Information for Prospective Students
Follow the links on the left for detailed information about applying to either the Graduate Certificate or Masters Program in Dispute Resolution. Listed below are answers to the questions we are asked most frequently by prospective students.
If you have a question for which you can't find the answer on these pages, please contact the Assistant Director.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Graduate Certificate and the Master of Arts?
The simplest answer is that the Certificate is 18 credit hours and the Master's is 36 credit hours. The Certificate can be completed in two semesters of full time study or three semesters, studying part time; the Master of Arts is a minimum of two years of full time study or three to four years part-time.
The Master of Arts curriculum offers students the opportunity to "dig deeper" into the subject matter by studying the theory and practice of conflict across and within cultures and organizations, and the ethics of dispute resolution intervention. Finally, the six credit Master's project allows Master's students to explore in depth their area of interest.
Can I transfer from the Graduate Certificate to the Master of Arts?
Yes, with permission. All eighteen credits taken as a Certificate student will transfer to the Master of Arts.
When is your application deadline?
We conduct what is called "rolling admissions." That means that we accept applications throughout the year with final deadlines of 4 weeks prior to the start of semester for all required materials. International Applicant Deadlines are in early May (for fall semester entry) and October (for spring semester entry).
We conduct our search such that there is always space available for students who meet the final deadlines. Although we accept applications after the final deadlines, we do not guarantee that there is space left in the class.
Can I take a class as a non-degree student before I apply?
Yes, you can. Many students do this as a way to "sample" the program before applying.
One or two courses per semester are open to non-degree students. If you take a course as a non-degree student and later enroll in one of our degree programs, the credits will be counted towards your degree. Contact the Assistant Director to find out how to enroll as a non-degree student.
What days and times are classes held?
Our classes are held during late afternoon, evening, and occasional week-end hours. Each class meets once per week, generally for 2.5 hours. Weekday classes meet Monday- Thursday during one of three time blocks: 4:15 to 6:45 p.m., 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Week-end class schedules vary, and are announced well in advance of registration for each scheduled class.
There is one important exception to this general pattern: the internship (DisRes 690). To complete the internship, you must be in court for one morning or afternoon per week for four months.
When do terms start?
As a general rule, the fall term runs from September through December; classes start just after Labor Day and end mid-December. The spring term usually begins the last week of January or first week of February and continues through mid-May. Summer term runs from the beginning of June through mid-July.
Can I study part time?
Yes. Many of our students study part time and hold full time, professional jobs and have family responsibilities. The curriculum is designed to accommodate working adults.
How many credits are required for part time study?
Masters students who study part time take six credits per semester, which usually equals two classes each week. Certificate students may take one class per semester.
How much can I expect to pay per semester?
This costs for attending vary by your resident status (that is, whether or not you are considered a Massachusetts resident), the number of credits for which you register, whether or not you have independent health insurance, and several other factors. Employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are eligible for tuition waivers. For a complete (and up-to-date) breakdown of tuition and fees, please visit http://www.umb.edu/students/bursar/tuition_fees.shtml
What kind of funding or scholarship help is available?
Students in both the Graduate Certificate and the Master of Arts are eligible for student loans. For more information on government-supported aid, please contact the Financial Aid office at http://www.umb.edu/students/financial_aid/index.html.
The University offers a limited number of Graduate Assistantships to qualified Masters candidates. Assistants work with a faculty member on her or his research, earn a small cash stipend, and qualify for reductions of tuition and fees. Follow the link for financial aid for more information on assistantships.
Current Students
Beth Golibersuch
Beth Golibersuch is a Masters student in the Dispute Resolution Program with specific interests in conflicts among adolescents and adolescent groups. She began her experience in the conflict resolution field as a student mediator in her hometown of Columbia, Maryland. From there she went on to receive her Bachelors degree in Non-Violent Conflict and Change as well as Public Relations from Syracuse University. Since graduation, Beth has worked in the advertising and marketing industry in the Washington, DC area as a client service executive. She wishes to possibly move on to work with youth violence prevention and intervention programs. Beth is a research assistant for Roni Lipton and enjoys reading, traveling, cheering on her favorite sports teams, and playing with her beagle, Lucky.
Chloe Berwind-Dart
Chloe Berwind-Dart is a Masters candidate in the Dispute Resolution Program. Chloe attended Wellesley College and Oberlin College where she received a Bachelor of Arts with High Honors. For the past three years she worked as the Director of Special Projects at a multi-generational social service agency in Cambridge, MA. Her current academic interests include the study of human rights, international conflict resolution, mindful practice, elder mediation, and community youth development.
Lindsay Lamarre
Lindsay Lamarre is a Masters student in the Dispute Resolution Program with specific interests in international conflicts. She is a research assistant for Professor Sascha Sheehan. Lindsay received her bachelors degree in Political Science from the University of Delaware. She has also attended learning seminars in Peacebuilding and Development at American University and Alternative Dispute Resolution at Fordham Law School. Most recently Lindsay has worked as a legal assistant in a law firm. She began her interest in the conflict resolution field as a Peer Mediator while attending high school in New Jersey. Lindsay enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Manouchka Jacques
Manouchka Jacques is a Masters student in the Dispute Resolution Program. Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Manouchka has lived in Massachusetts for many years where she graduated from Westfield State College with a dual degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science. She completed an internship with the US Department of Justice Office for Civil Rights in Washington, DC and currently works in Human Resources for a major scientific department at MIT. Manouchka wishes to use her skills developed in the program to pursue her goals of working with the United Nations to promote and facilitate peaceful negotiations between nations in conflict, particularly Third World countries.
Robin Escobar
Robin Escobar is a Masters student in the Dispute Resolution Program. She comes with a family studies and sociology background from Brigham Young University. As an undergraduate she was involved with BYU law school's community mediation program where she became certified in basic and domestic mediation and volunteered for the program. Her interests in dispute resolution range from family issues to terrorism. She is currently working as a research assistant to Professor Sascha Sheehan. In her free time she enjoys running, playing tennis, and being part of the city life in Boston.
Scott Spiegler
Scott Spiegler is a masters student in the Dispute Resolution program. Scott graduated summa cum laude from Brown University and has spent the vast majority of his career as a software engineer working in the private sector. He recently decided to do something "for the greater good of people living and conflicting on this planet." Scott's interest in this discipline stems from his training and experience in Interfaith Dialog. As he has become more involved with conflict resolution, Scott's interest has grown to encompass conflict analysis- the pre-resolution phase, the circumstances that surround a conflict and how this conflict came to be in the first place. In his spare time, he is a classical cellist and also plays a number of folk guitars from the Latin American countries.