MA Peace and Justice

The Master of Arts in Peace and Justice (MAPJ) is an interdisciplinary program designed for individuals seeking knowledge and hands-on experience to address a wide range of peace and social justice challenges, such as inter-group violence, civil wars, refugee and forced displacement issues, human rights abuses, and environmental injustices. The curriculum spans multiple approaches to peace and justice, including conflict analysis and resolution, international justice and human rights, environmental justice, leadership and organizations, as well as field-based practicum courses. The goal of the MAPJ program is to produce graduates who are practitioners of peace, capable of applying peacebuilding theories rooted in justice to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. The MAPJ prepares students for careers in areas such as international development, humanitarian aid, human rights, environmental policy, and peace and security, and in organizations ranging from grassroots nonprofits and private sector companies to the United Nations. The MAPJ is offered as a full-time 24-month or part-time program.

Dual Degree in Law and Peace and Justice (Juris Doctor / MA Peace and Justice)

The Dual Degree in Law and Peace and Justice combines a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Master of Arts in Peace and Justice (MAPJ) from the Kroc School of Peace Studies. The JD/MAPJ is designed as a four-year commitment. Students spend the first year completing required coursework through the law school. The second year is devoted to coursework at the Kroc School, and the final two years involve a hybrid curriculum from both schools. The four-year program shaves off one year of studies from studying for the JD (3 years) and MAPJ (2 years) separately. The JD/MAPJ dual degree gives students the chance to study law and policy while gaining a deep understanding of the historical, institutional and cultural factors that drive conflict, injustice, oppression and poverty. The JD/MAPJ is a fit for students interested in issues like immigration, human rights or mediation; those who plan to advise a global clientele; those who wish to take a lawyer’s route to influencing policy; and public interest lawyers seeking to tackle broad questions of social justice using both law and policy frameworks.

Combined Degree Program: Bachelor’s Degree to Master of Arts in Peace and Justice

The Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Combined Degree Program is open to all undergraduate majors at the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and the School of Business at the University of San Diego. Completion of the combined degree program results in the conferral of a Bachelor of Science (BS), a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a BS/BA, a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), or a Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc) degree and a Master of Arts in Peace and Justice. This program allows undergraduate students at the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and the School of Business the ability to accelerate their academic career with a fast-track to graduate studies. Enrolled students may take up to 12 units of courses at the Kroc School during their junior and senior years and apply those courses to both their undergraduate degree requirements as upper-division elective units and to the MA in Peace and Justice degree requirements. Up to three of the 12 units may be upper-division undergraduate courses, and students should consult with their undergraduate academic advisor and a Kroc School advisor when selecting courses for the combined degree program. Once graduate students, the MA in Peace and Justice program may be completed in as little as 9-12 months post-undergraduate with an academic load of 27 units to take. 

For courses at the Kroc School, all MA in Peace and Justice combined degree students must begin with KROC 500 Foundations: Peace, Justice & Social Change (3 units). Following this, students may take two of the following three core courses: KROC 511 Peace & Conflict Analysis (3 units); KROC 512 International Justice & Human Rights (3 units); KROC 515 Environmental Peace & Justice. Completion of KROC 500 will also make the skills and methods course, KROC 510 Leadership & Organizations (3 units) eligible to be counted toward both undergraduate degree requirements and the requirements of the master's program. 

To apply to this combined degree program, the Kroc School of Peace Studies does not require the GRE or a graduate school application fee, but requires the student to demonstrate academic achievement in their undergraduate courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. For students in the combined degree program, upon satisfactory completion of a BS, BA, BS/BA, BBA or BAcc degree with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, the student will be admitted to the MA in Peace and Justice program.

Additional Requirements For Admission

See Admission Page for basic admission requirements.