Peace Studies and Social Justice Minor

Peace education is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary field, informed by a vision of a global civil society based on nonviolence and ethical values that include mutual respect, tolerance, principles of social justice and democracy, socioeconomic wellbeing, and sustainable management of natural resources. The minor in Peace Studies and Social Justice will help students develop the skills needed to become the next generation of peace scholars and activists and empower them to be leaders in designing and developing strategies to reduce violence, promote non-violence, and build a more peaceful and just society.

Why do it?

This minor will introduce students to the broad principles of peace studies and social justice to build a foundational understanding of the causes and consequences of violence and strategies for peacefully managing conflict. It will address how social justice, peace, and violence are intertwined and manifested in the real world, why they matter, and what gives rise to them.

Requirements

This 18-credit hour minor in Peace Studies and Social Justice includes a 3-hour required introductory course focused on the root causes of violence and strategies of promoting peace; 12 hours of elective courses from four categories designed to build on students' understanding of the root causes of violence, the triggers of violence, and the strategies for remediating violence, and a 3-hour required integrative capstone course.

Who is it for?

Students from all majors who are drawn to existing minors in Peace Studies or Diversity and Community Engagement should consider this Pathways minor. Recent Peace Studies minors have included the following majors: biology; computer science; human nutrition, foods, and exercise; engineering, science, and mechanics; fish and wildlife conservation; psychology; criminology; German; international studies; political science; professional and technical writing; and sociology. Many are from the Corps of Cadets. 

See what our students are saying

This minor is hosted by the Department of Sociology in collaboration with numerous departments across Virginia Tech.