Program Overview

Overview of the Peace, Conflict and Security Program (PACS)

The Certificate in Peace, Conflict and Security Studies (PACS) is designed to help students explore why conflict and violence occur, and to develop practical, nonviolent skills to analyze, intervene and resolve conflicts in their personal life, in their communities and between countries. The certificate is granted by the College of Arts and Sciences. All enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students, regardless of school or major, may apply for and earn the PACS Certificate.

Program Description

The program utilizes an interdisciplinary perspective on the study of conflict, cooperation, violence, war and peacemaking. Coursework focuses on theorizing and analyzing various levels of conflict, from the interpersonal to international, and related possibilities for personal and social change. Coursework also emphasizes the development of transferable skills and experiential learning in conflict resolution and civic activism. The program encourages hands-on, “in the field” engagement through volunteer service, enrollment in study-abroad programs and internship placement with related agencies and programs.

Requirements

Completion of the certification requires 18 credit hours (9 upper-division) of study, up to six (6) of these credit hours may be completed through approved transfer credit. Each of these courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better. These courses must also include:

Required Courses and Credit Hours

• Introductory Course: PACS 2500 - Introduction to Peace, Conflict and Security Studies (3 credit hours)
• Conflict Resolution Course: Choose one of the following courses (3 credit hours)
  • PACS 3700 - Communication and Conflict Management
  • PACS 3850 - International Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
  • PACS 3860 - Environmental Conflict and Conflict Resolution
• Senior Capstone Course: Choose one of the following courses (3 credit hours)
  • PACS 4000 - Special Topics in Peace, Conflict and Security Studies
  • PACS 4100 - Managing Organizational Conflict
  • PACS 4150 - Mediation Skills
  • PACS 4500 - Senior Seminar: Research in Conflict Contexts
  • PACS 4900 - Undergraduate Independent Study
• PACS Elective 1: Choose one of the following courses or one of the courses listed in Conflict Resolution or Senior Capstone that were not used to fill those specific requirements (3 credit hours)
  • PACS 3800 - Security Studies
  • PACS 3870 - Nonviolent Civil Resistance: Movements and Strategies
  • PSCI 3123 - War, Peace, and Strategic Defense
• Outside PACS Electives 2: 6 credit hours of relevant course work related to PACS from non-PACS courses

Total Credit Hours

18 credit hours are required to complete the certification.

Notes

1. Students may select a PACS Elective of their choice as long as the course differs from the PACS Conflict Resolution and Senior Capstone courses.
2. The PACS website contains a list of approved courses that students may complete to fulfill the outside course requirements. The PACS director may allow for substitutions of approved outside courses on a case by case basis.