Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s Dispute Resolution program highlights sought-after skills such as negotiation, mediation, leadership coaching, and conflict engagement. Students become trained to master the art of dispute resolution.

With conflict everywhere, opportunity is here

U.S. News & World Report has cited dispute resolution as one of the fastest-growing academic disciplines in the twenty-first century. Organizations are increasingly aware of the value of conflict management skills to enhance productivity, financial success, and personal satisfaction. A recent 2025 LinkedIn report identifies conflict mitigation as an imperative human-centric skill across a multitude of sectors and positions.


About the Program

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ for Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management provides students with human-centered, in-depth study of conflict theory as well as ample options for further specialization in areas such as organizational conflict, social services conflict, international conflict and dispute resolution in education. Students learn the arts of negotiation, mediation, leadership coaching, conflict engagement, and many other applications of dispute resolution and conflict management. The program actively incorporates role-plays from varied aspects of human relationships personally and professionally to engage the student in class participation. These exercises provide students with the skill and training necessary to become adept at the art of conflict resolution.

The Dispute Resolution curriculum emphasizes the development of skills vital to the resolution of business, domestic, education, management, public policy, church, legal, and healthcare disputes. The quality and uniqueness of the coursework stems, in significant measure, from its interdisciplinary approach to the study of conflict management. Rooted in the social and behavioral sciences, the faculty and curriculum integrate such diverse fields as psychology, team building, law, sociology, management theory, organizational development, and public policy. Organizations are increasingly aware of the importance of conflict management processes and facilitating collaboration to enhance productivity, financial success, and personal satisfaction in their employees. All of these factors indicate that dispute resolution is one of the most marketable skills in today’s world of business and commerce.


What Careers do Dispute Resolution students pursue?

  • Adjunct Instructor
  • Communication Specialist
  • Executive and Leadership Coach
  • Healthcare Practitioner
  • Human Resources Partner
  • Doctoral Student
  • Leadership Consultant
  • Legal Services Professional
  • Mediator/Arbitrator
  • Public Safety Professional
  • Talent Acquisition Manager
  • University Administrator

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