The graduate student community includes traditional full- and part-time campus-based students, as well as non-traditional students who commute or take classes during intensive courses through the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI).

While students are strongly encouraged to have at least one on-campus semester for the enhanced learning experience, some students complete the graduate degree by attending only SPI courses. At this time, we do not offer courses in a distance-learning format.

Academic credit may be earned through:

• Traditional courses: regularly offered semester-length, during fall and spring semesters
  
  
• Intensive courses: week-long, multiple-weekend or other intensive formats during fall and spring semesters
  
  
• Summer Peacebuilding Institute courses: an intensive format during May and June
  
  
• Practicum: 6-9 credit hours; required credits for research and/or peacebuilding practice
  
  
• Independent study: individualized study with program faculty

Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation (M.A.) The Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation program consists of 42 semester hours, including a required core of 18-21 hours. There are currently five concentration options. Full-time students should be able to complete the degree in two academic years. Limited-residency students will normally complete the degree in three to five years. With careful planning, students can often reduce Harrisonburg residency to three semesters (fall, spring, summer) or three summers.

Graduate Certificate (GC) in Conflict Transformation The 15 semester hour Graduate Certificate Program is designed for professional and lay people who wish to develop expertise in a particular area of the conflict transformation field. This certificate complements a prior graduate degree or years of practical experience in another field. The following core courses are required. Electives are chosen in consultation with the student's advisor.

Core courses for M.A. and Graduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation:

• PAX 533: Analysis: Understanding Conflict (3)
• PAX 503: Practice: Skills for Conflict Transformation (3)

Additional M.A. core courses/requirements:

• PAX 573: Theory: Frameworks for Conflict Transformation (3)

• One of the following research courses:

• PAX 542: Research: Action Research (3)
• PAX 520: Research Design (3)
• Other research options offered occasionally

• PAX 682: Practicum (6-9)

M.A. concentrations:

Conflict Transformation & Peacebuilding
Restorative Justice
Trauma Healing & Peacebuilding
Development & Peacebuilding
Conflict Transformation & Organizational Leadership

Click here for more information on the concentrations.