Why Study Conflict Transformation?
While conflict among people is a constant in our world, how we can best approach it is an evolving science. The study of conflict transformation will teach you critical skills to enable you to respond to conflict at many levels in a productive way. Along with studying the history and context of global conflicts, you’ll enhance your ability to listen, learn to conduct research and analysis, and gain more self-awareness in an effort to pursue creative, nonviolent approaches to help in conflict situations. This area of study will prepare you to work in community organizing, restorative justice, peacebuilding, violence reduction, environmental advocacy, law, criminal justice, psychotherapy, and more.
Faculty Spotlight:
Dr. Robert Hostetter
Dr. Robert Hostetter deeply engages his students with Chicago through its cultural resources and opportunities to explore issues of justice and social change.
Interesting Classes
Before choosing a specialty area, you’ll gain a strong foundation in the major through the following courses:
- Conflict and Community
- Mediation
- Performance and Social Change
- International Conflict Transformation
Choose a Specialty
Grounded in a core set of theory courses, students in this major have the opportunity to specialize their studies in areas including interfaith dialogue, human rights, climate and environmental justice, art and social change, race and reconciliation, and more. Your advisor will help you choose courses across the University to fit a concentration area and prepare you for your future career or graduate school.
Beyond the Classroom
Enhance your classroom learning through service and extracurricular activities opportunities:
Alumni Profile
Nick Jefferson C’2012 serves as housing coordinator at the Albany Park Neighborhood Council (APNC) and works with a citywide coalition to change local housing policies to give renters more rights.