• Human rights
• International development
• Community organizing
• Non-profit management
• Public policy

Admission Criteria

Admission to the PAX program is based on a student's academic record, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be considered for admission.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for the PAX program vary depending on the student's residency status and the number of credit hours taken. Students should contact the university's admissions office for more information on tuition fees.