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The Pearson Institute Global Conflict Studies Certificate

Objectives of The Pearson Institute Global Conflict Studies Certificate

While past generations witnessed world wars and other great power struggles, global conflict has evolved to include violent extremism, large-scale displacement, and failed nations. Future leaders must also adapt their concepts and empirical approaches in order to understand the new nature of conflict when proposing solutions for the future.

By focusing on comparative development, political economy, and applied methodology, The Pearson Institute Global Conflict Studies Certificate is designed to prepare students for careers in government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, or multinational corporations.

Students who complete this certificate will be able to:

  • Develop the ability to discern what makes empirical evidence compelling related to conflict study
  • Assess key arguments advanced in the arena of conflict and consider, through an evidence-based lens, the relationship of conflict to factors such as economic opportunity, natural resources, foreign aid, military technology, ethnic divisions and identity, etc.
  • Understand the intersection between state-level societal incentives and global governance structures
  • The certificate’s curated list of electives is designed to allow students to explore multiple academic approaches to understanding conflict, including from anthropology, economics, political science, and psychology and to become familiar with policy fields related to conflict, including governance, energy and environment, human rights, economic development and more. In addition, we encourage students pursuing the certificate to participate in events sponsored by The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts.

Application Process

The certificate is open to any University of Chicago graduate student. Harris students please indicate your intent to pursue this certificate using the Harris Certificate Application Form. If you are a non-Harris student and intend to complete the requirements for the Global Conflict certificate please submit the Harris Certificate Application for Non-Harris Students to indicate you are pursuing this certificate.

For certificate registration questions, please reach out to harrisregistration@uchicago.edu.

Planning for the Certificate

For information on which quarter(s) each course will be offered see the Harris Courses page and filter by certificate. For courses offered by other divisions the typical quarter(s) offered has been indicated.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate will be awarded to students who complete any three of the qualifying courses. Students must achieve at least a B- grade in each course with the exception of the last term prior to graduation, and there is no pass/fail option. Students should complete the formal signup process to indicate their intention to pursue the certificate.

The following two courses are recommended as a fundamental sequence of the certificate:

Other qualifying certificate courses

Certificate Contacts

Molly O'Donnell, Administrative Certificate Director

Oeindrila Dube, Certificate Director

Oeindrila

Faculty Spotlight

Oeindrila Dube
Philip K. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies

Oeindrila Dube is an economist and political scientist who studies conflict and crime. Her current research interests span from religious extremism in developing countries to effective policing in the United States.