Certificate Program in Conflict Resolution

Employment of mediators and conciliators is projected to grow 11 percent between 2006 and 2016.
—Bureau of Labor Statistics

Mediation is often mandated in state and federal courts, and is essential in any situation when stakeholders have colliding points of view. Learn to create more collaborative dialogue and activity. Gain a firm understanding of the concepts of collaborative dialogue and the ability to demonstrate that knowledge in a broad variety of fields.

Highly qualified instructors bring extensive expertise to each course. Acquire a firm foundation in this expanding field. Learn to take the concepts of conflict resolution and apply that knowledge to effective agreement and effort.

Gain practical knowledge that matters

• Discover tools to address and resolve conflicts through better communication.
• Gain a solid understanding of the theoretical basis of conflict resolution and rich hands-on experience with conflict resolution practices.
• Explore current models of conflict resolution that are applied interpersonal, organizational, community and international situations.
• Refine your ability to mediate, facilitate, negotiate, and build consensus and collaboration.

Designed for professionals like you

This program is designed for a broad audience—for those seeking conflict resolution skills to benefit their current careers and for those interested in a new career in conflict resolution. It is recommended for anyone interested in developing knowledge and skills in mediation, facilitation, collaborative decision-making and other forms of problem-solving and conflict resolution. The curriculum, which blends the theoretical and the practical, helps you learn to create more collaborative dialogue and action in such fields as agriculture, health, education, business, environmental planning, human resources or law.

Key features

• Courses that provide a sense of the breadth and depth of the field of conflict resolution. Our courses provide an overview of key processes of facilitation, mediation and community engagement, as well as specific skills and strategies that will help you in your workplace or practice.
• The opportunity to learn with leading practitioners. Our faculty work with a variety of federal, state and local governments, as well as public and private community organizations. What they all have in common are solid reputations as conflict resolution professionals and a strong interest in engaging with adult learners around the many critical issues and topics related to conflict resolution.
• A combination of face-to-face and distance education course delivery. This program offers you the chance to engage with fellow learners and your instructor in dynamic, face-to-face settings, and to also connect with them in the reflective space offered through online courses. Our program allows you to take courses that are scheduled at times that are convenient for you, and also to immediately apply the practical theories learned to your workplace and community.
• The opportunity to engage in a practical project within your community or organization. The Theory to Practice Seminar is a 60-hour, field-based project taken at the end of your program. This project will help you gain practical experience in the area(s) of most interest to you. Here you will sharpen your conflict resolution skills and reflect with experienced mentors.

How the program works

To earn your certificate in Conflict Resolution, you must complete seven core courses and your choice of four or more electives for a total of at least 16.5 units. The chart below shows the required and elective courses, along with the quarter in which each is offered.

You do not need to formally enroll in the certificate program prior to taking any of these courses. Courses may be transferred into the program after official admission and acceptance.

Program costs

Total tuition for all courses in the program varies from $5,640 - $5,875 according to your choice of electives. The cost does not include textbooks and other course materials, but may be tax deductible if courses maintain or improve professional skills or meet the epxress requirement of your employer. For more information about tax deductibility, visit http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics.

Quarterly schedule of courses

		UNITS	F	W	SP	SU
REQUIRED COURSES	Introduction to Mediation, Facilitation and Community Engagement	2
	Theory of Conflict Resolution and Community Engagement	2
	Collaborative Problem-Solving	1.5
	Mediation	2
	Facilitating Group Dynamics	1
	Community Engagement	2
	Theory to Practice Seminar	2
ELECTIVE COURSES	Difficult Conversations	1
	Facilitating Complex Disputes	1
	Facilitating Effective Public Meetings	0.5
	How to Work with Difficult People	0.5
	Managing Community Conflict	1
	Managing Workplace Conflict	0.5
	Working with Cross-Cultural Conflict Dynamics	1
	F=Fall W=Winter SP=Spring SU=Summer; Schedules subject to change Classroom format Online Learning format

Required Courses

Introduction to Mediation, Facilitation and Community Engagement

2 quarter units academic credit, X414.10.

Become a vital problem-solver in your organization or community. Build a solid foundation in the basics of conflict resolution, with specific focus on the practice of mediation, facilitation and the range of processes related to the prevention and resolution of conflict within communities. Gain an understanding of the history and interdisciplinary roots of the field, as well as the critical issues of which today’s mediators must be aware. This introduction prepares you for the remaining courses in the Conflict Resolution Certificate Program.

Sections of this course open for enrollment:

• Introduction to Mediation, Facilitation and Community Engagement    starts February 22, 2010

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Theory of Conflict Resolution and Community Engagement

2 quarter units academic credit, X414.11.

Expand your professional potential with training in conflict resolution for organizations and communities. Help groups and individuals involved in disputes create a climate of constructive discussion by understanding the different theories, dynamics and frameworks of conflict.

Learn how cultural factors, power imbalances and differing personal and professional perspectives influence the perception and resolution of conflict. Explore the intersection of conflict resolution with the theory and practice of community engagement. Using thought-provoking case studies and practical projects, learn to integrate concepts with practice.

Sections of this course open for enrollment:

• Theory of Conflict Resolution and Community Engagement    starts January 11, 2010

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Collaborative Problem-Solving

1.5 quarter units academic credit, X414.13.

Discover collaborative methods and techniques for problem solving and conflict resolution. Learn to find mutually agreeable solutions to challenging situations between individuals and/or organizations so that projects and programs can move forward. Examine the differences among interests, issues, options and proposals, and the ways in which effective groups, facilitators and/or mediators structure and guide problem-solving processes to create acceptable results for all parties involved.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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Mediation

2 quarter units academic credit, X414.12.

Gain an understanding of the stages of mediation: case development, convening, setting an agenda, consensus building, issue-framing and prioritizing. Explore different mediation models and examine ethical considerations. Learn the communication skills required for successful mediation. The mediation process presents complex challenges for mediators and participants. 

Mediators must have the ability to guide complex processes to assist parties in conflict to arrive at mutually agreeable solutions. Whether you are a seasoned professional mediator looking to strengthen your skills, or you are new to the field and want to develop a solid foundation in mediation processes, acquire the knowledge to better understand the complexities involved in professional mediation.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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Facilitating Group Dynamics

1 quarter units academic credit, X414.8.

Learn and practice the essential facilitation skills and techniques required for successful group and team processes and meetings. Become a vital resource and gain the ability to create an environment where people can do their best thinking and work. Through group activities, self-assessment and group discussions, learn the methods of creating a safe, productive environment. Gain the skills to engage people and guide your group to its goals. Discover the principles of ethical facilitation, the characteristics of effective teams and how people learn and integrate information.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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Community Engagement

2 quarter units academic credit, X414.14.

Communities face increasingly complex issues and challenges that require shared solutions developed through broad public engagement. Learn to develop collaborative solutions. Discover models and learn strategies to foster effective community engagement. Discuss examples (both successful and otherwise) of such involvement.

Gain the practical knowledge and learn effective strategies to lead others to collaborate on issues such as growth, budgeting, transportation and resource management. Elected officials, public engagement experts, technical experts, public agency representatives and community leaders will benefit.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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Theory to Practice Seminar

2 quarter units academic credit, X414.15.

Gain practical experience in the area(s) of most interest to you with this capstone seminar that completes the Conflict Resolution Certificate Program. Sharpen your conflict resolution skills and reflect with experienced mentors.

The mentor must be a professional who is connected to the organization or community group where you engage your project, and is the person with whom you work in the field. A project supervisor coordinates project placement and conducts the Theory to Practice Seminar.

Proposal guidelines (140 KB)

This course is not currently scheduled.

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Elective Courses

Difficult Conversations

1 quarter units academic credit, X414.20.

Discover strategies for reducing the need to have “difficult” conversations. Increase your understanding of how the brain works and how what happens in our minds affects our conversations. Many conversations, even those that begin well, end in frustration for both parties. Examine how and why conversations become unfocused, and learn to put them back on track.

Sections of this course open for enrollment:

• Difficult Conversations    starts January 13, 2010

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Facilitating Complex Disputes

1 quarter units academic credit, X414.16.

Multi-party, multifaceted disputes require expertise in creating an environment of dialogue, creativity and agreement. Complex disputes often involve long timelines, intense issues, high stakes and histories of conflict—meaning you must be proficient in group problem solving, proactive in heading off stalemates and refined in communication techniques. 

Learn general strategies and specific tools to support collaborative resolutions of complex issues or disputes within or among organizations. Gain the ability to help others develop solutions for diverse and opposing interests.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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Facilitating Effective Public Meetings

0.5 quarter units academic credit, X414.9.

Learn to assess whether a meeting must or should be a public meeting and how to prepare to facilitate an effective public meeting. Discover methods to determine when it is advisable to open meetings to the public. Gain the unique skills facilitators need for planning, facilitating and evaluating public meetings. Personnel from agencies that convene public meetings, facilitation professionals and meeting participants benefit from this knowledge. Experience with and an understanding of basic facilitation is assumed. This course is an excellent complement to Facilitating Group Dynamics.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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How to Work with Difficult People

0.5 quarter units academic credit, X414.17.

Don't let a difficult customer, co-worker or stranger ruin your day. Practice setting limits and saying "no" to protect yourself from problem people. Learn how to understand difficult people, defuse emotion and move to constructive problem-solving. You'll see an immediate difference in your daily interactions with this course's practical, positive approaches to conflict.

Build your skills in: learning how difficult people think, feel and act; creating realistic expectations to avoid conflict; defusing emotion and creating rapport; handling complaints, saying "no" and delivering bad news; setting limits; and staying calm and confident under fire.

Sections of this course open for enrollment:

• How to Work with Difficult People    starts February 17, 2010

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Managing Community Conflict

1 quarter units academic credit, X414.18.

Examine the concepts and tools needed to best address community conflict. Many communities face increasingly complex disputes between individuals, groups and organizations that cover an ever broader range of issues—land use, housing, policing and noise. 

Gain practical advice on community mediation "best practices" as well as on how to hold effective town hall meetings. Community leaders, mediators, public officials, staff and board members of non-profit groups, as well as members of the general public, benefit from acquiring the knowledge to resolve community conflict.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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Managing Workplace Conflict

0.5 quarter units academic credit, X414.2.

Differences and disagreements between individuals can intensify and negatively impact entire work groups within an organization. Human resource managers spend up to 60 percent of their time dealing with employee disputes, according to a recent article on careerbuilder.com. 

Develop the skills to effectively and efficiently resolve these kinds of disputes by understanding the underlying causes of workplace conflict. Learn to distinguish between functional and dysfunctional workplace conflicts, and determine how to effectively manage them. Become skilled at recognizing the stages of conflict, identifying effective methods of intervention and successfully accomplishing the interventions.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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Working with Cross-Cultural Conflict Dynamics

1 quarter units academic credit, X414.19.

Explore interpersonal and inter-group conflict, in which parties have substantially different cultural perspectives, based on nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, religion or other cultural dimensions. Learn to identify your preferred conflict management style, and to recognize and implement alternative ways to frame and resolve conflict in situations where cultural differences impede understanding. Experiential learning activities and intercultural communication theory serve as the foundations for reflection on your own approach to conflict between individuals, and within organizations and communities. Gain the practical experience to recognize cross-cultural conflict and develop constructive approaches for resolution. The increasing cultural diversity within communities and organizations requires that facilitators, mediators and anyone involved in negotiations have the knowledge and skills to work cross-culturally.

Sections of this course open for enrollment:

• Working with Cross-Cultural Conflict Dynamics    starts December 3

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