Even as modern communications and technology reshape our world, the fault lines that divide ethnic, religious and cultural populations continue to divide nations and regions and bring misery to millions of innocent people. And, with each passing year, the risks that such conflict and violence pose to our collective well-being only increase. Perhaps never before has there been a greater need for pr
ofessionals possessed with skills and creative approaches to conflict resolution and peaceful coexistence. The Coexistence and Conflict program at Brandeis University, launched in 2004 with the help of the Alan B. Slifka Foundation, is designed to help the leaders of tomorrow acquire those skills and meet those challenges. The program was launched and developed until 2009 under the auspices of Brandeis University's International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life. This history reflects our ongoing commitments to working across disciplinary boundaries and promoting integrity. The Master's Program in Coexistence and Conflict (COEX) is designed for early and mid-career professionals who work within governments, international agencies, non-government organizations or related fields, such as security and diplomacy, aid and development, human rights, democracy work, education, civil society and community development. Students are trained in theoretical and practical issues of coexistence in divided societies. The goal is to enhance the capabilities of students to promote coexistence through their work in governmental and non-governmental institutions and provide them with the professional skills to design and implement successful interventions that enable groups, nations and regions to embrace coexistence values. The curriculum includes an academic year in residence followed by six months of combined fieldwork and final paper, leading either to an internship report, a master's paper or master's thesis. It is designed to help students develop the ability to foster inter-communal and international cooperation in the face of tension and conflict. The approach is interdisciplinary, drawing from fields as diverse as social psychology, international politics, sociology, law, anthropology and cultural studies.
