Students may major in Peace Studies through the Individualized Major program of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students in Peace Studies take twelve courses of their choosing in that area, characteristically from departments such as history, anthropology, political science, sociology, economics, geography, philosophy and family studies, though by no means limited to those. The Peace Studies curriculum is coordinated by the UConn Council on Peace Education, appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs to promote projects relating to Peace Education at the University. Over 300 colleges and universities nationwide currently offer courses in the field of Peace Studies. Many offer minors or majors in Peace Studies and some, such as Syracuse, also offer graduate programs.
Peace is, thus, more than merely the absence of discord or war.
Positively, it denotes a state of active cooperation among individuals, social groups, and the natural world surrounding them. It is achieved by the prevalence of attitudes and strategies that promote a non-violent and just society at all levels of human activity. Peace must be built on a foundation of social justice and human rights. When these are violated, the inevitable result, sooner or later, is the loss of peace. Peace Studies as an academic discipline provides knowledge about the various ideologies and outlooks which guide social decision making.