Program Overview

Peace and Conflict Studies Program

The Peace and Conflict Studies program at the University of Waterloo is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and address the complex issues surrounding conflict and peace. Through a combination of theoretical and practical coursework, students will explore the factors that drive conflict and violence, and learn how to build peace with justice.

Program Overview

The program is offered through the Faculty of Arts and can be taken as a co-op or regular program. Students will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of courses, including those in conflict resolution, human rights, and international development. The program also offers a range of areas of focus, including Applied Conflict Resolution, Violence and Nonviolence, Religion and Culture, and Development, Human Rights, and Social Justice.

First-Year Courses

In the first year, students will take a combination of core courses and electives. The core courses include:

• PACS 101 – Peace is Everybody's Business
• ARTS 160 – Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
• Prospective major #2
• 2 electives

In the second semester, students will take:

• 1 200-level PACS course
• Prospective major #2
• 3 electives

Honours Arts and Business

For students who choose to pursue the Honours Arts and Business program, the first-year courses will include:

• ARBUS 101 – Introduction to Business in North America
• ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
• Choose one course from:
  • PACS 101 – Peace is Everybody's Business
  • 200-level PACS course
• Prospective major #2
• Elective

In the second semester, students will take:

• ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
• ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
• ARTS 160 – Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
• 1 200-level PACS course
• Prospective major #2

Sample Upper-Year Courses

Some sample upper-year courses include:

• PACS 323 – Negotiation: Theories and Strategies
• PACS 329 – Restorative Justice
• PACS 331 – Trauma, Healing, and Conflict Resolution
• PACS 333 – Advanced Mediation Practice

Customize Your Degree

Students can customize their degree by adding additional areas of expertise, such as:

• Applied Conflict Resolution
• Violence and Nonviolence
• Religion and Culture
• Development, Human Rights, and Social Justice

Students can also include one of the minors available to all Waterloo students, such as Human Resource Management, Legal Studies, or Political Science.

Co-op Program

The co-op program provides students with the opportunity to gain relevant paid work experience. Students will normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating their classroom learning with real-world experience.

Sample Co-op Job Titles

Some sample co-op job titles include:

• Research & marketing assistant
• Junior project analyst in enterprise strategic initiatives
• Program coordinator
• Workplace campaign coordinator
• Communications assistant
• Project coordinator

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Peace and Conflict Studies program, students must apply to the Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business program and choose Peace and Conflict Studies as their major at the end of first year. The admission requirements include:

• Six Grade 12 U and/or M courses, including any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of at least 70%)
• Admission average: Low 80s (co-op and regular)

Related Programs

Related programs include:

• Gender and Social Justice
• Political Science

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Peace and Conflict Studies program can pursue careers in a variety of fields, including communications, social services, human resources, and more. Some recent graduates have gone on to work as:

• Fundraising Coordinator – Operation Groundswell
• Junior Consultant – United Nations Development Program Climate Change Team in Vietnam
• Corporate Disaster Preparedness Analyst – Toronto Hydro
• Child Youth Worker – Humber River Regional Hospital
• Human Resource Generalist – Magna International
• Personal Support Worker – The Darling Home for Kids
• Emergency Shelter Worker – House of Friendship

Overall, the Peace and Conflict Studies program at the University of Waterloo provides students with a comprehensive education in the theory and practice of conflict resolution, human rights, and international development, preparing them for a wide range of career opportunities in the field.