Peace and Justice Studies is an interdisciplinary minor that seeks to educate students about the interrelated nature of problems confronting modern societies. These include different forms of violence, inequality, and oppression leading to wars, poverty, racism, sexism, global imbalances of power, and ecological destruction. The program allows students to explore local, national, and international issues of violence and injustice along with practical strategies for developing or enhancing peace and justice.
Peace Studies majors/minors will take a wide-range of classes in Religious Studies, History, Political Science, Philosophy, and Anthropology.
The minor expanded from "Peace Studies" to "Peace and Justice Studies" in 2014
Requirements for a minor: Students may complete a minor in Peace and Justice Studies with five courses (20 hrs.). At least three of these must be chosen from the list below. Two additional courses may come from this list or may be from “peace and justice friendly” courses, which are announced each semester. These courses must contain 25% content on issues of peace and/or justice, and the student must complete a major paper or project on these issues. Examples of “friendly” courses that have been offered are Race and Rhetoric, Crimes and Prisons, and The Many Dimensions of Poverty.
Choose three courses from the following list, each of which is cross-listed with a PEAC designation in each semester offered:
Two more courses from the above list or from a variety of approved "Peace friendly" courses (PDF) complete the minor.
*Community Engaged Learning (CEL) is an academic program at Millsaps College that enables students to partner traditional classroom content with practical application in the community.
Contact Dr. Lola Williamson, the Director of Peace Studies, for more information.
Self-designed Peace Studies Major Laney Lenox speaking of her time in Nepal on Gandhi Day 2012
Peace Studies Minors Chelsey Overstreet and Laura Cost at Sherabling Monastery, Bir, Himachel Pradesh, India in 2011