The Psychology of Peace and the Prevention of Violence Graduate Concentration
Take me to the Psychology of Peace and Violence website.
The Psychology of Peace and the Prevention of Violence Ph.D. concentration, in operation since 2004 and the only such program in the country, is dedicated to training students who will advance psychological knowledge to prevent violence and promote peace through research, education, and practical application. Part of the Social and Personality Division of the Psychology Department at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, UMass Amherst, the program focuses on the psychological dimensions of violence, conflict, cooperation and peace building, with emphasis on intergroup and international levels. It also is concerned with violence and peace at the individual level.
Psychology has important contributions to make related to reducing violence in the world and creating peaceful, harmonious, caring relationships within and between groups. Understanding the roots and prevention of violence between groups, such as ethno-political warfare, mass killing, genocide, and terrorism, is a young and developing area of scholarship. Through research and practice, students can help develop knowledge and practical tools that advance psychology as a field and make practical contributions to building peace in real-world settings.
The Psychology of Peace and Prevention of Violence curriculum includes courses required by: 1) the psychology department; 2) the social and personality psychology division; and 3) the Peace Psychology concentration. Students obtain an MA as well as a PhD through the program in about 4-5 years. The program’s interdisciplinary approach is expressed in the content of the program’s three core courses. In addition, students are required to take one of the designated courses outside the department, primarily from other fields of social and behavioral sciences at the university and in the five-college system.
The program will admit three new students every year who will fulfill the undergraduate requirements of the personality and social psychology program of the psychology department, as well as the requirements for the concentration in peace psychology. These students will earn a PhD in Psychology with a concentration in Peace Psychology and a departmental certificate. The Program makes every effort to provide graduate students with financial support in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships, and carries a tuition waiver.
For details go to the Psychology of Peace and Violence website.
