University of San Diego - Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies

About this program

Located at the world's busiest international border, the Kroc School offers academic programs for the purpose-driven peacebuilders, social innovators and positive changemakers of today. With three top-ranked programs and the only dual degree of its kind, the Kroc School is home to a renowned institute and center, world-class faculty practitioners, immersive learning experiences, seed funding and research opportunities and a growing, global alumni network.

The two-year, interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Peace and Justice (MAPJ) is designed to transform passion into change. Through local and international field-based courses and an internship, students are trained as practitioners with the theoretical grounding, skills and tools to address social justice challenges and to promote and advance peace.

Quick Facts:

First stand-alone school focused on peace and justice
Students come from 30 countries in 5 continents
Network opportunities with high level speakers from around the world
Practice based curriculum for real world application
UN partnership

We're looking for creative problem solvers and leaders who, with the right education and guidance, will advance peace and justice wherever they choose to work. Come join us!

Year partnership began: 2016
Fellowships awarded per year (average): 4

Application requirements

Online application for admission: sandiego.edu/peace/apply
Official sealed transcripts from degree granting institution
Two letters of recommendation
Resume or C.V.
Four short essays
(International applicants have additional requirements)

Admissions process

Please email [email protected] to obtain an application fee waiver. Be prepared to provide proof of your service. When you are informed of whether or not you have been admitted into the MA program, you will also be informed if you have been accepted as a Coverdell Fellow.

To qualify for the Coverdell Fellows Program students must be enrolled full time.

Degrees awarded

Master of Arts in Peace and Justice

Benefits and opportunities

	In-state	Out-of-state
Tuition and fees	$50,544	$50,544
Value of fellowship	$24,000	$24,000
Net cost	$26,544	$26,544

Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing. See cost savings details for more.

Estimated annual cost of living: $16,650

Cost savings details

Application waiver
50% of tuition waved
6 units of Peace Corps experience toward degree

Internship

Students who are pursuing a Master of Arts in Peace and Justice have a 10 week internship requirement in order to graduate. Students are responsible for finding their own internships, and will need to complete at least 250 hours in order to receive credit.

Each master's student is paired with a faculty advisor who offers mentorship and guidance throughout the internship process, including helping you choose an organization that best fits your interests and career goals. Through our internship program, you could gain experience in:

Monitoring and evaluation
Human rights documentation
Conflict analysis
Mediation and negotiation
Project design and management
Grant writing workshop and training facilitation
Public speaking
Researching, analyzing and drafting policy documents
Communications: press release writing, website design
Cultural competency
Teamwork

Other opportunities

Scholarships. All full-time program applicants are considered for Named Scholarships, such as the Darling-Andreu Peace Scholarship, the Dolores k Juditz Endowment Fund, the Paulus Peace Scholarship, and the William Headley Endowed Scholarship, in addition to the Dean’s Graduate Merit Scholarship.
Federal Work-Study (FWS)/College Work Opportunity Program (students must apply for Financial Aid by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and be offered FWS).
Graduate Assistantship. All students may apply. Value is $1,200 for 40 hours of work per semester applied toward the cost of tuition.
Practice Fellowships at Kroc School’s Institute for Peace and Justice (Kroc IPJ). All students may apply. Value is $5,000 in tuition support plus a stipend for 15 hours of work per week.
Internship Program Funding. All students may apply to receive funding to offset internship expenses.
USD Graduate Grant Award. In addition to merit awards and named scholarships, the University of San Diego awards USD Graduate Grants, a need-based scholarship, after a graduate student is admitted.

Jobs for alumni

With every graduating class, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies challenges our students to go out into the world to make change. And our alumni do not disappoint. From ESL teachers to company CEOs, Field Representatives to Foreign Affairs Officers, Community Security Specialist to International Trade Specialist, our alumni are pursuing careers that position them as leading changemakers.

A degree from the Kroc School offers graduates world-wide career opportunities where you can transform ideas into action for impact. Whether you are interested in working in the non-profit, corporate, government, education, health or government sectors, your Kroc School education, including extensive opportunities for practical experience, will make you a valuable contributor to your chosen field and to your community.