| ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
Academic Course Calendar 2008-2009
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Master of Arts in International Peace Studies
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| First Term: August-December | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| COURSES | PROFESSOR | CREDITS # Weeks |
DATE |
| Orientation | Academic Administration | 3 days | 20 Aug - 22 Aug. 2008 |
| PCS-6000
Foundation Course in Peace and Conflict Studies M |
UPEACE Resident Faculty | 3 days | 25 Aug - 12 Sep. 2008 (15 Sept.) |
| IPS 6011
Conflict Analysis and Management: Theory and Practice M |
Christopher Mitchell and Wolfgang Dietrich | 3 credits 3 Weeks |
17 Sept - 7 Oct. 2008 |
| IPS 6016
International Law, Human Rights and the United Nations R |
TBD | 3 credits 3 Weeks |
13 Oct - 31st Oct. 2008 (12 Oct) |
| IPS 6020
Research Methods M |
Amr Abdalla | 3 credits 3 Weeks |
5 Nov. - 25 Nov. 2008 |
| IPS 6017
International Cooperation and Peace Building M |
Christopher Mitchell | 3 credits 3 Weeks |
1st Dec. - 19 Dec. 2008 |
| Second Term: January-May | |||
| Orientation for NRSD | Academic Administration | 2 days | 8 Jan. - 9 Jan. 2009 |
| ELECTIVES
O |
Resident Faculty and Visiting Professors | 3 credits 3 Weeks |
12 Jan. - 30 Jan. 2009 |
| IPS 6100
Practices of Conflict Management M |
Alma Abdul-Hadi Jadallah and Mary Jo Larson |
2 credits 2 Weeks |
2 Feb. - 11 Feb. (8 days) |
| UPMUNC | STUDENTS' ACTIVITY |
3 days | 12 Feb. - 14 Feb. 2009 |
| IPS 6110
Human Security and Urban Violence R |
Tatiana Benavides | 3 credits 3 Weeks |
18 Feb. - 10 Mar. 2009 |
| IPS 6012
Peace-keeping Operations R |
David Davis | 3 credits 3 Weeks |
16 Mar. - . 3 Apr. (Easter 6 -10 Apr.) |
| IPS 6019
Peace Building and Post Conflict Reconstruction O |
TBD | 3 credits 3 Weeks |
13 Apr - 30 Apr. 2009 (1 May) |
| IPS 6018
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reconstruction O |
Swaran Singh | 3 credits 3 Weeks |
6 May. - 26 May. 2009 |
| IPS 6021
Capstone Workshop on Peace and Conflict M |
Victor Valle | 2 credits Ongoing |
Ongoing |
| Third Term: June-July | |||
| IPS 7000
Graduation Project M |
Resident Faculty | 8 credits | Due 26 June 2009 |
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Graduation Requirements Commencement: 10 July 2009 |
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| M=Mandatory Courses | 7 Courses | 24 Credits (included 8 Credits of Graduation Project) |
R=Required Courses | 3 Courses | 9 Credits |
| O=Optional Courses | 3 Courses | 9 Credits |
| TOTAL | 13 Courses | 42 Credits |
Course Descriptions:
PCS 6000
Foundation in Peace and Conflict Studies
The University for Peace Foundation Course in Peace and Conflict Studies is designed to engage students in an examination of the major contemporary challenges to peace, sources of conflict and violence, and several key nonviolent mechanisms for conflict transformation and prevention. The course is designed to provide a common foundation for UPEACE students from all of the different M.A. programs (as its name suggests). During the course, an understanding of the complex and interconnected challenges to peace will be developed, as will an understanding of the need for multifaceted approaches to meeting these challenges. Students will also engage critically with theories of conflict, and will develop their understanding of the theoretical resources available in the area of conflict studies. During the course of their studies at UPEACE students will engage in increasingly specialized inquiry into various dimensions and issues in their specific MA areas. The foundation course provides an opportunity to explore connections, sympathies, and synergies between the challenges and approaches identified in all of these areas from a “wide-angle” perspective that will encourage students to continue making such interdisciplinary connections and analyses throughout their tenure at UPEACE and after. Back to top
IPS 6011
Conflict Analysis and Management: Theory and Practice
Under the premise that conflicts are unavoidable and inherent to the functioning of societies, this course explores the different theories about the nature of the conflict and its management and resolution. The course also discusses the actual ways to transform the conflict into a positive and driving force for harmonious relations within societies. Back to top
IPS 6016
International Law, Human Rights and the United Nations
The course offers to students the opportunity to know the basic elements that constitute the international normative for regulating the international relations. The emphasis is placed on the broad international legislation about the Human Rights from a very comprehensive perspective. Humanitarian International Law is also described and analyzed in the course, which is complemented with a critical description of the UN system, its governing bodies, procedures, mediation capacity and actual role in contributing to peace, security, development, democracy and the respect to human rights around the world. Back to top
This course develops students’ theoretical knowledge and applied skills in conducting qualitative, quantitative and participatory research in the social sciences. It addresses, inter alia: epistemology, critical theory, research ethics, and project development and grant writing. The course serves also to prepare students for the design and writing of the major research project required for their degree through the development of their abilities to formulate research problems and proposals and to conduct research. Back to top
IPS 6017
International Cooperation and Peace Building
The increasing interdependency among states poses a role to the international intervention and cooperation. Often, an internal armed and violent conflict is fueled by external actors and, at the same time, the settlement of an internal conflict has the involvement t of exogenous actors and the international community.
The course critically analyzes de role of external factors in the genesis and development of a domestic conflict and the role of the international community –world wide, regional or ad hoc arrangements of countries- in settling the conflict and providing cooperation for the consolidation of peace and the corresponding developmental efforts. Back to top
Elective Courses
During a three-week period, in January, students have the opportunity of choosing a 3-credit course as elective –This period coincides with the UPEACE Institute where non-UPEACE students are accepted for being enrolled in the regular UPEACE students.
All of the courses are taught by international academicians and professionals with extensive expertise in each of these areas.
IPS 6100
Practices on Conflict Management
Throughout the Masters in International Peace Studies Programme, students study central issues and challenges in the field of peace and conflict studies, in part by examining critical academic literature and research on peace and security. The ‘Practices of Conflict Management and Peace Building’ course is intended to complement this academic learning by exposing students to practical dimensions of operationalising and implementing conflict management and peace building in the field. The course provides students with the opportunity to develop critical skills and understanding necessary to translate their academic learning to specific and often challenging practical situations such those posed by peacebuilding either with the UN, governments, or NGOs. The course is taught by practitioners of peacebuilding with extensive hands-on knowledge. It includes sensitizing and capacity-building exercises and assignments that help students to develop flexible and applied thinking skills that will serve them in good stead for field work. Back to top
IPS 6110
Human Security and Urban Violence
The concept of “human security” will be discussed and defined. The implications of this concept for thinking about various themes including human rights, conflict, development, and security more broadly defined will be discussed. A human security perspective will then be used to analyze and develop a better understanding of urban violence, a critical problem in many parts of the North and South that becomes increasingly urgent as the phenomenon of urbanization spreads and intensifies. Back to top
IPS 6012
Peace-Keeping Operations
This course will review the evolution and current nature of the Peace Operations around the World. Students will analyze the major functions of such operations, its actual outcomes as contribution for peacekeeping and peace building, and the lessons learnt to improve the quality of these international missions. Topics to be covered are: Understanding Peacekeeping, monitoring reports on military, police and security aspects of mission, monitoring report on logistical and administrative aspects of mission, monitoring reports on Diplomatic aspects of mission, monitoring report on Governance and Rule of Law. Back to top
IPS 6018
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reconstruction
The key test for a successful settlement of an armed conflict is how effective and actual measures are taken to disarm and demobilize former military fighters of the different parties involved in the armed conflict. The major goals are the transferring of combatants into a civil life and the contribution for the restoring of the war torn society.
The course describes and critically analyzes the goals of the three processes, the major activities involved in them and the necessary conditions that should be met to have a successful disarmament and demobilization that allow to one society the transit from war to peace and to undertake effective measures for restoration and reconstruction. Back to top
IPS 6019
Peace Building and Post Conflict Reconstruction
The settlement of an armed internal conflict should address the roots of the conflict.
The course analyzes the major factors that should be addressed for an effective post conflict reconstruction and the building of a lasting and sustained peace such as democratization, governance, rule of law, human development, human security, human rights and the public administration reform. Back to top
IPS 6021
Capstone Workshop on Peace and Conflict
A final integrative seminar, the Capstone will allow students the opportunity to “step back” and place what they have learned during the MA course into the broader context of conflict and peace. The course will encourage students to assess the emerging threats to peace in a future perspective, using the critical thinking and analytical skills honed through coursework as well as the knowledge they will have gained. Back to top
The Graduation Project is an academic requirement intended to be a comprehensive and capstone outcome of the student educational performance. It can be fulfilled through a variety of modalities: a research, a development project, a curriculum design or a proposal for institutional change. It is a higher academic exercise that enables to the student to demonstrate the ability to identify a problem, determine an academic objective to address the problem and carry out a method to attain such objective. The Graduation Project is also for demonstrating the ability for systematically writing and communicating a professional and scholarly report. The report of the Graduation Project should be no longer than 23,000 words. Back to top
Resident Faculty's Biographical Information:
Academics residing and teaching at the Headquarters campus in Costa Rica.
Amr Abdalla (Egypt)
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs
Ph.D., Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, Spring 2001. Master's Degree, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, Spring 1992. LL. B. in Law, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, Spring 1977. Back to top
Victor Valle (El Salvador)
Dean for Latin America and the Caribbean Programme, and Head of Department of Peace and Conflict Studies
Doctor of Education, The George Washington University, USA; Master of Education, University of Pittsburgh, USA; Undergraduate studies, Civil Engineering, University of El Salvador. Disciplines: Higher Education, Educational Development, Educational Management, Political Affairs, International Cooperation Management, Public Security, Human Security. Back to top
Visiting Professor's Biographical Information:
Tatiana Benavides Santos (Costa Rica)
Assistant Professor, Coordinator of the Dual Campus M.A. Programme in International Peace Studies, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies.
Doctorandus in Political Studies, Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris III; Master's degree in Political Studies, Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle. Paris III; Post graduate Studies and BA in Political Science, University of Costa Rica. Disciplines: Democratization and governance. Back to top
David F. Davis (USA)
David F. Davis is a Senior Fellow and Assistant Research Professor in The School of
Public Policy, Program on Peacekeeping Policy, George Mason University. Professor Davis has been working in the application of Operations Research techniques to
Peace Support Operations since 1992, after his retirement from the US Army's Corps of Engineers. His research has focused on the application of analytic approaches to the study of the complex missions inherent in Peace Operations and Conflict Resolution. In the process of this research he is building the Conceptual Model of Peace Operations, or the CMPO, as a domain model of multinational, multientity peace operations. Back to top
Wolfgang Dietrich (Austria)
UNESCO Chairholder for Peace Studies and Program director MA Peace Studies University of Innsbruck since 2001. Academic director Austrian Institute for Latina America since 1995. Professor for Political Science since 1986. Back to top
Alma Abdul-Hadi Jadallah (Palestine and USA)
Dr. Alma Abdul-Hadi Jadallah, is a national and international conflict resolution
practitioner, and scholar with more than a decade of experience in conflict prevention and mitigation practice and education, training and development, peace building and capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, organizational development and leadership development. She led and directed civil society initiatives related to the Arab world and Islamic community. She serves her community through active board memberships with organizations working on grass root community issues, peace building and peace education. As President and Managing Director of Kommon Denominator, Inc. Dr. Abdul-Hadi Jadallah implemented highly successful, large and small-scale system-wide multi-stakeholder interventions in corporate, community and international settings with particular sensitivity on the transfer, adaptation and translation of North American models. Engagements include top-tier companies, non-governmental organizations and governmental entities, and State and Private Universities. Back to top
Dr. Mary Jo Larson is an interdisciplinary educator with extensive field experience building capacities for leadership, peace building and sustainable development. Recent initiatives include climate change and vulnerability and responsible corporate governance. Dr. Larson has facilitated the development of integrated approaches to conservation in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Pacific Islands and the Middle East, including Afghanistan and West Bank. She served as the Director of a Gates Foundation global women’s leadership program and Chief of Programming and Training for Asia Pacific Region of the Peace Corps. She has authored manuals and articles on adult learning, experiential learning, cooperative leadership, and multilateral negotiations. Dr. Larson earned her Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and is a Senior Fellow with the University for Peace, established by the United Nations. Back to top
Christopher Mitchell (British)
Christopher Mitchell has degrees in Economics and International Relations from London University but is actually a historian able to recognize fraudulent economic reasoning [e.g. the “free” market] when he sees it. He has held academic jobs at London University, the University of Southampton and City University, London as well as teaching at the University of Southern California, Brigham Young University and the University of Maryland. He was on the full time teaching faculty of ICAR for 17 years and was the Institute’s Director for four of those.
In the 1960’s he was part of the pioneering research team at University College, London which, under the leadership of Dr John Burton, developed the basic ideas of conflict resolution, problem solving workshops and informal “Track Two” interventions into protracted conflicts. Since then, he has been involved in T2 interventions that have tried to address the sources of, and solutions for conflicts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, Israelis and Palestinians, Somalis and Ethiopians, British and Argentineans, Nationalists and Unionists in Northern Ireland, Basques and Spaniards, Moldovans and Trans-Dniestrians, as well as diverse Liberian factions.
His first serious research into conflict sources and dynamics involved work in the Horn of Africa before it was afflicted by the “Cold War”, followed by an examination of peacemaking and peace breaking in the Sudan on the 1970’s and 1980’s. Later work involved efforts to develop solutions for the conflict over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, which involved an examination of the intellectual dead ends provided by concepts such as “territorial sovereignty”, “self determination” and uni-dimensional “national identity”.
Most recently, together with his colleagues Wallace Warfield and Kevin Avruch, plus a group of highly talented ICAR students, Chris Mitchell has headed the Institute’s “Local Zones of Peace” project, which involves delineating and analyzing local communities’ efforts to establish neutral and secure “zones of peace” in countries suffering from protracted conflicts, such as the Philippines, Colombia and El Salvador.
Professor Mitchell is currently supervising a number of doctoral dissertations and working on a textbook that summarizes the current state of our knowledge of the overall field of “Conflict Analysis & Resolution” – actually a replacement for his “classic” The Structure of International Conflict – and [with ICAR alumnus Dr Landon Hancock] on editing a book of papers arising from the Zones of Peace Group’s research, tentatively entitled Seeking Sanctuary.Back to top
Dr. Swaran Singh is Associate Professor with School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi), President of Association of ASIA Scholars (South Asia Chapter) and, Member, Asian Scholarship Foundation's Regional Review Committee for South Asia. He has been Visiting Scholar/Professor at the UPEACE, Beijing University, Hong Kong University, University of the Philippines, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Shanghai Institute of International Studies, as also Faculty at Centre de Sciences Humains and Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (New Delhi).
Dr Singh had organized two international conferences in New Delhi in collaboration with UPEACE on 'Education for Peace and Conflict Resolution' (2004) and 'Curriculum Development for Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies Foundation Course' (2005) that have since been followed by UPEACE expanding its linkages in South Asia. At JNU, Dr Singh teaches Masters Courses on (a) Introduction to Peace and Conflict Resolution, (b) War and Peace in Nuclear Age, and M.Phil courses on (a) Strategies of War and Peace, (a) India and Disarmament, and (c) Science, Technology and National Security. Dr Singh has already supervised 8 PhDs and 18 M.Phils and he regularly lectures at several military and academic institutions both in India and abroad.
Dr Singh has authored, amongst others, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Initiative, (Bangkok, 2007), China-India Economic Engagement: Building Mutual Confidence (Delhi, 2005), China-South Asia: Issues, Equations, Policies (Delhi, 2003) and China's Changing National Security Doctrines (Delhi, 1999) and Limited War (Delhi, 1995). He co-authored Regionalism and South Asia published by SIPRI (March 2007) and edited China-Pakistan Strategic Cooperation: Indian Perspectives (Delhi: Manohar, 2007).Back to top