Peace and Conflict Studies Course Descriptions
PACS 101 Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies
An introduction to concepts, issues, and
approaches relating peace and conflict studies,
including forms and causes of peace and
conflict, contexts of conflict and violence, and
proposed solutions for reducing violence and
promoting peace. 3 hours.
Credits: 3.00
PACS 105 Peace and Conflict Studies: Field Experience
A course designed to introduce the student to
service-learning, provided in a field site drawn
from the Humanitarian Center's database and
the consequent learning the student will
experience with regard to building community,
applying one's academic and own personal
experience in the course of providing service.
Graded P/NP. 1-3 hours. May be repeated once
for credit.
Credits: 1.00-3.00
PACS 208 Addictions and Behavior
This course takes a transhistorical, interdisciplinary
approach to the question of alcohol and
substance abuse and the social costs of addiction
and use. We will address the human
motive to alter consciousness using classic and
modern research in the physiology of addiction;
sociocultural risk factors and changing cultural
representations of drug use. 4 hours. Meets
social science core requirement. (Same as Psy 208.)
Credits: 4.00
PACS 211 Philosophical and Theological Bases of Peace
From the philosophical and theological perspective,
what is peace and how is it to be defined?
What are the conditions for its achievement?
Do human nature and the structure of the universe
promote or preclude its realization in
history? What is the wisdom of human experience
and the teaching of the great philosophers
and religious leaders on these questions?
3 hours. Meets humanities core requirements.
Credits: 3.00
PACS 213 Psychology of Altruism and Aggression
Historical and modern review of the human and
non-human primate behaviors related to
altruism, empathy, violence, competition and
aggression from a social, biological, interspecies
and cross-cultural perspective. 3 hours. Meets
social science core requirements. (Same as
Psy 213.)
Credits: 3.00
PACS 214 Vietnam and the U.S.
This is a survey of the origins, development and
results of the American war with Vietnam. This
course, however, will be taught more within the
context of Vietnamese history and culture than
within that of American history and culture.
Consequently, more emphasis will be given to
the roots of the war in Vietnam than to its
origins in U.S. foreign policy. There will be an
opportunity in this course for students to learn
how to prepare "pages" for the World Wide
Web. Those who are interested should also
enroll for two hours of credit in one of the two
sections of History 214, History in an Electronic
Environment. Although concurrent enrollment
in History 214 is voluntary. All students are
strongly urged to enroll as the lab will not only
teach web page production, but will also enhance
student understanding of the materials covered
in the class itself. 3 hours.
Credits: 3.00
PACS 215 Conflict Resolution
Theories, strategies, and skills in resolving
conflicts are analyzed and applied. Emphasis is
placed on practical application of learned skills
through conflict simulations. 3 hours.
Credits: 3.00
PACS 220 The Middle East
An introduction to the places, people and
politics of the Middle East, including such
concerns as the influence and importance of
religion, the revival of Islam and Islamic
fundamentalism, the impact and consequences
of Western colonialism, the dream and possibility
of panarabism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and
future relations with the West. 3 hours. Meets
cross-cultural core requirement.
Credits: 3.00
PACS 221 Community Psychology
The study of how psychology can be applied to
social services such as community mental health
centers to effect social change. Emphasis is on
planning, prevention, early intervention,
research and evaluation as well as how to
strengthen existing social support networks and
create new ones. Empowerment and primary
prevention will be the focus of attention.
Prerequisite: Psy 150 or Soc 101 or 102. 3 hours.
Meets social science core requirement. (Same as
Psy 220.)
Credits: 3.00
PACS 222 The Civil Rights Movement
This course examines the causes, history, and
tactics of the struggle to guarantee African-
Americans equal treatment under the law in the
United States. The primary focus of the course
material is on the political movement for
equality in the Southern United States from
1954-1968. 3 hours. Meets social science core
requirement. (Same as POLS 222.)
Credits: 3.00
PACS 230 Navajo Service Learning
This course permits selected students to engage
in a cross-cultural immersion service-learning
experience in the Navajo nation during the
Winter Three Term. 3 hours. Meets crossculture
core requirement.
Credits: 3.00
PACS 305 Advanced Service Learning
This seminar seeks to build on the mature work
and insights of a variety of student placement
sites, growing directly from their major course
work and a well-considered personal inventory.
The seminar is integrative of a wide variety
of one's educational experiences at Pacific.
Students will apply their academic and personal
skills directly in a service-learning site placement,
seeking to contribute both to the site and
the people there as well as to augment their grasp
of the applied knowledge from the chosen
major. Prerequisite: PACS 105. 2 hours. May
be repeated once for credit.
Credits: 2.00
PACS 313 The Sociology of Violence
This course examines the social and structural
causes, correlates, and consequences of violence.
Topics included are social and political violence,
subcultural violence, criminal violence, family
violence, the media and violence, sports and
violence, and racial violence. Prerequisite: PACS
101 or Soc 101. 3 hours. Meets social science
core requirements
.
Credits: 4.00
PACS 321 Protest, Dissent, Social Change
This course examines the causes and history of widespread movements that use
protest to promote political change. Topics include theories of social
movements and case studies that may include the labor movement, the civil
rights movement, the environmental movement, and the recent rise of
conservative Christian activism. (Same as POLS 321)
Credits: 3.00
PACS 325 The Vietnam War Era
This course explores the origins, events and
consequences of American involvement in
Indochina from historical, political, philosophical
and personal perspectives. 3 hours. Meets
humanities core requirements. Meets crosscultural
requirement
Credits: 3.00
PACS 411 Literature About War
A seminar on fiction and non-fiction writing
about war, considering both text and the reality
with which the author comes to grips. Readings
may include works such as: The Great War,
Meditations in Green, All Quiet on the Western
Front, Testament of Youth, Johnny Got His
Gun, Harp of Burma. 3 hours. Meets humanities
core requirements.
Credits: 3.00
PACS 430 Human Rights
This course offers an in-depth investigation of
conceptual and political issues related to rights
and human rights, including such issues as the
source and extent of rights, the nature of rightsbearers,
the justification of rights claims, the
legitimacy and means of implementing universal
human rights and critiques and evaluations of
the social role of rights. 4 hours. Prerequisite:
PACS 101 and Junior standing. Meets humanities
core requirements.
Credits: 4.00
PACS 450 Issues in Peace & Conflict Studies
A course wherein students examine important
issues and ideas relative to peace and conflict
studies, especially for the advanced student
completing a minor in PACS. Prerequisite:
Permission of instructor. 3 hours.
*Please see Social Sciences Division for
PolS 340.
(HIST 400)
Credits: 3.00