Graduate Programs in Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies

Course Descriptions

LEVEL 1

Interpersonal Conflict   (MED5101)    Credits: 3
Mediators do not check their "conflict selves" at the door. Every mediation is influenced by the mediator’s beliefs about conflict and ways of engaging conflict in their own lives. This course invites students to explore the ways their conflict engagement behavior enhances and limits their effectiveness as interveners.  Additionally, students explore the experience of confronting conflict as a way to more deeply understand and appreciate the experience they ask their parties to undertake in mediation and other conflict engagement processes. The course further examines how awareness of a “conflict self” challenges commonly accepted notions of mediator neutrality.

Conflict Intervention Skills   (MED5102)    Credits: 6
This course introduces tools, techniques, and strategies used to assist parties in problem solving and conflict engagement. Through class discussion and simulated exercises, students build familiarity with the full range of tools used by third-party interveners. Students explore various theoretical approaches to conflict and learn to identify when specific tools might be most useful within any given framework. Understanding that a third party inevitably influences the course of a conflict, students begin to explore the relationship between the "self" they bring to the conflict and their professional role as third parties. This course also introduces the concept of reflection in practice and students learn to use self-reflection as a tool for building competence.

Negotiation   (MED5103)    Credits: 1
This course offers an overview of negotiation theory and helps students integrate knowledge of negotiation behaviors and conflict intervention strategies. Participants learn how to identify the sources and role of “power” in negotiation, make comparative assessments of various negotiation strategies, accurately describe the strengths and weaknesses of integrative and distributive bargaining techniques, and articulate how understanding negotiation behaviors enhances mediation skill.

Principles of Conflict Analysis   (MED5104)    Credits: 3
Competence as a mediator is characterized in part by the ability to use conflict theory to inform practice. This course explores interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks for interpreting conflict and examines a broad range of academic disciplines -- including communications, law, social psychology, anthropology, and dispute resolution -- as sources of relevant theoretical foundations for the field. Students are invited to critically evaluate the respective bodies of theory and test theoretical principles against their own experiences in managing conflict. The course also introduces students to current models, approaches, and styles of mediation, and the theoretical underpinnings and applications of those approaches.

Research Methods 1 (MED5105)    Credits: 1
This course is an introduction to research design and scholarly literature review. With the goals of  understanding  and evaluating research and information relating to topics of interest to them such as conflict dynamics, engagement, and resolution, students read selected textbooks and explore electronic and other resources of their own choosing. Students share their writing and feedback with classmates and the instructor, practicing the MLA format.

Competence as a mediator is also characterized by the ability to reflect on one’s own beliefs and values and the way they influence intervention work. Accordingly, this course investigates the nature of reflective practice and creates a medium for students to examine their beliefs about conflict and its resolution, with an emphasis on the influence those beliefs have on mediation practice and on developing consistency between beliefs and practice.

LEVEL 2

Mediation Skills with Supervision   (MED5201)    Credits: 7
This course offers a combination of instruction, group discussion, skills practice, supervision, and simulated mediation role plays designed to help students become proficient in the management of the mediation process and to introduce large-group intervention processes.  Students are expected to participant in real mediations or interventions in their home community during the period between the two campus residencies of this Level. In the second residency, students bring questions and descriptions of real cases for classroom discussion and supervision. Case supervision will focus on skills mastery, including conflict analysis, evaluation of appropriateness for mediation, ability to use conflict theory, agreement writing, and professionalism.  

LEVEL 3

Research Methods 2   (MED 5305)    Credits: 1
Research Methods 2 is a continued personal exploration of research design and scholarly literature relevant to each student's capstone project, in order to recognize research plans appropriate for academic work, program evaluation, and conflict analysis.  Students design a research plan and incorporate a review of relevant literature into their capstone project. Students read selected textbooks while pursuing and evaluating additional resources of their own choosing.  Students “workshop” their writings with classmates and the instructor using MLA format.

Trends and Issues   (MED5302)    Credits: 3
This survey course provides an overview of the history, development, and nature of contemporary practice in the conflict engagement and resolution field, including current issues, debates, and trends. The course explores the historical foundations of the field, the way those foundations influence the field today, and the ways the field is adapting to current sociological, economic, and cultural trends. The course also examines the critical role of identity issues, including culture, gender, and class, in the analysis and resolution of conflict. Finally, students will examine current issues and debates in order to develop informed opinions on these issues and a deeper capacity for reflective practice.

Ethics and Impartiality   (MED5303)    Credits: 3
Mediators have a responsibility to their clients, the public, and the field to practice in an ethical manner. In this course students explore the nature of ethical practice by examining the principle tenets of mediation with particular emphasis on impartiality.

Impartiality is one of the defining characteristics and paramount ethical obligations of the independent mediator. The skill of being fully engaged while maintaining the commitment to serve without bias toward either party is both difficult and essential.

In this course, students examine the personal, philosophical, and professional dimensions of impartiality and ethical practice through research and analysis of the literature in mediation and associated fields, and the applicability and limitations of professional standards. Through personal reflection and practical application students learn how to employ the concepts of ethics and impartiality in the practice of mediation.

Advanced Practice   (MED5340)    Credits: 6
This course moves the student into intensive work in understanding the “mind of the mediator” and developing mediation practice into an art form. Students in this course:  1) Examine how their “conflict selves” affect their mediation work with clients, 2) become proficient at making and explaining strategic choices in a conflict process, and 3) expand their repertoire of skills in dealing with emotions, managing complex issues, analyzing conflict, mediating multi-party disputes, working in a regulated environment, and managing mediations when advocates are present. Students also examine how class, culture, power, and gender affect mediation. Advanced readings on mediation practice provide an array of comparative views for the development of a personal mediation style.

Legal Issues in Mediation   (MED5304)    Credits: 2
Mediation of disputes often occurs in the "shadow of the law." This online course introduces students to the legal process and the roles of its primary actors - lawyers, judges, and legislators. By exploring the nature of civil law suits and rights-based advocacy, students will be able to appraise the relationship between mediation and the law, and understand how both the legal system and the mediation process affect disputing parties. The course also examines specific legal issues relevant to mediators, such as document drafting, professional liability, mandatory mediation, and mediator certification.

Special Topics   (MED5320 to 5329)    Credits: 1-3
Special Topics allows the faculty to introduce a series of short courses on a variety of subjects throughout Level 3. Topics may include, for example, restorative justice, state ADR systems, or multi-cultural conflicts. In addition, some classes will be taught by well-known guest instructors from around the country.

Capstone Project   (MED 5400)   Credits: 3
The Capstone Project is an opportunity to pursue an independent learning experience focused on an issue that is of strong interest to the student. The project is intended to stretch students beyond what they have previously learned and to build on skills and knowledge in ways that are relevant to their professional goals.

Students conduct a project -- such as case study, research project, training, program design or evaluation, or paper – that seeks to deepen understanding of an area of keen interest.

Each student presents his or her findings in an oral presentation and in a 20-30 page written document that contains a review of relevant literature as well as a description of how the project relates to that literature. Students work closely with one another on Capstone Projects offering ongoing comment and constructive criticism as the project develops.