SCHOOL of INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

American University · Washington, D.C.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATES -- CERTIFICATE IN PEACEBUILDING

The practice of peacebuilding is evolving in challenging directions, requiring an understanding of the connection between international development, humanitarian assistance, conflict analysis and resolution, democratization, human rights, and civil society. Within this context, the Graduate Certificate in Peacebuilding is designed to provide early and mid-career practitioners with an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in peacebuilding, with a concentration in conflict resolution, conflict and development, or human rights. The certificate is designed for professionals working in non-governmental organizations, government departments or agencies, or international organizations, who wish to extend their existing skill set or acquire tools in a related area of practice.

Through a participatory and interactive learning environment, the certificate program engages participants as active learners and as resources for each other in a community of scholar-practitioners. The faculty are professionals with experience in various forms of practice, including training, facilitation, post-conflict reconstruction and conflict intervention, and who are knowledgeable about the theoretical underpinnings of their work.

The Certificate.

• Provides an understanding of the connections between peacebuilding, conflict resolution, development and human rights,
• Supports analysis and action on complex problems, including intractable violent conflict, poverty, AIDS, and terrorism,
• Blends theory with practice to enhance professional development,
• Allows mid-career professionals to augment current education and training, and
• Provides graduate students with training in related fields of interest.

Requirements

• A total of 15 credit units of graduate level coursework
• Completion of 9 credit units at one or more Summer Institutes in Peacebuilding and Development and Human Rights
• Completion of program in one to four years

Course Requirements

Conflict Resolution Concentration

• SIS-603 Special Institute in International Affairs: Conflict Resolution and Human Rights (3)
• SIS-609 Conflict Analysis and Resolution: Theory and Practice (3)
• SIS-603 Special Institute in International Affairs:
  • Applied Conflict Resolution (2)
  • Religion and Culture in Conflict Resolution (2)
  • Training for Trainers (2)
• At least 3 credit hours from the following or other approved courses:
  • SIS-516 Peacebuilding in Divided Societies (3)
  • SIS-517 Gender and Conflict (3)
  • SIS-606 Culture and Peace and Conflict Resolution: Alternatives to Violence (3)
  • SIS-611 International Negotiation (3)

Conflict and Development Concentration

• SIS-603 Special Institute in International Affairs: Conflict Resolution and Human Rights (3)
• SIS-540 Conflict and Development (3)
• SIS-603 Special Institute in International Affairs:
  • Peacebuilding and Development in Conflict Resolution (2)
  • Innovative Strategies for Change (2)
  • Gender and Peacebuilding in Development Context (2)
• At least 3 credit hours from the following or other approved courses:
  • SIS-539 Comparative Development Strategies (3)
  • SIS-637 International Development (3)
  • SIS-647 Governance, Democracy, and Development (3)

Human Rights Concentration

• SIS-603 Special Institute in International Affairs: Conflict Resolution and Human Rights (3)
• SIS-622 Human Rights (3)
• SIS-603 Special Institute in International Affairs:
  • Introduction to Human Rights (3)
  • Religion, Culture, and Human Rights (2)
  • Legislative Advocacy (1)
• At least 3 credit hours from the following or other approved courses:
  • SIS-614 Ethics in International Affairs (3)
  • SIS-621 International Law and the Legal Order (3)

Go to the Peacebuilding and Development Institute Web site for a description of the Summer Institute courses and faculty. For a listing and description of regular semester courses, go to the American University Academic Calendar.

Application Procedure

The Peacebuilding Certificate is open to students who have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, meet the requirements for non-degree graduate enrollment, or are registered in a graduate program at American University. All applicants are required to:

• Possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution,
• Submit a certificate application form,
• Submit official transcripts from all institutions previously attended,
• Submit a personal statement of interest,
• Submit a resume,
• Submit two letters of reference, and
• Submit $75.00 application fee.

Students whose native language is not English and who do not hold a degree from a U.S. accredited institution of higher learning where English is the primary language of instruction are required to demonstrate proficiency in English, preferably by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants must have a TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL or 250 on the computer-based TOEFL.

Applications for the Peacebuilding Certificate are available for download.

Recommended Application Dates:

(Applications received after these dates will also be considered.)

Tuition, Housing and Visas

Graduate tuition is currently $930 per credit hour and is usually adjusted annually. On-campus housing for the Summer Institute is available on a limited basis, and participants need to make their arrangements through the Summer Housing Office at 202-885-3370 or summerhousing@american.edu. Participants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and should apply well in advance. International students who apply for a full course of study (9 credit hours in the first semester of study) are eligible for student status (F1 visa) and should complete a Personal Immigration Information Request Form (PIIRF) with their application. Applicants will also need to show proof of financial ability to cover the full cost of the program. For more information, contact the International Student Services Office at 202-885-3350.

Peacebuilding and Development Institute

The Peacebuilding and Development Summer Institute is a unique professional training program designed to give foreign aid workers, government officials, conflict resolution and development practitioners practical skills to complement their daily work in conflict affected areas. The Summer Institute is one of the first academic programs specifically organized to bridge the two areas of peacebuilding and development. The summer 2003 institute welcomed 106 participants from 26 countries spanning all continents and many conflict areas. The participants came from varying backgrounds, ranging from international agencies, such as the OAS, UNDP, CARE, USAID, and UNHCR, to oil companies, and small non-governmental organizations. They were joined by Master's degree students from the International Peace & Conflict Resolution and the International Development programs at the School of International Service at American University. Go to the Institute's Web site for more information.

Human Rights Institute

Human Rights in the 21st Century is a leadership development program for emerging human rights scholars and activists and is co-sponsored by Amnesty International. In 2004, the program runs from May 17 to June 19 and consists of four elements: Introduction to Human Rights, Human Rights and International Legal Institutions, Internship in Human Rights, and Skills in Human Rights which includes Managing a Nonprofit Human Rights Organization and Legislative Advocacy.

Contact Us

For additional information, please contact the International Peace & Conflict Resolution Program Coordinator by e-mail at peace@american.edu, or by phone at 202-885-1622.