The Master of Arts in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs offers an ethical response to contemporary global problems. This 39-credit, interdisciplinary program is offered jointly by International Peace and Conflict Resolution in the School of International Service and the Department of Philosophy and Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences. The program prepares students broadly in the practical application of ethical theory and policy analysis to difficult ethical choices in global affairs, and specifically to the dynamics of war, peace, and conflict resolution. Hallmarks of the curriculum include interdisciplinary inquiry; solid grounding in the foundational concepts and issues of both philosophical ethics and international affairs, practical applications of ethical and policy analysis to contemporary social problems in global affairs; and interactive teaching utilizing case studies, simulations, interactive exercises, and intensive class discussion.

The program builds directly on the intersection of the IPCR idea of “positive peace” and contemporary ethical theory. Students select one of six different tracks—specially selected sets of courses in a content area of specialization. These tracks are human rights and social justice, peace and conflict resolution, global environmental justice, ethics of development, international economic justice, and global governance and international organizations.

Admission to the Program

The M.A. in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs is an interdisciplinary program administered jointly by the School of International Service (SIS) and the Department of Philosophy and Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). 

Students may apply to either the Department of Philosophy and Religion or the School of International Service. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. Students applying to SIS must apply by January 15 for fall and October 1 for spring to be considered for merit-based aid. 

Degree Requirements

• 39 credit hours of approved graduate work including 6 credit hours of research course work with grades of B or better 
• Comprehensive examination requirement CAS: submission of three qualifying papers 

Course Requirements

Core (12 credit hours)

• PHIL-525 Seminar on Modern Moral Problems (3) 
• PHIL-693 Global Ethics (3) 
• SIS-607 Peace Paradigms (3) 
• SIS-614 Ethics in International Affairs (3) 

Foundation (6 credit hours)

• PHIL-520 Seminar on Ethical Theory (3) 
• SIS-622 Human Rights (3) 

Research Methodology (3 credit hours)

• SIS-600 Quantitative Analysis in International Affairs (3) 

or 

qualitative research seminar 

Research and Writing (6 credit hours)

• 6 credit hours from the following: the thesis or substantial research paper and internship must relate clearly to the student’s concentration and be supervised by faculty teaching related courses: 

PHIL-797 Master’s Thesis Seminar (6) 

or 

PHIL-691 Internship in Philosophy (3) and  

PHIL-702 Graduate Seminar in Philosophy 

or 

SIS-691 Internship in International Affairs (3) and  

SIS-795 Master’s Research Requirement (3) 

• 12 credit hours in one of the following areas of concentration: 

Peace and Conflict Resolution

• SIS-609 Conflict Analysis and Resolution: Theory and Practice (3) 
• Three courses from the following: 

PHIL-613 Studies in Asian Philosophy (3) (approved topic) 

PHIL-686 Selected Topics in Philosophy (3) (approved topic) 

SIS-515 Islamic Peace Paradigms (3) 

SIS-516 Peacebuilding in Divided Societies (3) 

SIS-517 Gender, Human Rights, and Conflict (3) 

SIS-540 Conflict and Development (3) 

SIS-606 Culture and Peace and Conflict Resolution: Alternatives to Violence (3) 

SIS-611 International Negotiation (3) 

SIS-613 Reconciliation and Justice (3) 

SIS-619 Special Studies in International Politics: 

Human Rights and Conflict (3) 

Human Rights and Social Justice

• Four courses from the following: 

PHIL-616 Feminist Philosophy (3) 

PHIL-617 Race and Philosophy (3) 

PHIL-686 Selected Topics in Philosophy (3) (approved topic) 

SIS-613 Reconciliation and Justice (3) 

SIS-517 Gender, Human Rights, and Conflict (3) 

SIS-619 Special Studies in International Politics: 

Human Rights and Conflict (3) 

SIS-621 International Law and the Legal Order (3) 

Global Environmental Justice

• SIS-660 Environment and Politics (3) 
• Three courses from the following: 

PHIL-686 Selected Topics in Philosophy (3) (approved topic) 

SIS-619 Special Studies in International Politics: 

Global Environmental Politics and Policy (3) 

SIS-649 Environment and Development (3) 

SIS-663 Washington Workshop: Advanced Studies and Research in Environmental Policy (3) 

Ethics of Development

• SIS-637 International Development (3) 
• Three courses from the following: 

PHIL-686 Selected Topics in Philosophy (3) (approved topic) 

SIS-540 Conflict and Development (3) 

SIS-636 Micropolitics of Development (3) 

SIS-647 Governance, Democracy, and Development (3) 

SIS-648 Women and Development (3) 

SIS-649 Environment and Development (3) 

SIS-650 Global Economy and Sustainable Development (3) 

International Economic Justice

• SIS-616 International Economics (3) (prerequisite: ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory) 
• Three courses from the following: 

PHIL-686 Selected Topics in Philosophy (3) (approved topic) 

SIS-504 Multinational Corporations (3) 

SIS-587 Globalization: Power, Production, and Culture (3) 

SIS-650 Global Economy and Sustainable Development (3) 

SIS-665 International Trade and Investment Relations (3) 

SIS-666 International Monetary and Financial Relations (3) 

SIS-673 Comparative Political Economy (3) 

Global Governance and International Organizations

• SIS-621 International Law and the Legal Order (3) 
• SIS-625 International Organizations (3) 
• Two courses from the following: 

PHIL-686 Selected Topics in Philosophy (3) (approved topic) 

SIS-587 Globalization: Power, Production, and Culture (3) 

SIS-605 Theory of Cooperative Global Politics (3) 

SIS-647 Governance, Democracy, and Development (3) 

SIS-672 Theories of Comparative and International Studies (3)