Academic Program Students applying to study at Uppsala University through Council may apply to the program in Peace and Conflict Studies during the spring semester only. Students are required to take a total of 20 points during the semester, as represented by the three courses outlined below. This 20 point semester is considered full time and is normally the equivalent of 15 U.S. semester credits. Education at Swedish universities is based on the tradition that students take responsibility for their own studies with the support of the teaching faculty. The system stresses the student's responsibility and individual performance.
Teaching is carried out by a combination of lectures, seminars, group work, and independent study.
Students are expected not only to remember the facts from a given lecture, but to summarize, evaluate, and analyze these facts in order to draw their own conclusions. This initial course offers fundamental background in understanding and addressing conflicts. Theories of conflict origin as well as democracy and peace are introduced. In lectures and seminar discussions these theories are applied to contemporary conflicts. A conflict analysis paper is assigned which familiarizes students with a systematic approach to analyzing individual cases.