Peace and conflict studies provides the theoretical and practical foundation for understanding global issues of peace and (in)security. Students wrestle with a range of issues relevant to conflict and its alleviation, examining state and nonstate behaviour, policy, and implementation through analysis of media, development, and the international arena. 

The Social Justice program comprises a full master’s degree as well as shorter courses, allowing students the flexibility to enter or exit at any level, subject to meeting the relevant criteria:

• Graduate Certificate in Social Justice (24 credit points, no stream);
• Graduate Diploma in Social Justice (48 credit points, including a stream); and
• Master of Social Justice (72 credit points, including a stream and capstone).

In addition to Peace and Conflict Studies, the Graduate Diploma and Master’s are available in the following streams:

• Development Studies
• Human Rights.

Students complete units of study in the following categories, as appropriate to their level of study:

• Core: provides students the opportunity to study together in the same classes and gain the same conceptual grounding, relating to all three stream topics and also environmental justice. It is recommended that students take these units early (first and second semesters) in their course.
• Stream core: covers conceptual material and empirical examinations, as well as considerations of possible effective responses.
• Stream selective: related units, including those from other stream cores, that allow students to draw links between various social justice dynamics.
• Elective (optional): choice of units in Gender and Cultural Studies, International Politics, Political Economy, and Sociology and Criminology.
• Capstone: application of the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the master’s to a choice of:
  • (i) independent research project: students pursue a specific topic of interest to them, assisted by an academic supervisor.
  • (ii) vocational placement: one or two units in which students can deepen insights into the social justice work environment or undertake a vocational placement, or both. While gaining a vocational placement is not guaranteed, we make every effort to place students.
  • (iii) supervised dissertation: provides a pathway to higher degree by research (e.g., PhD) studies. This option is only available to high-achieving students with a strong research proposal.

Admission criteria and course requirements

Please refer to the course resolutions for admission criteria and course requirements. 

The requirements of the Peace and Conflict Studies stream are listed in the unit of study table.

Contacts and further information