Knox Offers New Program Focusing on Activism, Social Justice, and Conflict Resolution

Knox students now have the opportunity to pursue studies in activism, social justice, and conflict resolution, thanks to the introduction of a new minor in peace and justice studies.

Knox provides a unique setting for students to explore issues of civil rights and societal change, from the institution’s historical involvement with abolitionism and co-education to the emphasis on discussion-based learning and small class sizes today.

Students will be given the opportunity not only to learn to analyze the nature of conflict and social injustice using quantitative and qualitative measures, but also to examine the effectiveness of public policies.

“Peace and justice are incredibly important topics at every point in time, but they seem particularly poignant today,” said Provost Garikai Campbell, referring to contemporary national and international dialogues infused with conflict and violence. "It is vital that we understand how we have wrestled with these issues in the past and how we may shape the leaders and agents of change of the future. Our peace and justice studies program is distinctive for its focus on helping students take ideas to action.”

The peace and justice studies minor will build upon the variety of courses that Knox already offers that illuminate the nature of injustice by introducing a practical methods course that investigates effective conflict resolution and social change.

Immersive experiences will be a key feature of the minor. Peace and justice studies courses will challenge students to get involved outside the classroom. Not only do several electives in the minor include community engagement components, but the minor also contains an active learning requirement, which can be fulfilled by internships, global studies experiences, KnoxCorps projects, and more. Throughout the minor, students will benefit from interdepartmental collaboration, as the faculty for the program span economics, religious studies, political science, history, international studies, and educational studies.

Students at Knox take a keen interest in service work, completing tens of thousands of hours of community service each year. The Peace Corps Preparatory Program at Knox was the first of its kind among colleges and universities, and remains popular today. KnoxCorps—which launched in 2012—pairs recent Knox graduates and current students with local nonprofit organizations.

Student organizations also practice peace and justice work, including Allied Blacks for Liberty and Equality (A.B.L.E.), Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A.), Students Against Sexism in Society, Alliance for Peaceful Action, among others.