Mar 28, 2024  
Course Catalog 2020-2021 
    
Course Catalog 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Peace and Conflict Studies Integrative Concentration


The integrative concentration consists of a minimum of 6 full courses (or the equivalent), an experiential component, and an intellectual coherence statement.

Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the integrative concentration.


The Peace and Conflict Studies Concentration is an interdisciplinary concentration that:

  • studies the factors that lead to human conflict and aggression, including those that are psychological, sociological, anthropological, environmental, political, economic, religious, and historical in nature;
  • examines levels of conflict ranging from micro- or interpersonal-level to macro- or international-level;
  • explores the potential links between issues of social and environmental justice and violent conflict, including the relationship between different forms of violence, such as structural versus episodic violence, and perceptions of injustice; and
  • can augment the intellectual study of peace and conflict with experiences outside of the classroom in the form of fieldwork and internships.

Any student, regardless of major or minor, can pursue a Peace and Conflict Studies integrative concentration. This concentration does not substitute for a major or minor. Students may ask the PACS committee to consider adding a course to the concentration by writing to the chair of the faculty PACS committee, Stephan Mayer (Department of Psychology).

arrow Visit the Peace and Conflict Studies webpage for more information.


Students wishing to pursue the concentration should consult with the chair of the faculty PACS committee, Stephan Mayer (Department of Psychology), and complete the Integrative Concentration Add or Drop form. The form requires the signature of Stephan Mayer, Commitee Chair.

arrow Download the Integrative Concentration Add or Drop form. 

Peace and Conflict Studies Course Lists


Advanced Courses


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Note: Private Reading option. To insure flexibility and the ability for students to tailor this concentration to their individual needs, students will also be able to fulfill the advanced course requirement through a private reading. For this requirement to be fulfilled in this manner, in addition to obtaining the approval of the professor conducting the private reading, the student will also need to obtain approval from chair of the PACS concentration.

Experiential Component


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In order to provide students with practical experience in this area, at least one winter term experience, a study away, or summer experience should focus on skills directly related to the concentration. We anticipate that this requirement will be fulfilled through an internship experience. Oberlin College is fortunate to have many alumni working in the area of peace and conflict studies. A generous financial gift from the Class of 1958 will also be used to help defer the expenses of students who partake of this experience. Lastly, we will require that students’ winter term experience be sponsored by a member of Peace and Conflict Studies Committee.

Intellectual Coherence Statement


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Students will be required to submit a plan for their concentration at the time of declaration, outlining their intended course of study and their understanding of how this will be an intellectually coherent course of study. No later than the last semester of their senior year, students must also register for a non-credit course with a member of the Peace and Conflict Studies Committee that requires them to submit a five-ten page paper reflecting upon their actual work in the concentration.