MA Program Curriculum (PCS Course)

Goals

The curriculum of the MA program is structured to allow students to be exposed to a wide range of issues and approaches in understanding peace and conflict in the contemporary world through a framework Area Studies. In addition to gaining specific knowledge and understanding of topics within the field, in keeping with the belief that each conflict is unique, the Program also stresses the in-depth and comparative study of various cases of conflict, including field research in pre-conflict, conflict, and post-conflict settings.

Students are expected to gain the ability to analyze conflict situations from a variety of perspectives, and expand their capacity to initiate and execute research critical to understanding and ameliorating such situations, and to work in the field as professionals planning, implementing, and evaluating peace-building, conflict resolution, conflict prevention, and related projects. Furthermore, the active nature of student participation expected in courses and in the program overall, for example through frequent student presentations, should prepare students for positions in education, whether at the community level in conflict areas, or at the tertiary level in their home countries.

The PCS Faculty aims to offer a diverse and engaging set of courses each term, based on their particular expertise and interests, and on the most relevant and current issues. Several Visiting Professors and Lecturers are also retained each term to broaden the course offerings, and also to allow students the opportunity to have contact with and learn from professionals active in peace-building, conflict resolution, and other areas of practice. Outside experts are also often invited for short seminars, talks, or conferences for these purposes.

Through contact with faculty, outside researchers and professionals, and other students, the students should be able to establish an international network of profession contacts for their future research and employment. Moreover, we expect that, given the small size and international nature of each entering class (approximately 10-12 students each year), as well as the fact that many of them come from conflict-affected countries, students will be able to gain valuable experience in cross-cultural contact and understanding, and in working collaboratively. Of course, studying in Japan in itself should hopefully provide students with such experience.

 

Structure of MA Program (PCS Course)

The two year PCS MA course of study curriculum exposes students to a variety of issues and approaches in understanding peace and conflict in the contemporary world. Five compulsory classes form the core of the MA course of study: "Core Seminar"; "Global Issues"; "PCS Research Methodology"; and "Thesis Seminar 1 & 2". Instruction inclucdes theoretical perspectives, practical cases, research methods and thesis guidance. Students select the remaining elective credits from diverse course offerings in the following subject areas: Foundation of Peacebuilding; Applied Peacebuilding; Conflict and Social Change; and International Relations and Cooperation. Topics covered are: "Theory and Practice of Peacebuilding"; "Contentious Politics"; "Foundation of Human violence and Group conflict"; "Gender and Peace"; "Conflict Prevention and Global Security"; Quantitative and Qualitative Analysist"; etc. The format of each TUFS-PCS seminar or class is a mixture of lectures, reading assignments, student presentations and discussions, with an emphasis on active student research and input. Classword is evaluated based on a number of factors including student participation and contribution to discussions, presentations, term papers, final exams, and other assignments. PCS admis approximately 12 students per year, providing a very intimate and intensive educational dynamic between students, faculty, administration and partner organizations. Many of our students come from conflict-affected countries, which provides opportunities for everyone to gain valuable experience in cross-cultural contact and understanding, and in working collaboratively.

Courses offered for the academic year of 2022-2023 (Peace and Conflict Studies):

Core Seminar	Core Seminar (for 1st yr students)	SHINODA	Fall
Global Studies 1	PCS Global Campus Program (Basic)	ISEZAKI FUKUDA	Fall
Thesis Seminar	Thesis Seminar 1 (for 2nd year students)	ISEZAKI MATSUNAGA SHINODA	Fall
Thesis Seminar	Thesis Seminar 2 (for 2nd year students)	ISEZAKI MATSUNAGA SHINODA	Spring
PCS Research Methodology	PCS Research Methodology	MATSUNAGA	Fall
Global Studies 2	PCS Global Campus Program (Advanced)	ISEZAKI FUKUDA	Spring
Foundation for Peacebuilding	Theory and Practice of Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding	SHINODA	Spring
	Politics of Difference and Inequality	HAZAMA	Spring
Applied Peacebuilding	Foundation of Human Violence and Group Conflict	Appuhamilage	Spring
	Peace Building and Psychological Work in Post-conflict Situations: A Critical Psychological Approach	Appuhamilage	Fall
	Gender and Peace	AKIBAYASHI	Winter
Conflict and Social Change	Refugee and Forced Migration	HASHIMOTO	Spring
	Conlifct and Contentious Politics	MATSUNAGA	Spring
	Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis	HAZAMA	Fall
International Relations and Cooperation	Japan's Security Policy and Conflict Resolution	YOSHIZAKI	Fall
	Conflict Prevention and Global Security	YOSHIZAKI	Spring
	Religion, Identity and Nationalism	SHANI	Spring

 

Please click the title of the course for the syllabus.