Requirements for the PACS Certificate

PACS Certificate Requirements (Revised May 2020, Updated May 2022)

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  • Completion of the certificate requires 18-credit hours of study:
    • 12-credit hours in PACS courses.
      • PACS course descriptions can be found here.
    • 6-credit hours in outside PACS-related electives, typically pulled from your major.
      • Pre-approved outside elective courses can be found here.
  • Each of these courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
  • Up to 6-credit hours may completed through approved transfer credit and/or study abroad.
  • To register for the PACS certificate, see the information provided on our How to Register page.
  • PACS 2500: Introduction to Peace, Conflict and Security Studies (Required course)
    • Students must complete the introductory course. Ideally, this should be your first PACS course, but we understand that may not be possible.
  • PACS 3700, 3850, or 3860  (Student selects one required course in conflict resolution)
    • Students must complete one course in conflict resolution.
      • 3700: Communication and Conflict Management (focuses on interpersonal conflict)
      • 3850: International Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (focuses on international conflicts and civil wars)
      • 3860: Environmental Conflict and Conflict Resolution (focuses on stakeholder and multi-party conflicts)
  • PACS Elective (Student selects one elective in PACS)*
    • Students must complete one PACS elective course.
      • 3540: Migration, Human Rights, and Conflict in the Mediterranean (Global Seminar in Malta)
      • 3700: Communication and Conflict Management
      • 3800: Security Studies
        • PSCI 3123: War, Peace, and Strategic Defense may be substituted for PACS 3800.
      • 3850: International Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
      • 3860: Environmental Conflict and Conflict Resolution
      • 3870: Nonviolent Civil Resistance: Cases and Strategies
      • 4000: Special Topics: Restorative Justice****
      • 4100: Managing Organizational Conflict
      • 4150: Mediation Skills
      • 4900: Restorative Justice Internship with ƵRJ
  • PACS 4000, 4100, 4150, 4500, 4900, or Approved Internship (Student selects one 4000-level skills-focused capstone course)*
    • Students must complete one conflict skills-focused senior level seminar as their capstone. Capstone courses are typically completed during senior year.
      • 4000: Special Topics: Restorative Justice****
      • 4100: Managing Organizational Conflict
      • 4150: Mediation Skills
      • 4500: Senior Seminar: Research in Conflict Contexts
      • 4900: Independent Study
      • 4900: Restorative Justice Internship with ƵRJ (details here)**
      • IAFS 4930: Internship in International Affairs***
      • Other approved internship***

Notes:

* Students may not double count PACS courses toward their PACS Elective. For instance, PACS 3700 may count as the required conflict resolution course OR the PACS elective. This also holds for 4000-level capstone courses. A 4000-level course may count for either the PACS capstone requirement OR as the PACS elective.

** Starting Fall 2022, students must take PACS 4000: Special Topics: Restorative Justice to be eligible for the PACS 4900: Restorative Justice Internship.

*** Students may complete a relevant internship as part of the PACS program. Typically this happens through IAFS 4930 or as part of a program such as Ƶ in DC. Internship must relate to PACS and be approved by Dr. English. IAFS 4930 must also be approved by Dr. Katherine Rousseau.

**** PACS 4000: Special Topics courses are repeatable for up to 6-credit hours that may be applied toward the certificate.

  • 6-credit hours of relevant course work from outside of PACS.
    • ​For example, International Affairs majors can use IAFS 1000 and IAFS 3000 as their electives.
  • Pre-approved courses can be found here.
    • Outside course options exist for all majors at Ƶ Boulder.

Notes:

  • Up to 6 of these credit hours may be completed through approved transfer credit and/or study abroad. This credit must be approved by the PACS Associate Director.
  • Professional Internships involving a reasonable connection to peace and conflict studies may be proposed for consideration as satisfying the Certificate's "in-major" course requirements. Internships must be authorized for course credit by a student's major department. Typically, only one-semester internships will be considered, and related course credit will not exceed 3 hours. To see a current list of opportunities, visit our Internships page. Also, be sure to consider PACS 4900: Independent Study: Internship with Ƶ's Restorative Justice Program.
  • Study Abroad Programs involving a reasonable connection to peace and conflict studies may be proposed for consideration as satisfying the Certificate's "outside-the-major" course requirements. To check that a program satisfies a certificate course requirement, please email pacs@colorado.edu. Programs must be authorized by Ƶ for “in-residence” course credit (i.e., not transfer credit). Typically, only programs running up to one semester will be considered, and related course credit will not exceed 3 hours. For more information on current Ƶ study abroad programs, including program requirements, dates, housing, costs, and financial aid and scholarships, see the .