Peace and Social Justice Studies

The Peace and Social Justice Studies Certificate brings together College courses which inform students about world issues and their impacts on their personal lives. Students are then empowered to take action.

 

Generally the following themes have been identified as making a course a Peace and Social Justice Studies course. Special projects undertaken by students will also reflect these themes:

• Issues of war and peace in their social, political, historic, religious and economic contexts;
• Investigation into militarism, the threat of nuclear and mass destruction weapons, and their environmental contexts;
• Inquiries about social justice – poverty, inequality, forms of domination and oppression including, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, patriarchy, Islamophobia, elitism, xenophobia, ageism and sexism;
• Explorations of peace in a “positive” sense – interpersonal relations based on respect for the environment and the person, conflict resolution, non-violent alternatives, the search for spiritual peace and moderated consumerism;
• Examination of important social movements that seek to achieve change that promotes freedom, dignity, racial equality and a respect for human rights (Black Lives Matter, LGBTQIA2+ Rights, Migrant Rights, Climate Justice, etc.)

Students may register for the certificate any time between their acceptance into the College and the drop deadline for their graduating semester.