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Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Studies at University of San Diego (USD), California

The Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Studies is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing peace as human development. The goals of the Program are: 1) to produce graduates who are capable of relating disciplinary and cross-disciplinary theories of peace and justice to real world problem-solving involving regional and international conflict; 2) to foster scholarly agendas that examine the dynamics of justice and peace building; and, 3) to facilitate faculty and student interaction and development across disciplines and academic units at USD, along with outreach to the community and the larger society. The Program takes full advantage of the School of Peace Studies’ two institutes: the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice and the Trans-Border Institute.


The M.A. in Peace and Justice Studies is designed as a full-time program and is divided into two tracks of study. Individuals with a minimum of three years experience relevant to the field of peace and justice (e.g., NGO, government, or business experience with a focus on human rights, conflict resolution, or development) are eligible to apply for the one-year program. Those without this experience should apply for the seventeen-month program, which includes a required internship. Preference in admission for both tracks will be given to applicants with language skills in addition to English.

Our M.A. students have come from various places, even though we only accept a small number of students. The list below will give you an overview:
Afghanistan, Brazil, Canada, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Greece, Italy, Iran, Kazakstan, Kenya, Latvia, the Netherlands, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Korea, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, U.K., and the U.S.


Requirements for the Masters Degree

The Peace and Justice Program emphasizes the integration and use of theoretical and practical materials from ethics, world religions, world history, international relations, conflict resolution, and human rights along with the acquisition of skills necessary for successful pursuit of peace and justice goals. It begins in mid-August with a required pro seminar that introduces students to the range of cross-disciplinary scholarship in the Program. Students in both tracks, take five required core courses as well as four courses within one of the areas of specialization. Both tracks conclude with a capstone project that requires students to apply skills and perspectives acquired in the Program to a current or developing problem that threatens or prevents peace and/or justice. The capstone projects will be shared with the incoming cohort of students. In the seventeen-month program, the MA Colloquium serves to integrate the practical experience of the internship with theory through critical discussion. Students from all four thematic areas will engage in dialog with each other and the Program’s faculty.

With the exception of the proseminar, capstone course and, for students in the seventeen-month track, the MA Colloquium, substitutions of required courses with electives can occur with the approval of the Program Director if a required course duplicates previous academic work of the student.


Requirements for the Degree: 12-Month Track

• Full-time status as a graduate student
• Approval of courses by the Program Director
• Proseminar
• 30 units of graduate work with a 3.0 or higher
• 5 core courses – 15 units (see below)
• 4 courses within one of the areas of specialization – 12 units (see below)
• Capstone Project (3 units) must be at “B” or better performance, and the grade is pass/fail.
• No more than 6 units of course work at the 300 level or 400 level can be counted toward the 30 units.


Requirements for the Degree: 17-Month Track

• Full-time status as a graduate student
• Approval of courses by the Program Director
• Proseminar
• 36 units of graduate work with a 3.0 or higher
• 5 core courses- 15 units (see below)
• 4 courses within one of the areas of specialization – 12 units (see below)
• Internship – 3 units
• MA Colloquium – 3 units
• Capstone Project (3 units) must be at “B” or better performance, and the grade is pass/fail.
• No more than 6 units of course work at the 300 level or 400 level can be counted toward the 36 units


Financial Aid and Tuition

All students accepted into the Peace and Justice Studies Program are eligible to be considered for the Gandhi Fellowships and the Joan B. Kroc Scholarships in Peace and Justice Studies.

Application for program admission constitutes application for these fellowships and scholarships.

Awards are determined by faculty committee.
Students selected for Gandhi Fellowships will receive a minimum of $11,500 applied to tuition.

Gandhi Fellows will be involved in various activities in the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice and the Trans-Border Institute in collaboration with USD faculty and Institute officials.

The Gandhi Fellowships and other financial aid are offered to permit full-time study.

Contact the Office of Financial Aid Services at USD for further information regarding financial aid and loans.

Office of Financial Aid
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA. 92110-2492
(619) 260-4514 or (800) 248-4873
usdofas@sandiego.edu


Admissions

Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Studies


Entrance Semesters: Summer (August)

Application Deadline: February 15, 2010 (2010/2011 academic year)

Minimum Grade Point Average: 3.00 (4.00 scale) in all undergraduate course work

Standardized Admission Test: Graduate Record Examination* (GRE) General Test only

Required Course Work: None

Required Licenses/Credentials: None

Additional Requirements: TOEFL exam for international students
* may be waived at the discretion of the Program Director)

Application Completion - Application Packet available from USD’s Office of Graduate Admissions

On your application indicate if you are applying for the 12-month or 17-month track:

17-month track - Additional Requirements : None

12-month track - A minimum of three years experience relevant to the field of peace and justice


CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM - ONLINE




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