Certificate

The Peace & Justice Studies Certificate Program offers all UNM undergraduate and non-degree students the opportunity to both study and promote peace and justice in interpersonal, institutional, societal and/or global terms.

The certificate is a component of the UNM Peace Studies Program, administered through the College of Arts & Sciences, which also offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate minor degree in Peace Studies for students enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences.

While the 24-credit minor is available to A&S majors, the 15-credit certificate program has a broader reach. The Peace & Justice Certificate Program welcomes students from all undergraduate academic departments at UNM, including those administered within University College , the College of Education , and the College of Engineering .

Certificate recipients must earn 15 credits, encompassing 3 internship hours and 12 elective hours. The internship component will entail a service learning experience with a community peace and justice organization, such the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, Catholic Charities, Health Care for the Homeless, Cuidando los Ninos, the Women’s Community Association and Enlace Comunitario.

To fulfill the classroom component, students will select four 3-credit courses from the current electives offered under the auspices of the Peace Studies minor, and under the guidance of the Peace Studies Advisor.

The comprehensive list of Peace & Justice Studies electives, currently being offered by various departments in the College of Arts & Sciences, are listed in the catalog under the entry for the Peace Studies minor program. Electives are divided into four substantive categories, comprising the theoretical, methodological, international and national/subnational facets of peace and justice studies, respectively.

Certificate candidates may select their electives freely, in consultation with the Peace Studies advisor. Some students may wish to concentrate their electives in one or more category, and others elect to take one from each of the four.

The essence of the Peace & Justice Certificate program is twofold. First, it involves an exploration of the causes and consequences of various forms of violence, as well as peaceful alternatives to violence. Second, it encourages students to understand peace as a multi-faceted vision for transformed human relations, which requires implementation on numerous levels and over the long term.

Peace & Justice Certificate candidates will be encouraged to explore the many dimensions of conflict transformation – including disarmament, socio-economic development, inter-personal and cross-cultural communication, political and social pluralism, respect for human rights, international peacekeeping, environmental protection and sustainable resource development, and the promotion of social welfare, including access to a living wage, social security after retirement, health care, education and shelter.