Graduate Program in Conflict Transformation

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Preparing reflective practitioners

  • Nurturing a diverse learning community that values mutuality
  • Offering a practice-based curriculum
  • Encouraging nonviolent and restorative responses to conflict
  • Fostering reflective, value-based practice and critical self-reflection
  • Furthering the lifelong process of strengthening and acquiring the skills, knowledge, attitudes and values needed for peacebuilding
  • Sustaining a long-term commitment to justice and peace

The graduate program in conflict transformation is designed for persons interested in pursuing academic studies within the peacebuilding field: conflict transformation, restorative justice, trauma healing, community and international development, and organizational leadership.

The graduate program in conflict transformation attracts people who desire a combination of world-respected graduate studies with a practice-based curriculum grounded in current realities. Our alumni include 80 Fulbright-supported scholars from 20 countries. They and fellow graduates occupy respected positions in their home communities, governments, embassies, the United Nations, and numerous other organizations throughout the U.S. and world.

Presently there are about 100 students enrolled at CJP, many from diverse communities in regions of conflict throughout the world, like Sumanto, a 2007 graduate, quoted below.

“CJP is a ‘melting pot’ of peacebuilders, conflict resolution practitioners, and human rights activists from throughout the world. Accordingly, EMU’s CJP is an excellent place both to study in the area of conflict transformation and to get experiences on peacebuilding work.”

Interested in undergraduate studies in peacebuilding? EMU offers a major in peacebuilding and development!

The M.A. in Conflict Transformation curriculum consists of a total of 45 semester hours, which include core requirements (21-24), courses required for concentrations (6), and recommended electives (15-18). Students select courses in consultation with a faculty adviser to meet the goals of their program. Full-time students should be able to complete the degree in two years. Limited-residency students will normally complete the degree in three to five years. At least one full semester on campus is strongly recommended.

To graduate, the student will have met all course and practicum requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.00, met program assessment criteria for competency, and obtained the formal approval of the faculty for graduation. Please see the assessment criteria overview document for completion of the MA degree in Conflict Transformation.

A 15 semester-hour Graduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation is designed for professional and lay people who wish to develop expertise in a particular area of the Conflict Transformation field. The certificate complements a previously obtained graduate degree or years of practical experience in another field. Participants work with a faculty adviser to develop a program to meet their objectives.

Each course is 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

Master of Arts

Graduate Certificate

Five concentrations are available to allow students to focus on areas of special interest. The concentrations and their required courses are listed below.

Choose 2 of the following 4 courses:

Choose 2 of the following 3 courses:

Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) and the Center for Justice & Peacebuilding (CJP) have collaborated in developing a dual degree option for students from both departments. Students would receive a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation (MACT) by completing the total requirements of 111 semester hours (SH). Students wishing to pursue the dual degree will need to apply to and be admitted into both the M.Div. and the MACT degree programs. Learn more about Seminary admissions and CJP admissions here.

Present Academic Requirements

  • Seminary M.Div. degree requires 90 SH, 57 SH core requirements and 33 SH of Ministry Track electives.
  • MACT has 45 SH, 27 SH are core requirements (based on a 6 SH practicum) and 18 SH for electives.

For a Dual Degree M.Div./MACT (total of 111 SH) we are allowing up to 12 SH to be reduced from the current MACT requirements and the Seminary is allowing up to 12 SH to be reduced from the M.Div. for a dual degree. This is a reduction of 24 SH from the current combined degrees. A student would be free to take additional electives in either program. Each program currently specifies the core required courses for their respective degree programs.

M.Div.: a total of 78 SH required (57 SH of the M.Div. core curriculum and 21 of Ministry Track electives). Learn more about the M.Div. Requirements here.

MACT: 27 SH from core and concentration requirements and 6 SH of CJP electives (chosen in consultation with academic advisor) for a total of 33 SH. See core requirements for details.

Graduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation – designed for professional and lay people who wish to develop expertise in a particular area of the Conflict Transformation field. The certificate complements a previously obtained graduate degree or years of practical experience in another field. Details on degree requirements and core requirements are noted above.

Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship – intended for students seeking a highly pragmatic as well as marketable training. This certificate is offered through the EMU Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program in collaboration with CJP.

Graduate Certificate in Theology for Peacebuilding – intended for those who want to integrate biblical and theological perspectives into their peacebuilding studies. This certificate is offered through Eastern Mennonite Seminary in collaboration with CJP. Find more information on this certificate from the Seminary catalog.



Next Step: Application and Admissions