Summer 2025 Peace Scholars Course Description

Become a Peace Scholar!

Established in 2011, the Peace Scholars Program is designed to deepen understanding of central issues and theories of dialogue, peace-building, conflict, and war. Two students from each of five Lutheran participating colleges and universities form a group of collaborative scholars.

Open to sophomores and juniors. Applicants must be returning to PLU as students in Fall term next year.

The fully funded program includes:

  1. Study in Norway for six weeks in the summer: study includes a one-night cabin stay during an Introductory Dialogue Week.
  2. Roundtrip airfare, room and board for the six weeks.
  3. Participation in a U.S. program component for a weekend, with other Peace Scholars in Minnesota.

Peace Scholar Studies

Peace scholars participate in an interdisciplinary six-week undergraduate level course in peace studies at the Oslo International Summer School. The course includes both classroom instruction and visits to prominent institutions dealing with peace and conflict. Upon return to the PLU campus, students work with the Peace Scholars coordinator and committee to promote the program through presentations and recruitment meetings.

Travel, lodging and meals related to the Peace Scholars summer study are paid for by PLU and generous donors. Students with financial need may be eligible for additional funding for non-program costs.

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Peace Scholars, Kristen Ronning & Ashley Lopez Mora!

Peace Scholars Attend the Nobel Peace Prize Forum

Nobel Peace Prize Forum
2017 PLU Peace Scholars Cate Rush and Austin Beiermann.

Peace Scholars travel to Norway in June for seven weeks, with Peace Scholars from other U.S. universities and students from around the world. In the past they also attended and participated in the Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minneapolis (now renamed into Human Rights Forum).

Read the full story about 2017 Peace Scholars here

Summer Study: Oslo International Summer School

The summer school is a vibrant international environment in which students from over 80 countries take part. The 10 Peace Scholars take a Peace Seminar together.

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Introductory Dialogue Week

The seminar will begin with a one night cabin tour in Oslo with all the Peace Scholars. The week is an introduction to the idea of dialogue and what it means to engage in dialogue.

Norway House in Minneapolis / Peace Scholars One Day Presentation

Past and newly selected Peace Scholars will gather at the Norway House in Minneapolis in April to give a panel presentation. This gathering is also an opportunity to strengthen the program's goals amongst the individual participants.

When they weren’t busy studying peacebuilding and conflict with students from all over the world, PLU Peace Scholars Ariel Wood ’17 and Theo Hofrenning ’17 explored downtown Oslo and Norway’s southeastern coast. Learn more about the Peace Scholar program at plu.edu/peace-scholars.