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PACS 201Roots of Conflict, Violence, and Peace

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
Peace and Conflict Studies

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An examination of influential theories about the sources and nature of conflict, violence, and peace. Contributions from the social sciences as well as the humanities will be explored, with attention to connections between interpersonal, intergroup, and international levels of analysis.

Prerequisites

None listed.

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001446620 / 60MW 11:30–12:50

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 08143260 / 100Online or by arrangement
LEC 701173530 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

66% liked it72% easy52% useful

From 41 ratings and 10 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Pretty good and interesting course, and very light workload. Easy to do well if you do the readings and content, which probably only take 1-2 hours a week. More theory based but still interesting to learn about and apply to real life.

    Apr 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • (I had narendran kumarakulasingam) This course had very long readings towards the end of the term. If you don't do the reading you really shouldn't show up, thats how important it is you do them. Some readings are easy to read and others are not. The course focuses on content from personal, relational, societial and global peace, conflict and violence. Personally I found the content to be very interesting, not all weeks but most of them. All the papers are research paper but my professor had office hours and you could go to talk about your paper. He was a little harder marker than usual. I got 5-10% than what I usually get in other classes. I felt that this course deals with a lot of…

    Mar 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I am first year student coming into PACS 201 with no prior knowledge. Class was fun, my Prof Nareen was an awesome bonus to the class. There is a decent amount of homework.

    Oct 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Super interesting and easy to do well if you do the readings and enjoy writing papers.

    Dec 2020 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Super easy class, and an engaging class.

    Aug 2017 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

28 posts and comments in 26 threads mention PACS 201, October 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2024

Winter 2024

Fall 2023

Fall 2022

BIRDIEST courses of all time 24 points, 38 comments

“Hi folks. What courses would you say are the BIRDIEST of all time? I won't need to pick courses till Winter but I'm trying to start getting a list together. …”

u/Purple-Bandicoot1393: “ALSO if anyones willing, can I have feedback on these courses (I know UWflow exists but reddit = more helpful imo) My eyes are on: PACS 203 - History of Peace Movements PACS 201 - Roots of Conflict/Viol/Peace LS 283 - Business law LS 273 - Children's Rights in Canada GEOG 219 - …”

u/TheDuo2Core: “took PACS 201, Dr. Lepp was super engaging and accommodating, 30% final and 30% report, 20% for summarizing 2 readings then 2 easy 10% writing assignments.”

u/Purple-Bandicoot1393: “Thank you! PACS 201 might be a pick for me since it's online. I think I want 1-2 online courses in spring since I've never done a full course-load yet in person (thanks covid).”

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Spring 2022

A GUIDE ON HOW TO PLAN AN OPTION 29 points, 15 comments

u/1000Ditto: “… List A online without prereqs: soc 101, phil 145, phil 201, phil 202, phil 215, phil 221, phil 324, pacs 201, pacs 202, pacs 203, gsj 222, geog 207 \[ GEOG 207 is the online one only one offered online on list A eng\] List C online without prereqs: The list is huge but includes …”

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Fall 2020

Spring 2020

PACS 201 vs 202 3 points, 1 comment

[deleted]: “Pls help me out torn between these two. Which one should I take? The prof for fall 2020 for PACS 201 is Eric Lepp. PACS 202 is either Kelly brown and Keith Regehr”

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Bird electives 4 points, 14 comments

[deleted]: “I have to take 2 electives here are the ones I’m considering. Also pls no CS, or math courses since I got no background. Can you guys pls let me know how these courses are. PACS 201 or 202 RS 121 SMF 101 HRM 200”

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Winter 2020

Fall 2019

Winter 2019

Anyone take PACS 201? 5 points, 1 comment

u/CanadianSeven: “Hey, I'm thinking of taking PACS 201 as an elective this summer and wanted to know if anyone had taken it before? What was it like? Did you take it online? Was it easy? Was it time-consuming? Thanks!”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar