Manual for Colleges & Universities Developing Programs in Peace & Conflict Studies 3rd Edition (2026)

Date of publication: 13 October 2026 Manual Edited by Jennifer Batton and Julie Shedd

The third edition of the How-to Manual for Colleges and Universities Developing and/or Enhancing their Programmes in Peace and Conflict Studies, published in 2026, is a collaboration between the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) Peace Education Working Group and the Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Network.

It includes examples of programmes and courses at community college, four-year and graduate levels from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Selected chapters and practical resources from the 2026 edition are available below. The complete manual is forthcoming.

Previous editions

First edition (2009)

The first edition was developed through a collaboration between the Global Issues Resource Center, Cuyahoga Community College and the United States Institute of Peace. It shares lessons learned from developing programmes, certificates and degrees in peace and conflict studies, including approaches to building capacity both in the classroom and across colleges and universities, with a focus on community colleges.Click here to access the 2009 edition.

Second edition (2018)

The second edition, published in 2018, is a collaboration between the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, Peace Education Working Group; George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution; and Wayne State University’s Master’s in Dispute Resolution Program. It includes four-year and graduate-level programmes and provides an overview of specific efforts, such as examples of standards of community mediation applied in law schools/alternative dispute resolution centres, online and hybrid course development, career options, and how to professionalise programmes. Click here to access the 2018 edition.

Contribute to the manual

The manual is a work in progress, with additional chapters being submitted in February 2027 as part of the Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Network Annual Conference. If you are interested in submitting a chapter, please contact Jennifer Batton, Ph.D., Chair of the Civil Society Led Dialogue Working Group for GPPAC, at gppacpeaceedcourses@gmail.com

Disclaimer and license

The content and views expressed in these chapters are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors. While the editors submitted requested changes, not all of these changes are reflected in the 2018 or 2026 chapters.

License: Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial