M.A. IN PEACE & JUSTICE | Jim Forest Institute

Master of Arts (M.A.) in
Peace & Justice

PROGRAMS / PEACE & JUSTICE

Theologically-Grounded Peacebuilding

St. Stephen's University offers a unique and thoroughly enriching Master of Arts in Peace and Justice that includes accommodating online and short intensive in-person and study aboard course delivery methods to allow students to complete their program without the need to uproot their lives.

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 M.A. in Peace & Justice

To meet the different needs and interests of our students, the Master of Arts in 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, THESIS

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, THESIS OR DIRECTED STUDY W/MAJOR PAPER

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 Scotland and Northern Ireland with another in-person module at St. Stephen's University on truth-telling and reconciling with Indigenous peoples.

AT A GLANCE:

DURATION — 2 YEARS (FULL TIME)

CREDIT HOURS — 42

DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, 9-DAY RESIDENCY, HYBRID COURSES AND IN-PERSON RESIDENCY AT SSU AND CHIPUTNETICOOK CAMP, THESIS

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

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 Scotland and N.Ireland, and complete an online peace & justice guided thesis research course and thesis (21 c/h).

YEAR ONE

FALL SEMESTER

RS 5481 — The Inner Transformation of a Peacemaker

RS 5380 — Theology of Peace and Justice

RS 5180 — Peace and Violence in the New Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR ONE

SPRING SEMESTER

IS 5583 — Practical Nonviolence and Peacebuilding

IS/RS 5882 — Religion, Peace and Conflict

RS 5182 — Peace and Violence in the Old Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

FALL SEMESTER

Study Abroad Trip in Scotland & N.Ireland (August – 2 weeks)

MAPJ 6500 — Peace and Justice Research Methods / Guided Thesis Proposal

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

SPRING SEMESTER

SSU Peace & Justice 9-Day Residency (April)

MAPJ 6800 —Thesis (20,000 words)

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 either a thesis or a directed study + major research paper (18 c/h).

YEAR ONE

FALL SEMESTER

RS 5481 — The Inner Transformation of a Peacemaker

RS 5380 — Theology of Peace and Justice

RS 5180 — Peace and Violence in the New Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR ONE

WINTER SEMESTER

IS 5583 — Practical Nonviolence and Peacebuilding

IS/RS 5882 — Religion, Peace and Conflict

RS 5182 — Peace and Violence in the Old Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

FALL SEMESTER

IS 6100 – Peacemaking & Justice in the Palestinian Context I

MAPJ 6500 — Peace and Justice Research Methods / Guided Thesis Proposal

6 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

WINTER SEMESTER

IS 6200 – Peacemaking & Justice in the Palestinian Context II

Bethlehem Residency, Training, and Seminars (2 weeks)

MAPJ 6800 —Thesis (20,000 words) or directed study with major paper

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, a short peace & justice 9-day residency at SSU, an online peace & justice guided thesis research course, and a thesis in the second year (24 c/h).

YEAR ONE

FALL SEMESTER

RS 5481 — The Inner Transformation of a Peacemaker

RS 5380 — Theology of Peace and Justice

RS 5180 — Peace and Violence in the New Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR ONE

WINTER SEMESTER

IS 5583 — Practical Nonviolence and Peacebuilding

IS/RS 5882 — Religion, Peace and Conflict

RS 5182 — Peace and Violence in the Old Testament

9 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

FALL SEMESTER

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

MAPJ 6500 — Peace and Justice Research Methods / Guided Thesis Proposal

12 CREDIT HOURS

YEAR TWO

WINTER SEMESTER

SSU Peace & Justice 9-Day Residency (April)

MAPJ 6800 —Thesis (20,000 words)

12 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 2-week study abroad trip includes intensive academic sessions at the University of Edinburgh, Queen's University Belfast, and Corrymeela in Ballycastle, as taught by experts and practitioners in grassroots peacebuilding and theology. The learn-study opportunity also includes attendance at the Just Festival (part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe), a pilgrimage along St Patrick's Way, a documentary screening with panelists from the film, and learning tours in Belfast and Derry.

CLICK HERE for more info.

PEACE & JUSTICE GUIDED THESIS RESEARCH COURSE AND THESIS

Students will complete an online Peace & Justice guided research course as they refine the topic of their thesis with their supervisor, and complete an approximately 20,000-word thesis on a topic related to the subjects of the degree program and that adequately prepares students for their vocation as peacemakers.

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND THE PALESTINIAN CONTEXT

ONLINE COURSES

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 GUIDED THESIS RESEARCH COURSE AND THESIS

Students will complete an online guided thesis research course as they refine the topic of their thesis with their supervisor, and complete an approximately 20,000-word thesis on a topic related to the subjects of the degree program and the adequately prepares students for their vocation as peacemakers. Some students have the opportunity to complete a directed study with major research paper instead of the thesis. It is expected that students in this track will complete a thesis or complete a directed study with major research paper on a topic related to peace and justice in the Palestinian context.

PEACEBUILDING, PUBLIC THEOLOGY, AND RECONCILING WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

ONLINE COURSES

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.

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 GUIDED THESIS RESEARCH COURSE AND THESIS

Students will complete an online guided thesis research course as they refine the topic of their thesis with their supervisor, and complete an approximately 20,000-word thesis on a topic related to the subjects of the degree program and that adequately prepares students for their vocation as peacemakers. It is expected that students in this track will complete a thesis on a topic related to Indigenous truth and reconciliation.