6.59	Peace and Conflict Studies

Head: Sean Byrne
General Office: 252 St. Paul's College
Telephone: (204) 474-7979
Fax: (204) 474 8828
Email: Sean_Byrne@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/mauro

Academic Staff

Program Information
The Ph.D. Program in Peace and Conflict Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to analyze and resolve social conflicts through innovative peace research that examines the structural roots of social conflicts, divisions, and inequalities, and strategies for building community and promoting social justice. The focus of the program allows students to examine theory building, skills, and techniques of nonviolent practice and conflict resolution.

The objective of the Ph.D. Program is to prepare educators, researchers, professionals, and public intellectuals to face some of the most challenging problems and tasks of our time by analyzing and resolving the complex issues facing the global milieu of peace and conflict using a variety of tools, processes, and methods common to conflict analysis and resolution, social justice and peace studies. World societies are increasingly aware that they must work together to face shared problems relating to, for example, economic development, environmental issues, health issues, and catastrophes such as famine. Graduates will have demonstrated the ability to analyze conflict, work collaboratively to resolve conflicts, and forge pathways to peace. These analytic and practical skills are important in numerous professional contexts and are increasingly in demand as international governmental and nongovernmental organizations play an increasing role in world affairs.

Admission
Admission requirements are those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this calendar. Graduates of master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies (or equivalent from other recognized universities) with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours are eligible for direct admission to a course of study leading to the doctoral degree. Graduates of master’s degree in diverse disciplines at the University of Manitoba (or equivalent from other recognized universities) are also eligible for direct admission to the program pending successful completion of prerequisite courses to ground them in the field. Applicants will have a thesis-based master’s degree, either earned in peace and conflict studies or a related discipline such as social work, education, or sociology, among others. In the event a master’s degree is not thesis-based, research capability may be demonstrated by a major research paper from a recognized institution, or an independently completed research article published in a refereed journal. Applicants will also have a proficiency in the English language at levels required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Admission Deadline
The deadline for receipt of the program application form and supporting documents for a September admission is January 15 for all students. Students who wish to apply for University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships need to have their applications in before January 15 (for a September admission).

Program Requirements
Minimum requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies are found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this calendar. The Ph.D. Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies requirements are 24 credit hours; twelve credits of required course work at the 700 level; six credit hours in a cognate area and 6 credits in research methodology, plus a candidacy examination, a thesis proposal, and a thesis. The six credit hours of cognate and methodology courses can be taken from a list of approved courses at the 500 or 700 level.

Students whose master’s degree is not in Peace and Conflict Studies will normally be required to take some prerequisite courses in the field as occasional students in order to be admitted to the Program. Students are required to demonstrate reading competence in a language other than English prior to the candidacy examination.

The Peace and Conflict Studies Graduate Program Committee must approve all academic programs. This is normally done on the recommendation of the student’s Advisor and/or Advisory Committee following consultation with the student.