MA Degree Program Details

Peace and Conflict Studies is a relatively new and still evolving discipline that has gained a large amount of attention in the past few years. This is due to various trends such as: globalization and the new challenges that have come with it, the expanding role of the United Nations and other international institutions focused on peace and security, the growth of international NGOs of all types, and the increasing prominence of armed conflicts, terrorism, complex emergencies, and environmental issues in media coverage around the world. The PCS MA Program is a 2-year degree course touching on many of these issues and leading to a Master of Arts in International Studies with a Concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies.

Combining substantial coursework and a 15,000-20,000 word thesis ideally based on significant field research or internship experience, our MA Program falls in between a fully taught program and a traditional research degree. In addition, by offering students introductory through advanced classes as well as the opportunity to undertake field research, our program can satisfy the needs of experienced professionals in areas that make up the core of peace and conflict studies such as conflict resolution and management, international affairs, diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and development, as well as individuals who have limited experience or an unrelated background but who would like to make the transition into these fields.

As a key mission of the PCS department is to train scholars and practitioners who can contribute to resolving conflict and promoting peace around the world, the large majority of our MA students are selected from outside of Japan and our program is run in English. By drawing on resources from within and outside of TUFS, as well as our diverse student population, the department is able to provide a unique educational experience and research environment. Please explore more about our MA Degree Program by reading below and selecting from the Menu on the right.

Demographics - The typical MA class at PCS is made up of 65% men and 35% women, and the average age of incoming students is 27 years old with most in their 20's and early 30's. The table below gives a breakdown of the nationalities of our past and current MA students by region and country. (In cases where more than one student has come from a certain country, the total number is indicated in parenthesis).

• Europe
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Great Britain
• Ireland
• Portugal
• Estonia
• Spain
• Macedonia
• CIS
• Georgia
• Kyrgyzstan (2)
• Russia
• Americas
• Argentina
• USA (4)
• Canada (2)
• Colombia (2)

• South & West Asia
• Afghanistan(2)
• Bangladesh (2)
• Nepal(3)
• Iraq(3)
• Iran
• Sri Lanka (2)
• Syria
• Africa
• Egypt
• Nigeria
• Sudan (2)
• Tunisia
• Mozambique

• East Asia
• Cambodia
• Indonesia (2)
• Japan(2)
• Philippines
• South Korea (2)
• Thailand (2)
• Vietnam
• China
• Oceania
• Australia
• Timor-Leste

Previous Study - All MA students have at least one previous university degree, with 20% of students having obtained more than degree one before entering PCS. Previous fields of study include International Relations, Political Science, Law, Public Administration, English, Literature, Sociology, Economics, Mathematics, Medicine, Japanese Studies, Japanese Language, Engineering, and Mass Communications, among others, with 30% of students with past experience of having studied in Japan and 20% of students with Japanese language ability at an intermediate or higher level at the time of entry.

Work Experience - Students join the MA program with an average of 3.5 years of professional experience in positions such as: teacher, university lecturer, management consultant, legal or economic researcher, military officer, civil service / government officer or official, embassy staff member, press reporter, development agency officer, public policy researcher, NGO staff member, and UN officer / official.

Financial Support - Almost half of all MA students receive funding from the Japanese government for their studies through the Monbukagakusho or JICA-sponsored scholarship programs. To date, most of our other students have been able to locate support for one or both of their years of study through private foundations in Japan, other Japanese Government Scholarships, or from organizations in their home countries.

Destinations - PCS MA graduates pursue various paths after completing their studies. About a fourth of our graduates have gone on to further study at TUFS, other universities in Japan such as Waseda University, the University of Tokyo, and Hiroshima University, and universities abroad. Others have taken up lecturing posts at universities and colleges in their home countries. Most MA graduate have opted to take up positions with international organizations such as the OSCE or UNAIDS, NGOs, think tanks and other research organizations, and private companies in Japan and abroad.

The TUFS PCS MA Program offers a holistic approach to the study of conflict and peacebuilding. Courses range from the study of specific conflicts to more theoretical subject. The PCS Program also encourages students to conduct fieldwork in their area of interest. Students comes from all over the world and such a diverse range of backgrounds, interests, and expereinces, that discussions are always engaging and interesting. We learn a lot from each other and during the program I was able to make amny new friends.

Living in Tokyo is also a very different experience that opens many doors. Professors often provide students with information about internships and external conferences and seminars in their areas of interest. Through PCS students also have the opportunity to participate in courses at the United Nations University in Tokyo. I have just completed a course at the UNU and found it very inspiring. All in all, I realy enjoyed my time at TUFS and in Tokyo.

~ Sharon Smee (Australia), 2007 MA Graduate

The PCS Program at TUFS is a challenging MA course that allows students to acquire specific tools to understand and work on issues related to peace and conflict, while at the same time putting us in contact with diverse peoples and their lives. This is because of two main aspects of the program: one the one hand, the program is very international with students coming from a wide range of countries, and on the other hand the program focuses on providing in-depth understanding of particular countries and regions.

The MA Program provides a balanced amount of theoretical background and allows studnets to spend a full semester or longer abroad to undertake fieldwork on which to base their MA Thesis. Antother good part of the Program is that students are given the option of learning Japanese or a wide variety of other languages taught at TUFS. I am very happy about having chosen to study at PCS.

~ Fernando Palacio (Argentina), 2006 MA Graduate