PACS 100 Introduction to Peace Studies I offers an introduction to the foundational concepts of peace studies: peace, conflict, violence and non-violence. Students will gain an understanding and engage in critical analysis of historical and current nonviolence movements for social change with the goal of equipping them to help build cultures of peace.
Prerequisites: English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 or ENGL 60 with a minimum grade of 60%
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
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| Total Credits | |
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| Total Hours | 45 |
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Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 3 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Identify key and basic concepts in peace studies
- Address, on a general basis, major questions regarding challenges of building durable peace
- Investigate individually and in groups, specific issues which affect peace
- Demonstrate knowledge of the literature of peace studies as shown through completion of assignments and in-class discussions
- Develop a conceptual frame of reference and a base for knowledge for understanding some of the processes and problems of attaining peace
- Critically analyze governmental and societal trends/programs in terms of their capacity to create cultures of peace or contribute to a culture of violence
- Critically analyze media including television/newspapers/websites in terms of contributing to peace and justice
- Write a research paper at a first year post-secondary level
Teaching and Learning Approach
Classes will include lectures and discussions of theory, social issues, and current events. Classes will be
interactive, making pre-class preparation very important so you can contribute knowledgeably to our discussions.
In other words, do your assigned readings! Putting in some extra time to follow world events so you feel informed
and engaged will also help you get the most out of the course.Learning Resources
Assigned readings, audio and video are available as links on the course Moodle site. Readings that can be
printed (e.g., pdf files) will be printed and assembled into a hard-copy course reader that you need to purchase at
the bookstore. As part of the pre-class/in-class portion of your grade, you may be asked to submit some of these
readings with your annotations on them - that is, with markings on them that show how you actively engaged with
the text - e.g., by highlighting, underlining, circling, and writing notes in the margins.
There will also be a workbook of worksheets that need to be turned in. It, too, will be available from the College
bookstore.
Worksheets for pre-class and in-class work account for 30% of your final grade.Detailed Course Content, Topics, and Sequence Covered
1. Introduction to PACS 100 and to each other. What is peace?
2. Palestine- Israel
3. Building a Culture of Peace - Costa Rica
4. Drivers and costs of armed conflict
5. Legal Frameworks for Peace 1: Human rights, United Nations
6. Legal frameworks for Peace 2: International Humanitarian Law (Geneva Conventions); International Courts
7. Philosophies of Nonviolence
8. Conscientious objection and war resistance
9. Strategic nonviolence
10. Nonviolent Civil Resistance 1
11. Nonviolent civil resistance 2
12. How People Make, Keep and Build Peace
13. Unarmed Peacekeeping
14. Nonviolent Civil Disobedience
15. Reflection on learning in courseAssessment
| Title | Learning Outcomes | Value |
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| Pre-class and in-class work | 30% (15 submissions at 1, 2, 3, 4 | 2% |
| Film responses (short papers) | 30% (3 responses @ 1, 2, 5 each) | 10% |
| Synthesis project Exit interview (in lieu of final | 1, 2, 3, 5 each) | 30% |
| exam) | 1, 2, 5 | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Table
Standard Academic and Career Programs Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.