Hello, and welcome to the course blog for Peace Communication!  This is an interdisciplinary travel course for undergraduate and graduate students at Chapman University; a medium sized private university in Southern California.  The instructors for this course are Drs. Sara LaBelle and Lisa Leitz, Associate Professors in the School of Communication and the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, respectively.

This course takes students to various locations to analyze the communication strategies of organizations that pursue peace and social justice, situating this communication within the specific history and culture of the area.  This summer, we are partnering with the Center for International Experiential Learning to visit Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

During the Summer 2025 session, students will visit historical, cultural, and political sites of importance in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, and Dublin (as well as the border regions and the Antrim Coast) for an immersive course examining the region’s complex history and evolving peace process. This unique experiential learning opportunity offers direct engagement with politicians, community leaders, NGOs, and others to provide a comprehensive understanding of the conflict’s lasting impact. Students will learn about and critically consider topics such as segregation, gender, policing, transgenerational trauma, and economics as they relate to peacebuilding and reconciliation. Through travel and in-person learning, participants will witness the challenges of post-conflict justice and gain invaluable insight into bridging divisions and fostering lasting peace. 

Please feel free to follow along our educational journey as we post about each day of the course!