April 24, 2013
The International Relations Graduate Program at St. Mary’s University will offer an Academic Certificate Program in Conflict Transformation beginning Sept. 2.
The nine-month, four-course online certification provides students with skills and strategies designed to help heal divided societies. What makes the St. Mary’s certification unique is that it concludes with a two-week, intensive field study in Northern Ireland. Students from across the globe gather for workshops with practitioners, field workers and former combatants and learn from one another’s experiences.
“The Certificate in Conflict Transformation is groundbreaking in its academic approach, method of delivery and potential for global outreach,” said Aaron Tyler, Ph.D., Chair of the International Relations Department. “Through comprehensive online instruction and two collaborative weeks in Northern Ireland, this four-course certificate is designed to equip participants with practical and creative peace-building approaches for addressing conflict in constructive and sustainable ways.”
Cohorts of a maximum of 12 students will include participants from around the world who are currently working in areas of violent conflict. Scholarship opportunities are available to these students.
“The certificate can also benefit military and government personnel working to build positive relationships with communities impacted by violence,” Tyler said. “Just as importantly, the certificate makes sense for people in San Antonio and across Texas who work on important peace-building issues. While the certificate offers practical and creative peace-building approaches that have a borderless reach, it’s also designed to be flexible to each participant’s local context and circumstance.”
St. Mary’s is accepting applications now. To be admitted, students must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent from an accredited institution. The program is competitively priced, and certificate recipients may apply the 12 credit hours earned toward a master’s degree if accepted into the M.A. program.