U.S. and Canadian Community College Peacebuilding Programs and Initiatives

This page provides a list of U.S. and Canadian community colleges offering initiatives and programs in peace, conflict and related areas. The types of efforts vary and include degree programs, certificates, community programs, and annual events.  Some of the schools listed below are engaged in offering community services such as mediation. Besides the schools listed below, it is estimated that over 100 U.S. and Canadian community colleges offer courses in peace and conflict related areas. Often these courses are part of social science (political science, sociology, psychology, etc.) or humanities (philosophy, history, English, etc.) programs.  If your program or initiative is not listed here, and you feel it should be, contact me at davidjsmith@davidjsmithconsulting.com.

These  resources are recommended if you are a community college exploring conflict, peace and related areas:

• Manual for Colleges and Universities Developing Programs in Peace and Conflict Studies , 2nd Edition (conflictstudies.org)
• Peacebuilding in Community Colleges: A Teaching Resource (USIP Press, 2013)
• Annual National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar (held every year since 2013.  Click here to watch the 10th annual program which was held virtual in October/November 2022). The next conference will be in the fall 2025. 

British Columbia

• Castlegar, Selkirk College, Mir Centre for Peace;  Peace  and Justice Studies; Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping; Global Perspectives in Peace
• Vancouver, Langara College, Peace and Conflict Studies

California

• Glendora, Citrus College, Associate of Arts,  Peace Studies 
• Huntington Beach, Golden West College,  Associate of Arts, Peace Studies
• Oroville, Butte College, Certificate of Achievement in Peace and Global Studies; Certificate in Peace and Global Studies
• Riverside, Riverside Community College District, Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties
• Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College, Associate of Arts, Social Justice

Connecticut

• New Haven, Gateway Community College, Interdisciplinary Peace, Collaboration and Conflict certificate

Florida

• Miami, Miami Dade College, Holocaust and Genocide Education Program
• Orlando, Valencia College, Peace and Justice Institute

Hawaii

• Kapolei, Hawaii Tokai International College, Peace Studies

Kansas

• Overland Park, Johnson County Community College, Annual Peacebuilding Conference

Idaho

• Twin Falls, College of Southern Idaho, Refugee Center

Illinois

• Des Plaines, Oakton Community College, Peace and Social Justice Program

Maryland

• Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College, Criminal Justice/Social Justice Degree Option
• Cumberland, Allegany College of Maryland, Letter of Recognition, Peace and Conflict Studies
• La Plata, College of Southern Maryland, Charles County Mediation Center 
• Westminster, Carroll Community College, Community Mediation Center

Massachusetts

• Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College,  Annual Peace Poetry Contest

Michigan

• University Center, Delta College, Associate of Arts and Certificate of Achievement, Global Peace Studies

New Jersey

• Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College, Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
• Camden, Camden  County College, Diversity and Social Justice
• Jersey City, Hudson County Community College, Human Services Social Justice
• Lincroft,  Brookdale Community College, Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution; Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education
• Paramus, Bergen Community College, Center for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation
• Toms River, Ocean County College, Center for Holocaust, Genocide and HumanRights Education

New York

• Rochester, Monroe Community College,  Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Project
• Garden City, Nassau Community College, Human Rights Studies

Ohio

• Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College, Certificate, Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies

Pennsylvania

• Bethlehem, Northampton Community College, Center for Peace, Justice and Conflict Resolution

Quebec

• Montreal, Dawson College, Peace Centre
• Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, John Abbott College, Peace Studies

Texas

• Austin, Austin Community College, Conflict and Peace Studies
• Dallas, Richland College, Peace and Human Rights Studies
• Dallas, El Centro College, Conflict Management Specialist Certificate
• San Antonio, Northwest Vista College, Peace and Conflict Studies

Washington

• Shoreline, Shoreline Community College, Equity and Social Justice; Criminal Justice Advocacy Certificate
• Spokane, Spokane Community College, Peace Studies

Updated 03/02/23