Curriculum in Peace, War, and Defense
Introduction
While peace may be among our oldest dreams, human conflict is an enduring challenge faced by societies around the world. The Curriculum in Peace, War, and Defense (PWAD) offers students the tools to understand and analyze the complexities of conflict, security, and cooperation on a global scale. Whether you’re passionate about diplomacy, strategy, or justice, the study of PWAD offers the foundation to explore the world’s most pressing issues.
The PWAD Curriculum puts a premium on experiential learning, combining academic expertise and practitioner experience to offer students classes rooted in real-world security dilemmas. By providing students with this unique mix of theory and practice, the PWAD program at UNC is unlike any other undergraduate program in the country.
Advising
All majors have a primary academic advisor from the Academic Advising Program. Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their advisor and review their Tar Heel Tracker each semester. The curriculum’s chair and director of undergraduate studies work with current and prospective majors by appointment (see contacts tab above). Further information on courses, internships, the honors program, careers, and graduate schools may be obtained from the curriculum’s website.
Graduate School and Career Opportunities
The study of peace, war, and defense opens doors to a wide range of impactful careers and advanced study. Many alumni pursue graduate studies in areas such as international relations, law, public policy, and history. Others step directly into meaningful work across work in federal agencies, NGOs and international organizations, state and local government, finance, media, academia, consulting, and private sector industries.
PWAD graduates are uniquely equipped with interdisciplinary insight, strong analytical skills, and global awareness—traits that are in high demand across sectors. Whatever path they choose, they carry forward a deep understanding of global conflict and cooperation and the ability to lead with perspective and purpose.
Advisory Committee
Navin Bapat (Political Science), Andrew Cain (Naval Science), Peter Coclanis (History), Stephen Gent (Political Science), Lisa Klekowski (Military Science), Klaus Larres (History), Wayne Lee (History), Hilary Lithgow (English), Jeff Spinner-Halev (Political Science), Patricia Sullivan (Public Policy), Sameek Parsa (Aerospace Studies), Jonathan Weiler (Global Studies), Erinn Whitaker (Peace, War, and Defense).
Adjunct Professors
Navin Bapat, Cori Dauber, Stephen Gent, Karen Hagemann, Klaus Larres, Miguel La Serna, Wayne Lee, Patricia Sullivan.
Adjunct Associate Professor
Michael Morgan.
Teaching Associate Professor
Joseph Caddell.
Teaching Assistant Professors
Harrison Greenleaf, Joseph Ross.
Professors of the Practice
Dennis Blair, Jennifer Davis, Noor Ghazi, Andrew Sisson, Barbara Stephenson, Shai Tamari, Erinn Whitaker.
