MASTER OF ADVANCED STUDIES IN PEACE AND CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION AT

MASTER OF ADVANCED STUDIES IN PEACE AND CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF BASEL, SWITZERLAND
 
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“Peace is not everything, but without peace, everything is nothing.”
                         — Willy Brandt, former German Chancellor
 
The complex global problems and many international and interpersonal
conflicts represent great challenges at the personal, social and
international level. There is a growing demand for professionals with
knowledge and skills in nonviolent and creative conflict
transformation, who can serve in private and public institutions.
 
The Advanced Study Center at the University of Basel, in cooperation
with the World Peace Academy (WPA), offers a 9-month full time Master
of Advanced Studies in Peace and Conflict Transformation from 28
February – 25 November 2011 and every year thereafter from March to
November. The WPA was founded by Pierre and Catherine Brunner, in
cooperation with Professors Johan Galtung, Ueli Maeder and Dietrich
Fischer. The program is accredited by the University of Basel, which
also issues the MAS diplomas. All courses are taught in English by
leading specialists in their field from around the world, including
Johan Galtung, founder of the academic discipline of peace studies.
 
The WPA program is designed to provide students with the intellectual
competence to analyze conflicts and their underlying causes and
practical skills in conflict transformation and peacebuilding. The
curriculum aims to cover all aspects of peace, not only military, but
also political, economic and cultural aspects. It combines theory
with practical experience. It seeks to invite some of the best
teachers from around the world from a wide variety of disciplines.
Students come from around the world, including many conflict regions.
 
CURRICULUM: The program consists of 10 modules: Introduction to the
Scientific Methodology of Peace Studies; Regional Conflicts and Peace
Initiatives; Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding; International
Relations and International Law; From National to Human Security;
Peace Education and Ethics; Human Rights, Gender and Democratization;
Sustainable Development and Its Contributions to Peace; Peace Culture
and the Media; and Development of Key Competencies for Peace Workers.
This last module, which meets for 2 days every month throughout the
program, is a special feature not yet offered elsewhere. It
emphasizes the development of such personal competencies as
responsibility, empathy, creativity, commitment, and inner peace.
 
The program includes lectures, seminars, exercises, group activities,
excursions, self-study, library research and writing papers. For a
course calendar, course descriptions and biographical notes about our
faculty members, see www.world-peace-academy.ch.
 
LOCATION: The University of Basel, founded in 1460, belongs to some
of the oldest universities in the world. It has about 11’000 students
and over 300 faculty members. The university library has over 3
million books and is one of the largest in Switzerland. Basel is a
city of just under 200’000 inhabitants, with a vibrant culture,
located where Switzerland, Germany and France meet.
 
INTENDED AUDIENCE: The program is addressed to students from any
discipline interested in peace and conflict resolution, including NGO
members, diplomats, government officials, international civil
servants, teachers, journalists, social workers, lawyers, officers,
psychologists, artists. A first university degree (bachelors or
equivalent) is required, or comparable professional experience.
 
DEGREES: Students who complete the full program of 9 months of
courses and write a thesis obtain a Master of Advanced Studies in
Peace and Conflict Transformation from the University of Basel, worth
70 credits according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
One ECTS corresponds to 30 hours of study (in class and self-study).
An MAS differs from a Master of Arts (MA) program, which typically
lasts two years, requires 120 ECTS and is normally accepted as a
basis for continuing with a Ph.D. program. It is also possible to
study part time over 2-3 years. Those who complete 12 weeks of
courses obtain an Advanced Certificate in Peace and Conflict
Transformation from the World Peace Academy.
 
COSTS: 15’000 Swiss Francs (currently about 11’000 Euro or 15’000 US
dollars) tuition for 9 months of study, including thesis advisement.
For part-time students, costs are 250 Swiss Francs per ECTS. Rooms
cost about 500 Swiss Francs per month. Meals, health insurance and
travel costs are extra.
 
WHEN TO APPLY: WPA has a rolling admission policy. You can apply at
any time before the begin of the program, and if you qualify and we
have space left, you will be admitted. Those who need a Swiss visa
are advised to apply at least 9 weeks in advance.
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY, see www.world-peace-academy.ch,
or call Charlotte Bachmann, Managing Director (+41-61-315-8595) or
Dietrich Fischer, Academic Director (+41-76-3399-425), or write to
<info@world-peace-academy.ch>. We will be happy to answer your
questions and help you.