BA in Interdisciplinary with Emphasis in Peace Studies
Degree Program Description
Peace Studies is offered as an emphasis area in the BA in Interdisciplinary Studies. Students with this emphasis examine issues related to global peace and social justice. The emphasis in Peace Studies helps prepare students for employment, volunteer assignments, and graduate study in such areas as conflict resolution, human rights, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, social justice, nonviolent social change, and the understanding of global cultural diversity.
Major Program Requirements
Clarence Lo, Ph.D, Director
326 Middlebush Hall
(573) 882-1736
loc@missouri.edu
The peace studies emphasis area addresses a wide range of issues concerning peace and justice, including international and civil war and peace; global social and environmental justice; nonviolent social movements, process, and change; cultures, intellectuals, and war and peace; and indigenous peoples and the imperial state. Our courses provide a liberal arts foundation: students explore values to set goals; they evaluate evidence to assess alternate means to achieve goals. Some courses focus on practical issues of community organization, sustainable development (PEA_ST 1120) and construction, and public health (PEA_ST 3401), that students are likely to encounter in work, internship, or volunteer positions. Study abroad courses taught by MU faculty are regularly offered. Since issues of peace and conflict cut across disciplines, the curriculum includes courses offered by both the program itself and cross listed between Peace Studies and other programs and departments of the University.
In addition, students must complete all College of Arts and Science and University graduation requirements, including University general education.
| Emphasis requirements | 30 | |
| Core requirements | ||
| Introduction to Peace Studies | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following. It is recommended that students pick four courses distributed in at least four of the following areas | 12 | |
| Area 1: International and Civil War and Peace | ||
| International Conflict Resolution and Group Reconciliation (Section 2 is writing intensive, section 1 not) | ||
| Nuclear Weapons: Environmental, Health and Social Effects (Section 2 is writing intensive, section 1 not) | ||
| Philosophies of War and Peace | ||
| Human Rights, Law, War and Peace | ||
| Terrorism and Conflict Resolution - Honors | ||
| Ireland, 1100s to 1850 | ||
| Ireland, 1850-1923 | ||
| Ireland, 1920-Present | ||
| Nonproliferation Issues for Weapons of Mass Destruction | ||
| Area 2: Global Social and Environmental Justice | ||
| Global Warming, Climate Change, Catastrophic Climate Destabilization (Section 2 is writing intensive, section 1 not) | ||
| Population and Ecology | ||
| Exploration in Social and Economic Justice | ||
| CAFO: Concentrated Animals, Deep Ecology (Section 2 is writing intensive, section 1 not) | ||
| Criminology | ||
| Global Public Health and Health Care Systems | ||
| Social Revolution in Latin America | ||
| Area 3: Nonviolent Social Movements, Process, and Change | ||
| Critical Dialogues: Nonviolence in Peace/Democracy Movements (Section 2 is writing intensive, section 1 not) | ||
| Large Corporations, Economic Crisis, Social Responsibility | ||
| Think Global: Fundamentals of Globalization and Digital Technologies | ||
| Collective Behavior | ||
| Group Decision Making Processes | ||
| New Media, Conflict and Control | ||
| Area 4: Cultures, Intellectuals, And War and Peace | ||
| Race, Democracy, and Violence in Cuba and Haiti (Section 2 is writing intensive, section 1 not) | ||
| Literature of Spanish Civil War | ||
| Art of War and Peace | ||
| Politics of the Media | ||
| World Political Geography | ||
| Political and Social Philosophy | ||
| Area 5: Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights, and The Imperial State | ||
| Indigenous Religions | ||
| Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies | ||
| Special Themes in Native American and Indigenous Studies | ||
| Digital Indigenous Studies | ||
| Digital Indigenous Studies - Honors | ||
| Native American Geographies | ||
| Gender and Human Rights in Cross Cultural Perspective | ||
| Other Peace Studies courses counted toward the emphasis requirements | 15 | |
Semester Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | MATH 1100 or 1050 | 3 |
| Social Science (MO STATE LAW) | 3 | Foreign Language | 4 |
| Humanties and Fine Arts | 3 | PEA_ST 1050W | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | Behavioral Science | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Math Science/MRP | 3 | Bio/Phys/Math Science Course | 3 |
| Social Sceince | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| Peace Studies Major | 3 | Humanitites and Fine Arts | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | Peace Studies Major | 3 |
| A&S Diversity | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Biology or Physical Science Lab | 3 | Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| Peace Studies Major | 3 | Peace Studies Major | 3 |
| Peace Studies Major | 3 | Peace Studies Major | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Peace Studies Major/WI 3000+ | 3 | Peace Studies Major | 3 |
| Peace Studies Major | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Behavioral Science | 3 | Humanties and Fine Arts | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. Degree Audits are not available for all programs; however, please consult with the appropriate college or school for audit information.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, by clicking on the Request Degree Audit link. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to http://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via http://www.transfer.org. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to http://registrar.missouri.edu/degree-audits/index.php.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
- If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in Academic Exploration and Advising Services (AEAS) by calling (573)884-9700.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center in the lower level of the Student Success Center. No appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.