Undergraduate Certificate in Peace Studies
Equivalent to a minor at the University of Hawaiʻi, the Undergraduate Certificate in Peace Studies (UCPS) broadens students’ perspectives and strengthens critical thinking on issues of war and peace, justice and human rights, and governance. The Certificate exposes students to the fundamentals of peace and conflict resolution; skills that are highly valued by employers in a wide range of professional fields, making it an excellent complement to many popular majors.
Learn more about the Matsunaga Institute for Peace.
What was your fondest memory at the Matsunaga Institute?
Interning (PACE 495 “Practicum”) at the Hawai‘i Innocence Project. The organization fights for wrongfully convicted prisoners and offers free legal aid. Having the opportunity to find an internship through the Matsunaga Institute enabled me to do something I am interested in while also creating new connections in the legal world. All of the Peace Studies (PACE) courses I have taken at UH Mānoa have had wonderful instructors. I am very grateful I was able to be a part of such an important program.
Sage Gray, 2020
BA in Sociology; Undergraduate Certificate in Peace Studies
Additional Details
Students may choose to complete the certificate by taking in-person courses or a mix of in-person and online courses.
Students are also able to complete the certificate fully online. The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the fully online Peace Studies 5-Course Certificate is approved by WASC.
The certificate requires the completion of at least 5 courses (15 credits).
Core Courses (9 credits)
- PACE 310: Survey of Peace and Conflict Studies *
- PACE 495: Practicum and Internship (or faculty-approved substitute) *
- And select one of the following core skills courses:
- PACE 447: Introduction to Mediation *; or
- PACE 429: Negotiation *
Elective Courses (6 credits)
This is a guide and not an exhaustive list.
- PACE 315: Personal Peace: Stories of Hope*
- PACE 316: Environmental Governance
- PACE 345/ANTH 345: Aggression, War, and Peace
- PACE 325/CLAS 325: Greek and Roman War Literature
- PACE 373/POLS 396: Nonviolent Political Alternatives
- PACE 380/COM 380: Media Communications Conflict
- PACE 387/PHIL 387: The Meaning of War
- PACE 399: Directed Reading*
- PACE 407/ASAN 407: Peace Processes in Philippines and Hawai`i
- PACE 410: History of Peace Movements
- PACE 412: Gandhi, King, and Nonviolence
- PACE 413: Terrorism
- PACE 420: Introduction to Human Rights*
- PACE 430: Leadership for Social Change*
- PACE 436/GEO 436: Geography of Peace and War*
- PACE 440: Peacebuilding in Performance
- PACE 450: Protest Under Occupation*
- PACE 460: Indigenous Nonviolent Action in the Asia-Pacific*
- PACE 468: Introduction to Facilitating Organizational Change*
- PACE 470: Advocating for Children: Rights & Welfare*
- PACE 477: Culture and Conflict Resolution*
- PACE 478: International Law and Disputes*
- PACE 480: Managing Human Conflict*
- PACE 482: Research and Peace*
- PACE 485: Topics in Peace and Conflict Resolution*
- PACE 489: Hiroshima & Peace (summer only)
- ANTH 423: Social and Cultural Change
- BIOL 310: Environmental Issues
- COM 340: Intercultural Communication
- COMG 455: Conflict Management*
- ECON 332/SUST 332: Economics of Global Climate Change
- ECON 414: Global Economic Crisis and Recovery
- GEO 435: Political Geography of Oceans
- HDFS 350: Leadership and Group Process
- HRM 463: Negotiation and Workplace Dispute Resolution
- POLS 315: Global Politics/International Relations
- POLS 316: International Relations*
- POLS 319: International Organization
- POLS 339/WGSS 439: Feminist Theory
- POLS 394/WGSS 394: Co-ops, Communes, Collectives
- SOC 332: Sociology of Law*
- SOC 446/WGSS 446: Gender Violence Over the Lifecycle*
* Distance learning (online) is available.
Students interested in the Undergraduate Certificate in Peace Studies should contact the Matsunaga Institute (uhip@hawaii.edu) to meet with an advisor, and obtain the UCPS Tracking Sheet to officially declare the certificate.