BA Peace, War, and Defense at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Programme overview

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 are passionate about diplomacy, strategy, or justice, the study of PWAD offers the foundation to explore the world’s most pressing issues. The curriculum puts a premium on experiential learning, combining academic expertise and practitioner experience to offer students classes rooted in real-world security dilemmas.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Peace, War, and Defense | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chapel Hill, NC, United States

What you will study

Required courses include PWAD 250 Introduction to Peace and Security Studies; HIST 266 Global History of Warfare; POLI 272 The Ethics of Peace; PWAD 280 Anthropology of War and Peace; HIST 335 Cracking India: Partition and Its Legacy in South Asia; PWAD 425 Beyond Hostilities: Israeli-Palestinian Exchanges and Partnerships in Film.

Career pathways

The study of peace, war, and defense opens doors to a wide range of impactful careers and advanced study.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-level admission applies (not programme-specific): apply through UNC-Chapel Hill Undergraduate Admissions; international applicants submit an English proficiency score (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge C1/C2) unless they qualify for the waiver, and transcripts translated into English.

Domestic applicants: USD 7,230 a year (2026-27). Full-time (12+ credit hours) undergraduate tuition for the year, stated as the tuition line of the 2026-27 in-state budget; one undergraduate rate band applies to all undergraduate degree programmes (NC resident rate, $3,615 per semester on the University Source

International applicants: USD 47,472 a year (2026-27). Full-time (12+ credit hours) undergraduate tuition for the year, stated as the tuition line of the 2026-27 out-of-state budget; one undergraduate rate band applies to all undergraduate degree programmes (non-resident rate, $23,736 per semester on the Univ Source

First-year applicants apply for fall enrollment (fall 2027 entry); transfer applicants apply through the Common Application with decisions by April 30.

First-year Early Action (non-binding): application deadline October 15, decision by December 20 for North Carolina residents and by February 15 for all other applicants. Regular Decision: application deadline January 15, decision by March 31. Enrollment confirmation deadline for both is May 1. Apply through the Common Application. The non-refundable application fee is $85, with a fee waiver available. SAT or ACT scores are optional with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above on a 4.0 scale; students below 2.8 must submit an ACT of 17 or higher or an SAT of 930 or higher.

Transfer applicants: application and fee or waiver due February 15; supporting materials and residency due March 15; decisions by April 30; enrollment confirmation by May 15. Apply through the Common Application; the non-refundable application fee is $85.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.unc.edu/

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