Eastern Mennonite University

What you'll study

This programme combines core liberal‑arts requirements with a focused sequence in peace studies, conflict analysis and applied resolution skills. You will study theoretical foundations of peace and conflict alongside hands‑on practice, developing the capacity to analyse conflict systems, design interventions and facilitate dialogue across divided communities.

• Core foundations: introductions to peace and conflict theory, history of peace movements, ethics and human rights.
• Conflict analysis: frameworks for identifying drivers of violence and non‑violence, systems and structural analysis, role of identity and trauma.
• Skills and practice: negotiation, mediation, facilitation, restorative justice practices, nonviolent direct action and trauma‑informed approaches.
• Research and methods: qualitative and quantitative research methods, programme evaluation and monitoring, practicum documentation.
• Applied learning: field practicum or internship with community organisations, schools, courts, NGOs or international agencies; simulated conferences and role‑plays.
• Electives and special topics: interfaith dialogue, peace and development, transitional justice, community organising, leadership and organisational change.
• Capstone: a senior seminar or practicum project that integrates theory and practice and typically includes a substantive applied research or intervention component.

The programme is commonly delivered over a standard undergraduate timeline, blending classroom seminars with intensive workshops, cohort practica and opportunities for study‑abroad or field placements. Students often cross‑register for related courses in psychology, international relations, education and restorative justice.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised secondary school completion or equivalent and submit academic transcripts. Admissions typically consider the whole application packet, including a personal statement expressing interest in peacebuilding, at least one academic or professional recommendation, and evidence of extracurricular or volunteer experience related to community engagement or leadership.

• Standard applicants: secondary school diploma and transcripts demonstrating readiness for undergraduate study.
• Supplementary materials: personal statement or essay, one or more letters of recommendation, and a resume or CV that highlights relevant activities.
• Language proficiency: international applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency through recognised tests or alternate institutional pathways.
• Selection factors: commitment to community work, reflective capacity, interpersonal skills and alignment with the programme’s emphasis on nonviolence and restorative practice are important in admissions decisions.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a wide range of careers that require conflict‑sensitive practice and strong interpersonal skills. Typical roles include:

• Community mediator or restorative justice practitioner in schools and courts.
• Programme officer, peacebuilding practitioner or project coordinator for NGOs, charities and international development organisations.
• Conflict transformation specialist with faith‑based organisations, community groups or reconciliation initiatives.
• Policy analyst, researcher or advocate in human rights, transitional justice and social policy settings.
• Educator or trainer delivering mediation, conflict resolution and nonviolent communication workshops.
• Further study: many graduates pursue master’s degrees in peace studies, conflict transformation, international development, law, public policy or related fields.

The programme’s practicum and internship emphasis helps students build professional experience and local and international networks that support entry into these roles.

Why study at Eastern Mennonite University

Eastern Mennonite University has a long reputation for integrating scholarship and practice in peacebuilding, grounded in a faith‑informed commitment to nonviolence and community service. The university’s strengths include close faculty mentoring, small class sizes and strong links with local and international partner organisations.

• Applied learning focus: the curriculum prioritises practicum placements, community engagement and real‑world skills such as mediation and restorative practices.
• Centre connections: students benefit from institutional connections to established peacebuilding initiatives and programmes that foster cross‑disciplinary collaboration.
• Global and local opportunities: options for study‑abroad, field placements and local partnerships allow students to apply theory in diverse cultural contexts.
• Community culture: EMU’s intimate campus environment supports reflective learning, peer cohorts and leadership development in service‑oriented settings.

Together, these features prepare graduates to work effectively in community, institutional and international settings where conflict transformation and restorative approaches are needed.