Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Aung Sun Suu Kyi, Nelson Mandela, Dorothy Day, and Abdul Ghaffar Khan all started in the same place-as ordinary people drawn into a great cause. As a peace studies major you'll learn how to become an agent for positive change by studying the theory and practice of nonviolent peacemaking, human rights and conflict resolution. Questions of peace and justice permeate our lives. By choosing from courses in many disciplines (including political science, sociology, history, anthropology, theology, psychology, philosophy and other fields), you can explore peacemaking on three distinct levels: personal (faith and values), interpersonal (relationships between individuals, ethnic groups, and states) and systemic (interactions with political, social, and economic systems). The world is changing, both globalization and nonviolent resistance are driving this change. Did you know that from 1900 to 2006 there were 83 nonviolent campaigns in the world that successfully accomplished regime change or the expulsion of foreign occupiers In the same time frame, nonviolent campaigns achieved success 78% of the time, compared to only 38% for violent campaigns. Recent events suggest that we will continue to see entire societies transformed by nonviolent resistance - you will have a front-row seat as this plays out.<br><br>In peace studies you will hone your critical thinking skills and direct your creativity and ingenuity toward solving some of the most pressing issues in the world. Through experiences inside and outside the classroom you will gain a better understanding of the world around you and practical ways to contribute to building a more just and peaceful world. Peace studies pushes you to grow and think outside the box, providing you with skills and experiences that employers are looking for. You will gain and refine valuable skills such as strategic thinking, conflict resolution, creative problem solving, negotiation, persuasion, critical analysis and effective communication while working side-by-side with other top students in a climate that promotes academic rigor and friendship. To make the job search easier and to help you build a strong professional network, we bring professionals, recruiters and high profile speakers to campus.