This is a sponsored post on PCDN.

Turbulent times like ours call for people who understand systems of violence and conflict, and who are prepared to lead change and build peace with justice.

The Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) program uniquely prepares its graduates to be catalysts for peace at community, institutional, and systemic levels. A rigorous course-based professional degree program, MPACS connects theory, analysis, reflection, and practice. Our distinctive focus is on civil society and community-led change, providing graduates with tools to understand sources of conflict, polarization, and systems of violence, as well as to imagine and support transformative peacebuilding.

The program is designed to be completed in 16 months by full-time students (with a part-time option also available). Students take a combination of core PACS courses and electives of their choice, with the option to include electives from other departments at the University of Waterloo.

Apply now for intake in Fall 2025 through the University of Waterloo. The application deadline is February 1^st, 2025. For more details, view our admission requirements and procedures.

Program Features

• Strong Foundations: Students are equipped to understand systems of conflict, violence and oppression, and to transform them through principled and effective social change.
• Interdisciplinary Breadth: Electives are offered in PACS as well as in Global Governance, International Development, Sociology, Political Science, and related disciplines.
• Field-Experienced Faculty: MPACS faculty bring diverse expertise, field experience and dynamic pedagogical approaches to the classroom.
• Engaged Community: Students benefit from diverse cohorts, strong collegiality, and the combined community, resources, and facilities of Grebel and the University of Waterloo.
• Independent Research: Students interested in research may pursue independent studies with a faculty supervisor to advance area-specific knowledge and their academic skills.
• Financial Aid: Full-time students are automatically considered for entry-based awards and receive funding for up to four terms of full-time study.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Internships: Develop skills as a practitioner while completing research that links theory and practice. Placements have spanned 70 organizations across 20 countries.
• Conflict Resolution Skills Training: Take workshops for academic credit through our in-house Conflict Management Certificate program or approved external workshops.
• Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement: Access support for early-stage non-profits and social enterprises focused on peace and justice.
• Map the System: Explore complex social and environmental issues while participating in a global competition run in partnership with Oxford University.

And more!

Career Preparation

MPACS students join a growing community of 170+ alumni actively shaping change. Career paths include: conflict management, mediation and restorative justice, research and advocacy, community development, human rights work, non-profit leadership, and social change entrepreneurship.

QUOTE: “I found that my classmates were people that I was not only learning with but also learning from. I remember just how engaging our conversations were, the diverse amount of topics that we covered, and I left this program feeling not only professionally enriched but also personally enriched.”

Join Our Community of Peacebuilders

Take the first step towards a transformative future – apply now.

Discover more by visiting our website or joining  an upcoming information session.

Contact us at [email protected]