Peace and Conflict Studies   
Director: Dr. Jessica Senehi
Head: PhD Program: Dr. Jessica Senehi
Associate Head: PhD Program: N/A
Program Director: Dr. Jessica Senehi
Campus Address/General Office: 261 St. Paul’s College
Telephone: 204-474-8894
Email Address: pacs@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/st-pauls-college/mauro-institute-peace-justice
Academic Staff: Please contact pacs@umanitoba.ca for current staff listing. 

Peace and Conflict Studies Ph.D. Program Information

The Ph.D. Program in Peace and Conflict Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to analyze and resolve social conflicts through innovative peace research that examines the structural roots of social conflicts, divisions, and inequalities, and strategies for building community and promoting social justice and human rights.

Admission Information

Admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.

Admission requirements for doctoral students are found in the Doctor of Philosophy General Regulations section of the Guide.

Peace and Conflict Studies Ph.D. Admission Requirements

Applicants require a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies (or equivalent from other recognized universities) with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours. However, PACS is a highly selective graduate program and applicants should be advised that in order to be competitive for admission, possession of a GPA much higher than the minimum required is strongly recommended.

Graduates of a Master’s degree in diverse disciplines at the University of Manitoba (or equivalent from other recognized universities) are also eligible for admission to the program pending successful completion of prerequisite courses to ground them in the field. Applicants will have a thesis-based master’s degree, either earned in peace and conflict studies or a related discipline such as social work, education, or sociology, among others. In the event a Master’s degree is not thesis-based, research capability may be demonstrated by a major research paper from a recognized institution, or an independently completed research article published in a refereed journal.

Applicants will also have a proficiency in the English language at levels required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Application Information

Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the  Peace and Conflict Studies Ph.D. program of study page.

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies requirements are 24 credit hours; twelve credits of required course work at the 7000 level; six credit hours in a cognate area and 6 credits in research methods, plus a candidacy examination, a thesis proposal, and a thesis. The six credit hours of cognate and research method courses can be taken from a list of approved courses at the 7000 level.

Students whose Master’s degree is not in Peace and Conflict Studies will normally be required to take two prerequisite courses in the field as occasional courses. Note that there are additional tuition and fees for the two occasional courses.

Expected Time to Graduate: 4 years

Progression Chart

¹

Either a PACS research methods course or a research methods course offered by another program (with approval of advisor)

²

Courses to support the student’s research, usually offered in another department (or in PACS with Director approval).  Courses must have approval of advisor.

³

Students must write and defend a PhD Candidacy Examination.

⁴

Students are expected to produce a thesis proposal subject to a public oral defence.

If applicable, Students must obtain approval from the Research Ethics Board (REB), prior to conducting research.

⁵

Students must successfully submit and defend their final version of the Thesis.

Note: For students without a background in PACS, additional courses may be required. 

Registration Information

Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.

Prior to registering, all students (new and returning) must meet with their program advisor to select and receive approval for courses to be taken. Any course revisions (additions and/or withdrawals) must be approved in the same manner.

Regulations

Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.

Supplementary Regulations

Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations. 

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.

All students must successfully complete:

• GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
• GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;

unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.

General Regulations

All students must:

• maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

Peace and Conflict Studies