PACS Academic Plans
All PACS academic plans are made up of half PACS courses and half PACS Approved courses from other departments. This will give you a rich interdisciplinary experience undergirded by a strong foundation in core theory and practice from Peace and Conflict Studies.
The Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar is the official and primary source for up-to-date degree requirements for all students. Here you will find specific requirements for PACS academic plans, as well as overall Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements.
Make sure to note which academic calendar year you are following for your PACS requirements. In particular, the PACS Approved courses included in PACS plans can change from year to year and you will need to make sure you know which list they are registered under. If you are unsure, check the Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements page, or contact the PACS Academic Advisor.
To help you understand your academic plan, the PACS department has created checklists to help students organize and track their requirements.
- Honours PACS Worksheet (PDF) - includes Arts and Business and double major students
- Four Year General PACS Worksheet (PDF)
- Three Year General PACS Worksheet (PDF)
- PACS Minor Worksheet (PDF)
PACS Approved Courses
The official list of PACS-approved courses is updated annually in the University of Waterloo Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar according to each academic plan. The list of PACS Approved courses can change slightly from year to year, so you should verify that you are using the list for the calendar year you are registered. All of the past Undergraduate Calendar years are available to view online. If you are not sure which academic calendar you are registered under, check the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar page on Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements or contact Ndagire Brendah, the PACS Academic Advisor.
Where you find the list of Peace and Conflict Studies approved courses inadequate for your needs, you may request the Peace and Conflict Studies administration to have a specific course(s) accepted as a PACS-approved course(s). We recommend that you submit your request before registering for the course because there is no guarantee that the request will be approved. Any questions about this process should be submitted to Ndagire Brendah, the PACS Academic Advisor.
PACS Streams
The field of Peace and Conflict Studies is very broad and covers many theoretical and practical themes related to interpersonal, inter-group, local, and international conflicts, and/or systemic harms. There are four streams in PACS that are designed to give students a suggested direction of study within the broader field of PACS and assist in course selection based on your area of interest.
These are not formal specializations, but rather suggested courses based on student interest. Taking courses in a specific stream will help you focus your studies on a particular theme, but there will be no notation on your final diploma of this concentration.
The four streams of study are:
Academic Resources
Milton Good Library
The PACS program is located at Conrad Grebel University College, which also houses the Milton Good Library. This library specializes in Peace and Conflict Studies collections and is an excellent resource to PACS students! Laureen Harder-Gissing, the PACS Liaison Librarian, is also located at Grebel and is available to provide specialized research assistance to PACS students.
Student Success Office
The Student Success Office offers study skills workshops, online resources to help you organize and manage your university life (academically and otherwise), peer mentorship programs, and so much more.
Writing and Communication Centre
The Writing and Communication Centre offers workshops, drop-in appointments, and online resources to help you improve your writing and communication skills. From getting help on a specific piece of writing to developing those presentation skills, the Writing Centre is a great resource.
Centre for Career Action
The Centre for Career Action offers workshops, one-on-one career advising, and an abundance of career-related resources. Appointments can be booked with a career advisor to discuss career exploration and strategy, job search tactics, mock interviews, and resumes. Generally, you can book up to 3 sessions for each appointment during your time at Waterloo.
Graduate programs in Canada related to PACS
| Institution | Degree |
|---|---|
|
University of Waterloo |
Master of Peace and Conflict Studies |
| Royal Roads University Vancouver, British Columbia |
|
| St. Paul University Ottawa, Ontario |
MA in Conflict Studies |
| University of Victoria Victoria, British Columbia |
MA in Dispute Resolution |
| University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba |
Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies |
International graduate programs related to PACS
| Institution | Degree |
|---|---|
| Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies University of Notre Dame Indiana, U.S.A. |
MA in Peace Studies |
|
The University of Bradford Rotary Peace Centre |
MA in Advanced Practice in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution |
|
Uppsala Rotary Peace Center |
Master's Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies |
Academic Advisor
Ndagire Brendah is the PACS Undergraduate Academic and Administrative Officer and is the primary academic advisor for all students pursuing a PACS academic plan.
You can reach Ndagire at bndagire@uwaterloo.ca to set up an appointment or ask any questions about PACS requirements.
