The Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution [M. A.] offers a comprehensive curriculum encompassing dispute resolution skill, practice, analysis, theory, and research.  Students have the opportunity to explore conflict in a context of particular interest to them.  Areas of concentration include organizational and international conflict, as well as environmental and health care conflict.  Concentrations can be pursued through foundation and elective courses within the department, elective courses in other areas of the University, field placements in organizations, and design of final projects.

 

The M. A. program comprises 36 credit hours, including eight 3-credit courses, a 6-credit mediation training and field internship in the District Court system, plus a 6-credit Masters Project. Additional field placement opportunities are available.

 

The Masters program can be completed in two years of full-time study, or 3-4 years of part-time study.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

36 credits total, plus attendance at Department Colloquia [see below]

 

Required Courses: 30 credits

621: Negotiation [3 credits]

622: Ethics and Public Policy [3 credits]

623: Introductory Theory [3 credits]

624: Cross-Cultural Conflict [3 credits]

625: Conflict, Organizations and Systems [3 credits]

635: Research Methods in Dispute Resolution [3 credits]

690: Internship [6 credits]

693: Master's Project [6 credits]

 

 

Elective Courses: 6 credits

Elective courses may be taken in other graduate departments; at least one elective course must be taken in the Dispute Resolution department.

Elective courses offered in any given year will vary, and most electives are offered once every

2-3 years. Elective offerings include:

627: Environmental Conflict [3 credits]

631: Family and Divorce Mediation [3 credits]

633: ADR in the Workplace [3 credits]

636: Conflict in Workgroups [3 credits]

697: Special Topics in Dispute Resolution [3 credits]

topics vary by term; recent topics have included

International Intervention

Dispute Resolution in Public Disputes

603: Advanced Negotiation and Mediation [3 credits]

topics vary by term; recent topics have included

Approaches to International Conflict

Women and Conflict

Arab Israeli Negotiations

Conflict in Health Care

Click here to view the current Academic Calendar and Class Schedules.

Dispute Resolution Department Colloquium Series: attendance at 5 of the 7 colloquia offered during the academic year

An important part of the Dispute Resolution program is the interaction with faculty and fellow students which takes place outside of the classroom. Departmental colloquia, which are scheduled monthly, provide an opportunity to discuss issues and share viewpoints. All students in both the Masters and Certificate programs are strongly encouraged to attend as many of the colloquia as possible.

Attendance at 5 of the 7 colloquia offered during the academic year is a graduation requirement.

Click here to view the current Colloquium Series schedule

The Masters Project

Students design projects that integrate the knowledge and skills acquired during their training. Projects can take a variety of forms; examples include:

 

*empirical research

*apprenticeships with professionals or agencies

*evaluations or analyses of existing practices

*creation of new conflict resolution programs or curricula tailored to

         specific, identified, unmet needs

Each project culminates in a work product, such as a research paper or written account of the applied project that demonstrates substantial progress beyond previous learning.