Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
The Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies (Kroc School) is dedicated to creating and sustaining peaceful and just societies. To drive positive peace, we work across disciplines, such as political science, sociology, anthropology, business, law, and economics. We believe diverse knowledge and perspectives are essential to equip innovative changemakers and peacebuilders who are able to solve humanity’s urgent challenges. The University of San Diego established the Kroc School in 2007 as the first standalone school of its kind in the United States. The Kroc School grew out of the University’s pre-existing Master of Arts in Peace and Justice program and furthers the institutional mission of preparing leaders who are dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service.
The Kroc School houses the Institute for Peace and Justice (Kroc IPJ), focused on practice and co-creating knowledge with peacemakers from across the world, and Spark@USD which organizes the prestigious Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge.
Master of Arts in Peace and Justice
The Master of Arts in Peace and Justice (MAPJ) is an interdisciplinary program designed for individuals seeking knowledge and hands-on experience to address a wide range of peace and social justice challenges, such as inter-group violence, civil wars, refugee and forced displacement issues, human rights abuses, and environmental injustices. The curriculum spans multiple approaches to peace and justice, including conflict analysis and resolution, international justice and human rights, environmental justice, leadership and organizations, as well as field-based courses and an recommended internship placement for practice-based learning. The goal of the MAPJ program is to produce graduates who are practitioners, capable of applying theories of peace and justice to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. The MAPJ prepares students for careers in areas such as international development, humanitarian aid, human rights, environmental policy, and peace and security, and in organizations ranging from grassroots nonprofits and private sector companies to the United Nations. The MAPJ is offered as a full-time 24-month or part-time program.
Dual Degrees in Law and Peace and Justice (Juris Doctor / MA Peace and Justice)
The Dual Degree in Law and Peace and Justice combines a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Master of Arts in Peace and Justice (MAPJ) from the Kroc School. The JD/MAPJ, completed over four years, gives students the chance to study law and policy while gaining a deep understanding of the historical, institutional and cultural factors that drive conflict, injustice, oppression and poverty. The JD/MAPJ is a fit for students interested in issues like immigration, human rights or mediation; those who plan to advise a global clientele; those who wish to take a lawyer’s route to influencing policy; and public interest lawyers seeking to tackle broad questions of social justice using both law and policy frameworks.
Master of Arts in Social Innovation
The Master of Arts in Social Innovation program (MASI) is designed for individuals with vision, leadership skills and an entrepreneurial mindset and want to tackle the world’s toughest challenges, such as poverty, climate change, and inequality. The MASI curriculum incorporates theory with field-based practicums, design thinking pedagogy, and the opportunities like pitch competition, in which students can create and test their innovative solutions for complex problems. MASI graduates have impactful, purpose driven careers in philanthropy, government and nonprofits. Others create economic, social and environmental value in the private sector, working in B-corps, social enterprises, consulting and corporate social responsibility. The MASI is offered as a full-time 9-month or part-time program.
Master of Science in Conflict Management and Resolution
The Master of Science in Conflict Management and Resolution (MS-CMR) is designed for working professionals in any field seeking the opportunity to leverage their experience and cultivate new skills to effectively manage and resolve conflict. This multidisciplinary program covers theory and practice to transform interpersonal, group, organizational, community, and systems-level conflict in a variety of contexts. Through ongoing experimentation, simulation and practice, MS-CMR students gain skills in conflict analysis, negotiation, mediation, facilitation and dialogue. The MS-CMR is offered as a full-time 15-month, accelerated 9-month, or part-time program.
Master of Science in Humanitarian Action (Online)
The online Master of Science in Humanitarian Action (MS-HA) program offers a remote, affordable, and high-touch Master’s degree to students and working professionals around the world. The program is designed to cultivate the skills necessary to help prevent, respond to, and recover from complex humanitarian emergencies. The MS-HA degree blends cutting-edge thematic focuses (peacebuilding and conflict resolution, social entrepreneurship and innovation), with critical technical professional skills development (monitoring and evaluation, data visualization) into a 30-unit program. It emphasizes a scholar-practitioner education model, relying on exercises, case studies, and simulations. Its asynchronous format (two courses per term, five terms for program completion) permits participation by foreign aid workers, deployed military personnel, and others for whom an extended stay in San Diego is not possible. Enrollment periods are in Fall, Spring, and Summer.
MS-HA Degree Program Structure
The program of study includes the ten 3-unit course prescribed curriculum. Courses will be offered year-round with three semesters every year: spring, summer, and fall. Each semester is 14 weeks in length. You will take two courses per semester, and courses will run for seven weeks each with a one or two-week break in between semesters. You can expect to graduate in five semesters after successfully completing all ten courses.
Each 3-unit course will include 37.5 hours of core instructional time. Additional homework, research, and study time are required. You can expect to spend 15-20 hours per week in each course in order to be successful.
Financial Aid
Applicants accepted into the Kroc School are eligible to be considered for a variety of scholarships and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Practice Fellowship. Students can apply for merit-based scholarships and for graduate assistantships which come with $1,296 tuition. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at USD for further information regarding financial aid and loans.