Courses   → Faculty   →
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Conflict exists in every aspect of society. Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines human conflict and ways to transform it to achieve justice, prevent violence, and sustain peace. PACS students are critical thinkers, leaders, and changemakers. They connect peacebuilding with dozens of academic fields and enter into 21st century careers ready to make a lasting impact on the world.

Juniata’s Peace and Conflict Studies department is housed and supported by The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Our students benefit from travel and research funding, professional networking, quality internships, and more through the resources of this hub in the field of peace studies. PACS students can declare a Program of Emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies, International Studies, Peace and Criminal Justice, and Communication and Conflict Resolution. Students can individualize a degree drawing from political science, sociology, history, psychology, environmental science, art, engineering, data science, and more.

Out of only 100 or so peace programs in the U.S., Juniata's PACS program is one of the oldest in existence, and one of only a few offering a full major in peace studies.

Courses   → Faculty   →
Placeholder Image

Conflict exists in every aspect of society. Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines human conflict and ways to transform it to achieve justice, prevent violence, and sustain peace. PACS students are critical thinkers, leaders, and changemakers. They connect peacebuilding with dozens of academic fields and enter into 21st century careers ready to make a lasting impact on the world.

Juniata’s Peace and Conflict Studies department is housed and supported by The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Our students benefit from travel and research funding, professional networking, quality internships, and more through the resources of this hub in the field of peace studies. PACS students can declare a Program of Emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies, International Studies, Peace and Criminal Justice, and Communication and Conflict Resolution. Students can individualize a degree drawing from political science, sociology, history, psychology, environmental science, art, engineering, data science, and more.

Out of only 100 or so peace programs in the U.S., Juniata's PACS program is one of the oldest in existence, and one of only a few offering a full major in peace studies.

Placeholder Image

Conflict exists in every aspect of society. Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines human conflict and ways to transform it to achieve justice, prevent violence, and sustain peace. PACS students are critical thinkers, leaders, and changemakers. They connect peacebuilding with dozens of academic fields and enter into 21st century careers ready to make a lasting impact on the world.

Juniata’s Peace and Conflict Studies department is housed and supported by The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Our students benefit from travel and research funding, professional networking, quality internships, and more through the resources of this hub in the field of peace studies. PACS students can declare a Program of Emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies, International Studies, Peace and Criminal Justice, and Communication and Conflict Resolution. Students can individualize a degree drawing from political science, sociology, history, psychology, environmental science, art, engineering, data science, and more.

Courses   → Faculty   →

Out of only 100 or so peace programs in the U.S., Juniata's PACS program is one of the oldest in existence, and one of only a few offering a full major in peace studies.

Placeholder Image

Conflict exists in every aspect of society. Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines human conflict and ways to transform it to achieve justice, prevent violence, and sustain peace. PACS students are critical thinkers, leaders, and changemakers. They connect peacebuilding with dozens of academic fields and enter into 21st century careers ready to make a lasting impact on the world.

Juniata’s Peace and Conflict Studies department is housed and supported by The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Our students benefit from travel and research funding, professional networking, quality internships, and more through the resources of this hub in the field of peace studies. PACS students can declare a Program of Emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies, International Studies, Peace and Criminal Justice, and Communication and Conflict Resolution. Students can individualize a degree drawing from political science, sociology, history, psychology, environmental science, art, engineering, data science, and more.

Courses   → Faculty   →

Out of only 100 or so peace programs in the U.S., Juniata's PACS program is one of the oldest in existence, and one of only a few offering a full major in peace studies.

 

  • Nora Connors
    Featured Alum

    Nora Connors '17

    Conflict Studies & Social Justice

    “PACS helped open my eyes to the causes of healthcare disparities, which inspired me to become a doctor to underserved populations.” Nora is currently employed in the Referral Services Program, Burma Children Medical Fund.

    Featured Alum

    Nora Connors '17

    Conflict Studies & Social Justice

    “PACS helped open my eyes to the causes of healthcare disparities, which inspired me to become a doctor to underserved populations.” Nora is currently employed in the Referral Services Program, Burma Children Medical Fund.

  • Ezra Halstead
    Featured Alum

    Ezra Halstead '15

    Discourses of War and Peace

    “My passion for policy and human rights advocacy and one day having my own nonprofit was fueled by what I learned in PACS classes.” Ezra is currently employed as a legal education technology and training specialist, Virginia Poverty Law Center.

    Featured Alum

    Ezra Halstead '15

    Discourses of War and Peace

    “My passion for policy and human rights advocacy and one day having my own nonprofit was fueled by what I learned in PACS classes.” Ezra is currently employed as a legal education technology and training specialist, Virginia Poverty Law Center.

  • Andrew Loomis
    Featured Alum

    Andrew Loomis '92

    Peace & Conflict Studies

    “As a young activist, I often had a knee-jerk reaction to issues, but the PACS program at Juniata taught me to think about social issues in a more sophisticated way… I’m a believer in Juniata’s efforts to equip people to be thoughtful and engaged citizens.” Andrew is employed as  the lead foreign affairs officer, United States State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.

    Featured Alum

    Andrew Loomis '92

    Peace & Conflict Studies

    “As a young activist, I often had a knee-jerk reaction to issues, but the PACS program at Juniata taught me to think about social issues in a more sophisticated way… I’m a believer in Juniata’s efforts to equip people to be thoughtful and engaged citizens.” Andrew is employed as  the lead foreign affairs officer, United States State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.

 

Meet our Department - PACS Facts

The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies has support from a diverse and rigorous academic department. Peace and Conflict Studies is inherently cross-disciplinary, and our department demonstrates its interdisciplinary nature. Together professors from the Social Science, Natural Science, and Humanities divisions help guide programming and PACS course offerings. The goal is to show how and why 'peace is everybody's business.'

The Baker Institute's mission is to apply the resources of the academic community to the study of warfare and deep rooted conflict as human problems and to the study of peace as a human potential. The institute is housed at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

Meet our Department - PACS Facts

The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies has support from a diverse and rigorous academic department. Peace and Conflict Studies is inherently cross-disciplinary, and our department demonstrates its interdisciplinary nature. Together professors from the Social Science, Natural Science, and Humanities divisions help guide programming and PACS course offerings. The goal is to show how and why 'peace is everybody's business.'

The Baker Institute's mission is to apply the resources of the academic community to the study of warfare and deep rooted conflict as human problems and to the study of peace as a human potential. The institute is housed at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

Meet our Department - PACS Facts

The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies has support from a diverse and rigorous academic department. Peace and Conflict Studies is inherently cross-disciplinary, and our department demonstrates its interdisciplinary nature. Together professors from the Social Science, Natural Science, and Humanities divisions help guide programming and PACS course offerings. The goal is to show how and why 'peace is everybody's business.'

The Baker Institute's mission is to apply the resources of the academic community to the study of warfare and deep rooted conflict as human problems and to the study of peace as a human potential. The institute is housed at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

More Featured Outcomes

PACS graduates enjoy distinguished careers as diplomats, educators, policy analysts, mediators, development workers, communications specialists, environmental justice advocates, legislators, nonprofit leaders, and more. The job possibilities are limitless with a résumé enhanced by marketable skills developed in PACS courses.

  • Olivia Charles-Pike ’20

    POE: Intercultural Conflict Intervention, secondary Spanish

    Caseworker, Children and Youth Services

  • Savannah Parson ’18

    POE: Social Organization and Change, secondary Women and Gender Studies

    Enforcement Coordinator, Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh

  • Kent Zelesky ’17

    POE: Communication Mediation

    Landlord Outreach and Support Coordinator, City of Pittsburgh

  • Airokhsh Faizi ’15

    POE: International Politics, secondary emphasis in PACS

    Fellow Development Advisor, Sahar Education International

  • Colleen Chiochetti ’13

    POE: Conflict and Russian Studies

    Program Management Unit Association, Chemonics International

  • Brenda Tyler ’10

    POE: International Studies, secondary emphasis in PACS

    Donor Stewardship Manager, Planned Parenthood

  • analysis icon

    Conflict Analysis

    For conflict transformation and sustainable peace

    From war to workplace disputes, understand the different types of conflict, why they exist and persist, and how to transform them to build lasting peace through policy and practice, at home and abroad.

  • mediation icon

    Conflict Resolution & Mediation

    For cooperative violence prevention

    Explore and practice alternative methodologies for dispute resolution that focus on cooperation and collaboration to eradicate violence and dismantle systemic oppression.

  • dialogue icon

    Dialogue & Negotiation

    For more productive discourse

    Develop active listening and bargaining skills to contribute to more productive discourse in a variety of real-world contexts—because contemporary conflicts require us to have hard conversations.

  • digital icon

    Digital Peacebuilding

    For more peaceful technology

    Learn to analyze and respond to online conflicts using digital tools and technology to enhance and facilitate peaceful outcomes.

  • justice icon

    Nonviolent Action & Social Justice

    For more equitable communities

    History shows that building equitable and just societies is possible thanks to the transformative power of nonviolent action. Apply the theories and practice of nonviolence in different contemporary contexts.

 

  • Cruzilious Contreras-Amezcua in Mexico January 2022
    Featured Student

    Cruzilious Contreras-Amezcua '23

    Social Transformation and Mediation Capacity

    "In the United States, we see conflict through a punitive lens...[but] without restorative healing for what the victims have experienced, lost, and need as a result of violence, true justice is not possible." -Cruzilious Contreras-Amezcua '23

    Contreras-Amezua, a recipient of funding through The Baker Institute, recently visited four Mexican migrant shelters in Chiapas as part of a short-term study abroad opportunity in January '22. Their written reflection on that experience and what they learned about the meaning of peace and justice was recently published at Waging Nonviolence.
    Learn more about the Student Peace Fund.

    Featured Student

    Cruzilious Contreras-Amezcua '23

    Social Transformation and Mediation Capacity

    "In the United States, we see conflict through a punitive lens...[but] without restorative healing for what the victims have experienced, lost, and need as a result of violence, true justice is not possible." -Cruzilious Contreras-Amezcua '23

    Contreras-Amezua, a recipient of funding through The Baker Institute, recently visited four Mexican migrant shelters in Chiapas as part of a short-term study abroad opportunity in January '22. Their written reflection on that experience and what they learned about the meaning of peace and justice was recently published at Waging Nonviolence.
    Learn more about the Student Peace Fund.

  • Melanie Thorn in France spring 2022
    Featured Student

    Melanie Thorn '23

    Environmental Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies

    Melanie Thorn '23 is an Environmental Science student with a secondary emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies. She spent the spring '22 semester in Lille, France, studying global justice, food controversies, and global food policies. She currently serves on The Baker Institute Advisory Board and as co-president of PAX-O, and works as a student assistant in the PACS office.

    Featured Student

    Melanie Thorn '23

    Environmental Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies

    Melanie Thorn '23 is an Environmental Science student with a secondary emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies. She spent the spring '22 semester in Lille, France, studying global justice, food controversies, and global food policies. She currently serves on The Baker Institute Advisory Board and as co-president of PAX-O, and works as a student assistant in the PACS office.