Masters of Arts in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies

Introduction

Masters of Arts in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies is an interdisciplinary program provided by Tribhuvan University. It is a two-year program that is divided into four semesters. MA in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies (CDPS) is an interdisciplinary and collaborative MA program. It is a collaborative program between 4 educational institutions including Tribhuvan University. The other institutions that are a part of this program are: University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka; COMSATS University of Information Technology, Pakistan; and the University of Life Sciences (UMB), Norway.

MA in CPDS is a program designed for those who are interested in studying the past and present conflicts in the society along with the aspirations of peace and development of societies and nations.  

Objectives

The objectives of this course are:

• produce experts in the field of peace, conflict and development studies
• provide skills to analyze past and present aspects of peace, conflict, and development
• provide skills to assess current problems regarding peace and conflict and find solutions
• produce efficient researchers in the field

Scope

This course has a pretty wide and diverse scope. Here are some of the job opportunities that are available after the completion of this course is:

• Development planners
• Human rights officers
• Researcher
• Analyst
• Journalist
• Mediator
• Project planner
• Refugee settlement program staff

Availability

In Nepal, this course is currently only provided by Tribhuvan University. It is offered by the Department of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies, which falls under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FoHSS) of T.U.

Department of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies

Department of conflict, peace, and development one of the many departments of FoHSS of T.U. It has recently started providing the Master of Arts program in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies. This program was formed after realizing that conflict, peace, and development are multifaceted and an interdisciplinary course is needed to fully study and understand them.

Address: Basuki Marg, Mid-Baneshwor, Kathmandu

Phone no.: 01 4116128

Email: admin@dcpds-tu.edu.np

Website: http://dcpds-tu.edu.np

Course structure

As mentioned above, this course is divided into four semesters. It is a course that requires 62 credit hours for successful completion. The 62 credit hours are distributed throughout the four semesters. The first two semesters carry 16 credit hours each, and there are only compulsory courses. The last two semesters carry 15 credit hours each, and there are both compulsory and elective courses.

First semester

The courses for the first semester are:

1. Conflict Studies
2. Governance: Concepts and Issues
3. National Security
4. Conflict Resolution: Models and Applications
5. Research Methods

Total credit hours: 16 (The first four courses are 3 credit hours each and the last course is four credit hours. The 3 credit hour courses equal to 48 lecture hours.)

Second semester

The courses for the second semester are:

1. Peace Studies
2. Social and Cultural Dimensions of Conflict and Peace
3. Gender, Conflict and Development
4. International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
5. Research practicum, Fieldwork and Report writing

Total credit hours: 16 (The credit hours are divided exactly like in the first semester)

Third semester

These are the courses for third semester:

1. Compulsory courses:
   1. Development Studies
   2. Natural Resource Conflict
   3. Psychology and Personal Transformation
   4. International Relations
2. Electives:
   1. Power and Politics
   2. Transitional Justice
   3. Violence and Human Security

Total credit hours: 15 (The students are supposed to one of the given electives. All the courses are worth 3 credit hours.)

Fourth semester

In the fourth semester, the students have two different options to choose from in order to complete the 15 credit hours. These are the courses for the fourth semester:

1. Option 1
   1. Compulsory courses:
      1. Migration, Refugee and Conflict
      2. Political Economy of Conflict
      3. Thesis
   2. Electives:
      1. Peace-tourism and Development
      2. Peace and Disarmament
      3. Public Policy and Global Governance
      4. Disaster Management

Total credit hours: 15 (each of the courses are worth 3 credit hours except for the thesis, which is worth 6 credit hours)

1. Option 2:
   1. Research Work and Thesis Writing

Total credit hours: 15

Eligibility Criteria

These are the requirements that need to be fulfilled in order for the candidates to apply for this course:

• A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with minimum second division or equivalent

The degree must be achieved either from Tribhuvan University of any other institution recognized by T.U.