35 Years of University Peace Studies Bear Fruit

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More than 300 colleges and universities in the United States now offer courses in peace, conflict and nonviolence studies. Although peace studies programs vary, depending upon the staff and focus of individual colleges and universities, all can contribute to making peacemakers more thoughtful about their efforts.

Peace studies emerged principally from the social sciences, psychology and sociology, but programs have also originated in departments of religion, physics, languages and literature. Course offerings vary in emphasis and strength but typically include classes in conflict transformation, nonviolent communication and human rights. Although there are few professorships in peace studies, academics from various departments coordinate programs' undergraduate, graduate and continuing …