THE  STUDY OF PEACEMAKING AND JUSTICE IN THE PALESTINIAN CONTEXT

Short Courses  and Stand-Alone Lectures in Peacemaking and Justice in the Palestinian Context

The Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice offers  short, self-paced, and non-graded courses  for minimal cost.  Additionally, it  offers single lectures at no cost which introduce participants to the BIPJ and our Certificate Program.

Certificate Program in Peacemaking and Justice in the Palestinian Context

  • The Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice will offer beginning in the Fall semester in 2021 a joint undergraduate and Graduate Certificate Program in Peacemaking and Justice in the Palestinian Context. The Certificate Program is interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, that challenges and helps prepare effective peacemakers.

  • It includes two semester-length (Fall and Spring semesters), online, asynchronous, instructor-led, and self-contained (all readings are online on our learning platform) courses. The full Certificate Program also includes two weeks of intensive study and praxis in Bethlehem in May.
  • All online courses and the May Intensive are in English. These courses can be added to students’ BA or MA studies in their home university or provide a valuable credential for professionals. The courses also can be taken for audit.

Master of Arts (MA) in Peace and Justice:

Peacebuilding, Public Theology, and the Palestinian Context.

The MA in Peace and Justice is an innovative, accredited and primarily online degree that the Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice is offering in partnership with the Jim Forest Institute for Religion, Peace & Justice at St. Stephen’s University, New Brunswick, Canada. This is a two-year degree that consists of 39 credits. The courses in our Certificate Program are included within the MA curriculum, including the two-week Summer Intensive at Bethlehem. The graduate degree program will be for Palestinian and
international students interested in peace studies and nonviolent struggle as supported by theological, contemplative, and interfaith considerations within a Palestinian context.

W

e are also now offering a Masters in Peace and Justice that concludes with a project rather than a thesis.

Short-term Residential Programs

The BPIJ  offers  intensive short-term residential programs of several days to one week for college and university students and church groups.

These programs will combine lectures as well as opportunities to interact with the Palestinian community. The short-term programs will be offered at strategic times during the academic year to accommodate students during their January term or spring break.

Additionally, the BIPJ and the College provide lectures for groups who visit the college for an hour or two.

 Academic Symposium

The Institute  conducts academic symposiums, bringing together scholars to present their research and discuss critical issues related to peacemaking and justice in Palestine and Israel and other contexts globally. These conferences will place particular emphasis on scholars from the Global South.  For example, in April 2023 the Institute sponsored an academic symposium on the topic “Normalization or Resistance: Palestinian Christian Responses to Oppression.” 

Residential Scholars

The Institute conducts a resident scholar program that offers one or two semesters-length residencies for committed scholars. The scholars will be noted for their research in an area of study that advances the work of the BIPJ’s study of peacemaking and justice in the Palestinian context. Each scholar will present one significant lecture each semester that is open to all to attend. These lectures will be a part of the BIPJ’s Lecture Series in Peace and Justice.  In terms of logistics, the resident scholar must obtain their own visa.  Three month tourist visas suffice for the residency. The College will provide a room or small apartment and a few meals per week. Other expenses such as travel, local expenses, and most meals are the responsibility of the resident scholar. 

Qualitative Research Program

Focusing on the students at Bethlehem Bible College, this program plans to train young scholars in qualitative field research to research the needs and changing trends in the Palestinian community. This research will build a body of scholarship that will inform the pursuit of peacemaking and justice and the strengthening of Palestinian society.

BIPJ Articles and Writing

The BIPJ  provides a platform for scholars to present their research on Peacebuilding and Justice. The BIPJ invites scholars and practitioners to submit recent work for consideration for posting on the website. We are also pleased to post with attribution  articles and other writing that is published elsewhere. 

Interfaith Dialogue Project

The faculties of Shari’a Law in An-Najah National University in Nablus and of Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem  formed  an academic coalition in October 2019 to  enhance interfaith relationships in Muslim and Christian institutions. These two leading institutions in Palestine that prepare religious leaders and shape religious thinking will complement each other’s efforts to build a society shaped by freedom and diversity. This cooperative dialogue project features prominently in the program of the Certificate Program’s Summer Intensive.   Students in the Intensive visit An-Najah University for a day to interact with professors and students there.

ACCREDITATION

  • Palestinian  Ministry of Higher Education
  • ATA, Asia Theological Association.
  • MEATE, Middle East Association of Theological Education