Master of Arts (MA) in
Peace & Justice
TRACK THREE:
PEACEBUILDING,
PUBLIC THEOLOGY, &
THE PALESTINIAN CONTEXT
THEOLOGICALLY INFORMED PEACEBUILDING
St. Stephen's University and IRPJ offer a unique and thoroughly enriching Master of Arts in Peace and Justice that includes accommodating online and short intensive in-person and study aboard course delivery methods to allow students to complete their program without the need to uproot their lives.
This program equips students to engage the hostile, divided, unjust, oppressive, and violent corners of our world using practical grassroots and community-based peacebuilding skills and training with a theological foundation in peace and justice and through a transfigured interior life and contemplative basis from which to participate with a prophetic imagination in God's unfolding subversive and upside-down kingdom.
This track is for students who have a special interest in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. It is offered jointly with the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice at Bethlehem Bible College and emphasizes peacemaking in the midst of the decades-long intractable conflict in Israel-Palestine by including two additional online courses on the Palestinian context and a two-week residency in Bethlehem, Palestine.
DURATION — 2 YEARS (FULL TIME)
CREDIT HOURS — 39
DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, 1-WEEK ON-CAMPUS MODULE, 2-WEEK BETHLEHEM RESIDENCY, THESIS
EMPHASES — THEOLOGY OF PEACE & JUSTICE, CONTEMPLATIVE STUDIES, RELIGIOUS PEACEBUILDING, GRASSROOTS CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION, NONVIOLENT RESPONSES TO INJUSTICE AGAINST PALESTINIANS
AT A GLANCE
WHAT IS THE COURSE CONTENT AND SEQUENCING?
In the first year of study, students complete six online courses (18 c/h), and in the second year of study, students complete two online courses on the Palestinian context; a peace and justice research methods course; a residency with training and seminars in Bethlehem, Palestine (2 weeks); and either a thesis or a directed study + major research paper (21 c/h).
YEAR ONE
FALL SEMESTER
RS 5481 — The Inner Transformation of a Peacemaker
RS 5380 — Theology of Peace and Justice
RS 5180 — Peace and Violence in the New Testament
9 CREDIT HOURS
YEAR ONE
WINTER SEMESTER
IS 5583 — Practical Nonviolence and Peacebuilding
IS/RS 5882 — Religion, Peace and Conflict
RS 5182 — Peace and Violence in the Old Testament
9 CREDIT HOURS
YEAR TWO
FALL SEMESTER
IS 6100 – Peacemaking & Justice in the Palestinian Context I
MAPJ 6500 — Peace and Justice Research Methods
6 CREDIT HOURS
YEAR TWO
WINTER SEMESTER
IS 6200 – Peacemaking & Justice in the Palestinian Context II
Bethlehem Residency, Training, and Seminars (2 weeks)
MAPJ 6800 —Thesis (25,000 words) or Directed Study + major paper
15 CREDIT HOURS
WHAT ARE THE COURSE DELIVERY METHODS?
ONLINE COURSES
Students will complete six online courses in their first year of study. These courses explore topics related to the inner transformation of a peacemaker, theology of peace and justice, the factor of religion and peace and violence, and practical nonviolence and peacebuilding. For more on these six courses, VISIT HERE.
Students also complete two online courses in their second year of study on peacemaking and justice in the Palestinian context. These courses introduce key concepts in both the theory and practice of peacemaking and justice in the context of Palestine and Israel and as expressed by Palestinian Christians and other international scholars. For more on these two courses, VISIT HERE.
RESIDENCY IN BETHLEHEM, PALESTINE
This two-week intensive residential portion of the program in Bethlehem combines academic lectures, intentional reflection on personal spirituality, and site visits to important local Palestinian-led peace and justice organizations. The opportunity to study and serve in Bethlehem, listening and learning in the Palestinian community, is a profound, transformative experience.
Watch the interview in the video above with the director of the Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice, Dr. Andrew Bush, and SSU / BethBC student, Chris Horton, and on his experience of the summer residency as part of his MA in Peace & Justice.
PEACE AND JUSTICE RESEARCH METHODS COURSE AND THESIS
Students will complete a course on research methods as they refine the topic of their thesis with their supervisor, and complete a 25,000-word thesis on a topic related to the subjects of the degree program and the adequately prepares students for their vocation as peacemakers. Some students have the opportunity to complete a directed study and major research paper instead of the thesis. It is expected that students in this track will complete a thesis or complete a directed study and major research paper on a topic related to peace and justice in the Palestinian context.
EXPLORE OTHER TRACKS.
St. Stephen's University also offers two other tracks of the Master of Arts in Peace & Justice. Click below to learn more.
READY TO APPLY?
