The Peace and Social Justice Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary program focusing on social responsibility by examining the means of establishing justice, achieving peace, and resolving conflicts nonviolently. Peace rooted in justice requires the nurturing of a culture of peace in homes, schools, communities, religious institutions, nations, and across the world. Peace rooted in justice requires teaching peace and social justice to cultivate those who will become socially responsible leaders.

Requirements for Minor

A minimum of 15 credit hours (usually five courses) is required for this minor. Each student must take PSJ 201, PSJ 386, and three courses (9 credits) appropriate to the chosen track with no more than two courses from specified General Electives. No more than two courses from either track or general electives can be taken from a single department. No more than one course at the 100 level may be taken as an elective.

There are two alternative tracks in the program. The International/Global Track concentrates on social responsibility between nations and other large groups, while the Individual/Local Track focuses on social responsibility among individuals, small groups and communities.

Program Core (Required)

PSJ 201 Principles of Peace and Social Justice 3 Cr.
PSJ 386 Internship in Peace and Social Justice Studies 3 Cr.

International/Global Track

• HIST 331 Ideas and Power in Latin American History 3 Cr.
• HIST 350 Colonialism and Independence:
  Understanding Modern Africa 3 Cr.
• HIST 355 Modern Middle Eastern History 3 Cr.
• POLS 230 International Relations 3 Cr.
• THEO 338 Holocaust Theology 3 Cr.
• THEO 357 The Church in the World 3 Cr.
• THEO 360 Topics in the History of Religions 3 Cr.
• THEO 362 Understanding Islamic Religion and Culture 3 Cr.
• THEO 364 The Buddhist Tradition 3 Cr.

Individual/Local Track

• ECON 136 The Economics of Health, Education, and Welfare 3 Cr.
• ECON 233 The Economics of Race and Gender 3 Cr.
• HIST 225 Alternative Perspectives of United States History 3 Cr.
• HIST 226 The Hispanic U.S. 3 Cr.
• POLS 340 Constitutional Law I 3 Cr.
• POLS 345 The Judicial Process 3 Cr.
• SOC 130 The Criminal Justice System 3 Cr.
• SOC 160 Contemporary Social Problems 3 Cr.
• SOC 265 Crime and Society 3 Cr.
• SOC 275 Social Stratification 3 Cr.
• SOC 347 Race and Ethnicity 3 Cr.
• SOC 360 Penology 3 Cr.
• SOC 390 Issues in Sociology
  (when topic is appropriate) 3 Cr.
• SOCW 330 Vulnerable Populations: Color, Gender, and Orientation 3 Cr.
• THEO 320 Topics in Christian History
  (when topic is appropriate) 3 Cr.
• THEO 330 Topics in Contemporary Theology
  (when topic is appropriate) 3 Cr.
• THEO 337 Black Theology and Black Church 3 Cr.
• THEO 353 Studies in Theology and Practice 3 Cr.

General Electives

• PHIL 250 Political Philosophy 3 Cr.
• POLS 250 Political Philosophy 3 Cr.
• POLS 361 Public Policy 3 Cr.
• POLS 490 Seminar: Mediation and Arbitration 3 Cr.
• PSY 125 Social Psychology 3 Cr.
• PSY 390 Topic: Cross Cultural Psychology 3 Cr.
• THEO 318 Jesus and the Gospels 3 Cr.
• THEO 346 Contemporary Moral Issues 3 Cr.

Peace and Social Justice Studies Administrative Committee

Chair: Dr. Larry Baas
Professor of Political Science
Huegli 308 Tel: 219.464.5266

Dr.Theodore Ludwig
Professor of Theology
Huegli 328, Tel: 219.464.5303

Dr. James Kingsland
Associate Professor of Political Science
Huegli 208, Tel: 219.464.6893

Professor Matthew Ringenberg
Assistant Professor of Social Work
Heidbrink 102C, Tel: 219.464.5106

Dr. Jennifer Winquist
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dickmeyer 202A, Tel: 219.464.6841

Dr. Lissa Yogan
Adjunct Assistant Professor Sociology
Huegli 334, Tel: 219.464.6998

Contact

Chair: Dr. Larry Baas
Professor of Political Science
Huegli 308
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Tel: 219.464.5266
email: Larry.Baas@valpo.edu