MASTER OF PEACE & JUSTICE

Master of Peace & Justice (MPJ)

PROGRAMS / PEACE & JUSTICE

Anchoring Peacebuilding in Theology and Practice

St. Stephen's University offers a heuristic and practice-based Master of Peace and Justice (non-thesis practical option) that includes accommodating online courses, short intensive in-person residencies, and travel-study course delivery methods, plus fieldwork and a capstone project, to allow students to complete their program without the need to uproot their lives.

Like our M.A. in Peace & Justice, this program equips students to engage the hostile, divided, unjust, oppressive, and violent corners of our world using practical grassroots and community-based peacebuilding skills and training with a theological foundation in peace and justice and through a transfigured interior life, prophetic imagination, and contemplative basis from which to participate in God's unfolding subversive and upside-down kingdom.

Tracks of the Master of Peace & Justice

To meet the different needs and interests of our students, the Master of Peace and Justice has three tracks with emphases on the inner transformation of a peacemaker, reconciling with Indigenous peoples, or peace and justice in the Palestinian context.

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND INNER TRANSFORMATION

This track is for students who want a general background in peace and justice studies, including theory and praxis, as rooted in the most pressing and pertinent theological considerations as they relate to peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

The curriculum of this track combines a focus on grassroots peacebuilding skills and training from the ground up, conflict analysis, public theology with a focus on peace and justice, trauma-healing and reconciliation, and the inner transformation of a peacemaker that engages contemplative and ascetic practices for encouraging the resilience, healing, and authenticity of a peacemaker that is then transmitted to a suffering, divided, and hostile world.

AT A GLANCE:

DURATION — 2 YEARS (FULL TIME)

CREDIT HOURS — 39

DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, 9-DAY RESIDENCY, 2-WEEK STUDY ABROAD TRIP, FIELDWORK, CAPSTONE PROJECT

EMPHASES — THEOLOGY OF PEACE & JUSTICE, CONTEMPLATIVE STUDIES, RELIGIOUS PEACEBUILDING, GRASSROOTS CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND THE PALESTINIAN CONTEXT

This track is for students who have a special interest in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. It is offered jointly with the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice at Bethlehem Bible College and emphasizes peacemaking in the midst of the decades-long intractable conflict in Israel-Palestine by including two additional online courses on the Palestinian context and a two-week residency in Bethlehem, Palestine.

AT A GLANCE:

DURATION — 2 YEARS (FULL TIME)

CREDIT HOURS — 36

DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, 2-WEEK BETHLEHEM RESIDENCY, FIELDWORK, CAPSTONE PROJECT

EMPHASES — THEOLOGY OF PEACE & JUSTICE, CONTEMPLATIVE STUDIES, RELIGIOUS PEACEBUILDING, GRASSROOTS PEACEBUILDING, NONVIOLENT RESPONSES TO INJUSTICE AGAINST PALESTINIANS

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND RECONCILING WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

This track is for students who have a special interest in reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, considered within a peace and justice framework. It has the same emphases and components as Track 1, but it replaces the study abroad module in Ireland with a short in-person module at St. Stephen's University on truth-telling and reconciling with Indigenous peoples and a learning tour that immerses students in an Indigenous community.

AT A GLANCE:

DURATION — 2 YEARS (FULL TIME)

CREDIT HOURS — 44

DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, 9-DAY RESIDENCY, HYBRID COURSES AND IN-PERSON RESIDENCY AT SSU AND CHIPUTNETICOOK CAMP, LEARNING TOUR, FIELDWORK, CAPSTONE PROJECT

EMPHASES — THEOLOGY OF PEACE & JUSTICE, CONTEMPLATIVE STUDIES, RELIGIOUS PEACEBUILDING, GRASSROOTS CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION, RECONCILIATION W/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

What's your experience been like as an SSU student?

JOEY AGER | SEATTLE, WA

Master of Arts in Peace & Justice

Course Sequencing

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND INNER TRANSFORMATION

In the first year of study, students complete six online courses (18 c/h), and in the second year of study, students attend a short peace & justice 9-day residency at SSU, travel on a two-week study abroad trip in Ireland (north and south of the border), and complete an 80-hour fieldwork course and capstone project (21 c/h).

YEAR ONE

FALL SEMESTER

PJST 5481 — The Inner Transformation of a Peacemaker

PJST 5380 — Theology of Peace and Justice

PJST 5180 — Peace and Violence in the New Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR ONE

SPRING SEMESTER

PJST 5583 — Practical Nonviolence & Peacebuilding

PJST 5882 — Religion, Peace and Conflict

PJST 5182 — Peace & Violence in the Old Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

FALL SEMESTER

Study Abroad Trip in Ireland (August – 2 weeks)

PJST 6090 — Peace and Justice Fieldwork

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

SPRING SEMESTER

SSU Peace & Justice 9-Day Residency (April)

PJST 6700 — Peace & Justice Capstone Project

12 CREDIT HOURS

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND THE PALESTINIAN CONTEXT

In the first year of study, students complete six online courses (18 c/h), and in the second year of study, students complete two online courses on the Palestinian context; online peace & justice guided thesis research course; a residency with training and seminars in Bethlehem, Palestine (two weeks); and an 80-hour fieldwork course and capstone project (18 c/h).

YEAR ONE

FALL SEMESTER

PJST 5481 — The Inner Transformation of a Peacemaker

PJST 5380 — Theology of Peace and Justice

PJST 5180 — Peace & Violence in the New Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR ONE

SPRING SEMESTER

PJST 5583 — Practical Nonviolence & Peacebuilding

PJST 5882 — Religion, Peace and Conflict

PJST 5182 — Peace & Violence in the Old Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

FALL SEMESTER

PJST 6581 – Peacemaking & Justice in the Palestinian Context I

PJST 6090 — Peace and Justice Fieldwork

6 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

SPRING SEMESTER

PJST 6582 – Peacemaking & Justice in the Palestinian Context II

Bethlehem Residency, Training, and Seminars (2 weeks)

PJST 6700 — Peace & Justice Capstone Project

12 CREDIT HOURS

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND RECONCILING WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

In the first year of study, students complete six online courses (18 c/h), and in the second year of study, students take three Reconciliation Studies hybrid courses and participate in a short two-week residency on reconciling with Indigenous peoples at SSU and Chiputneticook Camp, short peace & justice 5-day residency at SSU, learning tour that immerses the student in an Indigenous community, 80-hour fieldwork course and a capstone project in the second year (26 c/h).

YEAR ONE

FALL SEMESTER

PJST 5481 — The Inner Transformation of a Peacemaker

PJST 5380 — Theology of Peace and Justice

PJST 5180 — Peace & Violence in the New Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR ONE

SPRING SEMESTER

PJST 5583 — Practical Nonviolence & Peacebuilding

PJST 5882 — Religion, Peace and Conflict

PJST 5182 — Peace & Violence in the Old Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

FALL SEMESTER

Reconciliation Studies semester – 3 hybrid courses, plus two-week SSU residency (October)

PJST 6090 — Peace and Justice Fieldwork

12 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

SPRING SEMESTER

SSU Peace & Justice 5-Day Residency (April)

RST 5190 — Learning Tour in an Indigenous Community (May)

PJST 6700 — Peace & Justice Capstone Project

14 CREDIT HOURS

GO TO FULL SSU COURSE LIST

Delivery Methods

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND INNER TRANSFORMATION

ONLINE COURSES

Students will complete six online courses in their first year of study. These courses explore topics related to the inner transformation of a peacemaker, theology of peace and justice, the factor of religion and peace and violence, and practical nonviolence and peacebuilding. For more on these six courses, VISIT HERE.

IN-PERSON PEACE & JUSTICE 9-DAY RESIDENCY @ ST. STEPHEN'S UNIVERSITY

This short 9-day intensive residency takes place on-site at St. Stephen's University. It includes seminars and workshops that are led by a team of top scholars and practitioners covering such subjects as the psychology and neuroscience of the inner transformation of a peacemaker; building peace and becoming human; the political philosophy of peace and justice; and practical skills workshops on peacebuilding program planning.

STUDY ABROAD TRIP TO SCOTLAND AND N.IRELAND

This 10-day intensive study abroad trip includes academic sessions at the Trinity College Dublin, Queen's University Belfast, and Corrymeela in Ballycastle, as taught by experts and practitioners in grassroots peacebuilding and theology. This learn-study opportunity also includes a 2-day pilgrimage to Armagh along the border between N.Ireland and the Republic, a documentary screening with panelists from the film, folk show w/Tommy Sands, and learning tours in Belfast & Derry.

CLICK HERE for more info.

PEACE & JUSTICE FIELDWORK AND CAPSTONE PROJECT

The fieldwork course gives peace & justice students an opportunity to participate in efforts directed at addressing issues related to peace and justice from a variety of angles. Students will identify and coordinate work, co-op, internship, or volunteer placement opportunities with organizations that are working to address peace and justice issues that may be local and/or global in scope and read relevant texts and submit reflections and reports on their experience. The capstone project (approximately 40 pages, double-spaced) involves a practical initiative or strategy that is designed and implemented under the supervision of a mentor and then described in written form. It is meant to be professional or practical in nature and must be accompanied by a 10- to 15-page theoretical defence that is academic in nature.

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND THE PALESTINIAN CONTEXT

ONLINE COURSES

Students will complete six online courses in their first year of study. These courses explore topics related to the inner transformation of a peacemaker, theology of peace and justice, the factor of religion and peace and violence, and practical nonviolence and peacebuilding. For more on these six courses, VISIT HERE.

Students also complete two online courses in their second year of study on peacemaking and justice in the Palestinian context. These courses introduce key concepts in both the theory and practice of peacemaking and justice in the context of Palestine and Israel and as expressed by Palestinian Christians and other international scholars. For more on these two courses, VISIT HERE.

RESIDENCY IN BETHLEHEM, PALESTINE

This two-week intensive residential portion of the program in Bethlehem combines academic lectures, intentional reflection on personal spirituality, and site visits to important local Palestinian-led peace and justice organizations. The opportunity to study and serve in Bethlehem, listening and learning in the Palestinian community, is a profound, transformative experience.

Watch the interview in the video above with the director of the Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice, Dr. Andrew Bush, and SSU / BethBC student, Chris Horton, and on his experience of the summer residency as part of his MA in Peace & Justice.

PEACE & JUSTICE FIELDWORK AND CAPSTONE PROJECT

The fieldwork course gives peace & justice students an opportunity to participate in efforts directed at addressing issues related to peace and justice from a variety of angles. Students will identify and coordinate work, co-op, internship, or volunteer placement opportunities with organizations that are working to address peace and justice issues that may be local and/or global in scope and read relevant texts and submit reflections and reports on their experience. The capstone project (approximately 40 pages, double-spaced) involves a practical initiative or strategy that is designed and implemented under the supervision of a mentor and then described in written form. It is meant to be professional or practical in nature and must be accompanied by a 10- to 15-page theoretical defence that is academic in nature.

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND RECONCILING WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

ONLINE COURSES

Students will complete six online courses in their first year of study. These courses explore topics related to the inner transformation of a peacemaker, theology of peace and justice, the factor of religion and peace and violence, and practical nonviolence and peacebuilding. For more on these six courses, VISIT HERE.

IN-PERSON PEACE & JUSTICE 9-DAY RESIDENCY @ ST. STEPHEN'S UNIVERSITY

Track 2 students take part in the last 5 days of the full intensive residency on-site at St. Stephen's University. It includes seminars and

workshops that are led by a team of top scholars and practitioners covering such subjects as story, memory, and commemoration in peace & justice and practical skills workshops on program planning for peacebuilding.

HYBRID COURSES AND TWO-WEEK RESIDENCY @ ST. STEPHEN'S UNIVERSITY

In this module, students complete three hybrid courses in October in St. Stephen, NB and the Peskotomuhkati Nation’s Camp Chiputneticook. Hybrid courses combine some online engagement with an intensive in-person module providing experiential, land-based, and storytelling approaches to education. The courses for this module include 'Indigenous Sovereignty and the Colonial Legacy'; 'Wabanaki History, Worldview, Culture and Spirituality'; and 'From the TRC to Reconcili-action.' For more information on this module, VISIT HERE.

PEACE & JUSTICE FIELDWORK AND CAPSTONE PROJECT

The fieldwork course gives peace & justice students an opportunity to participate in efforts directed at addressing issues related to peace and justice from a variety of angles. Students will identify and coordinate work, co-op, internship, or volunteer placement opportunities with organizations that are working to address peace and justice issues that may be local and/or global in scope and read relevant texts and submit reflections and reports on their experience. The capstone project (approximately 40 pages, double-spaced) involves a practical initiative or strategy that is designed and implemented under the supervision of a mentor and then described in written form. It is meant to be professional or practical in nature and must be accompanied by a 10- to 15-page theoretical defence that is academic in nature.

INVESTING IN YOUR PEACE EDUCATION – TUITION

WELCOMING YOU INTO OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY – ADMISSIONS

ENSURING WE'RE THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU – FAQs

Multifaith Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care

ONE-COURSE CREDENTIAL

St. Stephen's University offers a course that prepares students for multi-faith pastoral and spiritual care in a variety of chaplaincy settings. This course can be completed as an add-on to a master's degree at SSU (i.e., not included in the total credit hours of a student's degree program) or as a stand-alone credential without a program. We offer a certificate of completion for the course that can be applied to a student's resume as an academic credential for ministry rather than a CPE/CPU clinical credential.

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Chaplaincy Course

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