M.Div. Concentration in Justice and Peace Studies
Updated 4/17/13 - changes are effective immediately.

Requirements of the Concentration

The following requirements enable Master of Divinity students to reach the educational outcomes of the Justice and Peace Studies concentration:

• Foundational course: TR522 Theories of Justice and Reconciliation
  
• CS255 Justice and Peace Ministry Practicum with a placement with an organization engaged in justice- and peace-making work (this replaces the requirement to take CS254 or CS253)
  
• Three elective courses: Elective courses may be selected from those approved for this concentration, or students may ask a faculty member to include a track in another course that would explicitly address one or more of the concentration educational outcomes. Faculty have discretion to decide that tracking is not appropriate for a given course. If the faculty member agrees, some course readings and/or assignments would be tailored to allow the course to meet a concentration elective requirement. This would be noted on the registration form. Please see the registration bulletin for courses approved for the Justice and Peace Studies concentration.

Educational Outcomes of the Concentration

In addition to achieving the basic outcomes of the M.Div. degree, a graduate of the Justice and Peace Studies concentration will:

• be able to articulate a basic understanding of the way patterns of oppression intersect and interlock in human lives;
• be able to articulate a basic understanding of issues of war, violence, conflict, and various approaches to peace-making (e.g., pacifism, nonviolent resistance, forgiveness, reconciliation);
• be familiar with several approaches to social analysis and, when faced with a concrete, critical societal and religious issue, will be able to carry out an effective analysis using at least one of them;
• have experiential understanding of people’s struggles within a particular context that exposes current unjust and/or violent social and economic structures;
• be able to articulate an in-depth understanding of the dynamics and issues in one particular area of justice and peace work;
• have direct experience in organized justice- and peace-making work focused in a particular context or issue;
• be able to articulate a theology of and ethic of justice and peace grounded in Scripture, the deep Christian tradition, the resources of their particular faith tradition, social analysis, and the experience of those struggling globally for justice and peace; and
• be familiar with several approaches for mobilizing groups for outreach and action on justice and peace issues and, when faced with a concrete situation calling for group action, will be able to draw on theological perspectives, knowledge of the issues, social analysis, and at least one approach for mobilizing a group to develop a practical action plan for mobilization in that situation.