Studies In War and Peace (SWAP) Program

The only undergraduate program of its kind in the U.S., Norwich University’s interdisciplinary Studies in War and Peace (SWAP) program encourages you to approach peace and conflict resolution from divergent angles and develop skills across disciplines, from history to political science.

War and peace can only be understood by appreciating the social forces that produce them. Why do people say they want peace while glorifying war? Does interdependence between countries like the United States and China make conflict more or less likely? How has warfare changed over time and across cultures, and what explains these changes? What is the relationship between war, peace, and justice? These are some of the questions Studies in War and Peace majors ask and try to answer.

Our program is focused, but also interdisciplinary. Majors take courses not only in history and political science, but also in English, economics, philosophy, modern languages, and sociology. SWAP majors learn to think critically and analytically, challenging commonly held and widely accepted beliefs.

Through summer courses, students learn by touring battlefields in small groups, guided by experts. Even the most technologically sophisticated classroom can’t replace the experience of being where human beings fought and died. Through these courses, students come to appreciate physical and environmental conditions and decision-making in ways not possible by sitting in a classroom.