GRAD > CONRES
Conflict Resolution Courses
CONRES 603 Advanced Negotiation and Mediation +
Description:
This course builds on the introductory courses and examines the resolution of conflict in different contexts. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 621 Negotiation (M) +
Description:
Negotiation is the bedrock skill in this field. The course addresses the development of negotiation techniques and fosters student knowledge of the substantial body of negotiation theory that is now available. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 623 Introductory Theory +
Description:
This course examines the theories and assumptions underpinning the practice of negotiation and mediation. It identifies the major schools of thought that influence models in practice and shape research agendas. It examines theories critically, with three aims-uncovering implicit assumptions of practice, testing those assumptions against empirical evidence or other theories, and gleaning insights to assist practitioners. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 624 Cross-Cultural Conflict +
Description:
This course emphasizes the special characteristics of conflict based in religious, ethnic, national, or racial identity-conflicts that the field calls ''intractable.'' The primary focus of the course is on intervention techniques that have been used and that have been proposed for use in these settings. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 625 Conflict Resolution Systems for Organizations +
Description:
This course examines different systems for managing conflict. The system may exist in a large corporation, or between two or among many nations, between labor and management, or within a family. The system may be explicit and clear, informal and invisible, or both. The system may be effective or not. The course explores different kinds of conflict management systems and criteria for measuring their effectiveness; and discusses the analysis and design of dispute managing systems. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
CONRES 626 Advanced Intervention +
Description:
This course applies the principles of mediation and other forms of intervention to a particular context. Each year, the specific course context changes. Possibilities include intervention in environmental disputes, family disputes, organizational disputes, or international disputes. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 627 Inter-Group Dialogue & Facilitation +
Description:
This course will critically examine the role of dialogue as a conflict intervention practice, with an emphasis on inter-group dialogue. At a theoretical and conceptual level, the course will focus on exploring the goals of dialogue processes and their potential for enabling understanding between individuals from multiple identity groups. The course will place a particular emphasis on comparing different approaches to or models of dialogue, and on considering the many factors that must be considered when designing and planning a dialogue process. At a practical level, this course will focus on preparing students to facilitate, and provide opportunities for facilitation, cross-cultural dialogue. Through a partnership with Soliya (www.soliya.net), students in this class will participate in Soliya's Facilitation Training & Practicum (FTP). Participating in the FTP will be required of all students and will occur concurrently with the course, allowing for in-class reflection of FTP experiences and integration of the hands-on component of the FTP with the theoretical content of the course. The FTP will include 2 components: first, students will complete a 20-hour, intensive facilitation training (4 hours/week for 5 weeks). Once the training is complete, students will also have the opportunity to co-facilitate, with supervision from Soliya staff, 8 weeks of Soliya's ''Connect Program'' (2 hours/week), the organization's flagship virtual exchange initiative. Both the training and practicum will take place online using Soliya's virtual dialogue platform. Soliya runs multiple training and dialogue groups, meaning that it is possible to work with the organization to find a time slot for both the training and practicum that best meets your scheduling needs. Students in the course will not necessarily be in the same training group and for the most part should not expect to facilitate together. There will be a fee associated with this course to cover the costs of the Soliya FTP (the More Info
Offered in:- TBA
CONRES 628 Conflict, Peace and Education +
Description:
The fundamental premise of this course is that education, broadly defined, has the potential to contribute to transformation of conflict, just as it can contribute to the perpetuation of violence and structural inequalities. Over the course of the semester, we will explore the potential role of education in peace building and conflict transformation as well as its role in maintaining and furthering conflict. We will do this by discussing education practice and policy, drawing on examples in formal, non-formal and informal education settings. We will also address both substance and pedagogy in the educational realm and how these can serve to maintain or transform conflict. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
CONRES 635 Research Methods in Dispute Resolution +
Description:
This course meets with three primary objectives. First, it provides students with a basic ''literacy'' in research methods, enabling them to be critical consumers of literature reporting research findings. Students will learn the fundamentals of sound research design, inference from data to conclusions, and the assumptions underlying various methods. Second, it introduces students to the role and use of research methods in conflict intervention work. And third, it provides students preparing to undertake the Master's Project an introduction to the types of research methodology that they are most likely to use in their MPs. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 636 Conflict in Workgroups +
Description:
This course provides the participant with an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the dynamics of work groups, with an emphasis on processes of conflict within them, and to develop skills to deal constructively with intra- and inter- group conflict. Class sessions will deal with conceptual issues in a combination of lecture and seminar-discussion format, drawing from various literatures on groups. Students will also participate in weekly meetings with a small workgroup, consisting of a sub-set of the class, which will offer an opportunity to study group processes in vivo with the aid of a facilitator. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 638L Global Governance +
Description:
''Global governance'' refers both to something empirical -- ''what (limited) world government we have'' -- and to an approach to the study of global problems, one that highlights the economic and cultural contexts of political globalization and foregrounds the questions of whether and how current processes can be made more effective. Students will become familiar with the variety of theoretical approaches to global governance and knowledgeable about its context, including the globalization of industrial capitalism in which global governance emerged, and about its empirics, what it is today. Students' final papers and in-class presentations will investigate the prospects for reform of global governance in an issue area of their choice. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 688L Business and Climate Change +
Description:
Climate change may be the most important challenge facing society over coming decades, causing sea levels rise, more extreme storms, flooding and drought. The widespread causes and impacts of climate change will have broad economic, social and business impacts. Twenty-first century managers and professionals in every field will need to understand these impacts and the implications of policies to address climate change for their organizations. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
CONRES 689 Master's Project in Conflict Resolution +
Description:
Under the guidance of an individual faculty advisor, students complete a research or applied project that makes a substantive contribution to critical understanding of an issue in conflict resolution. The final product is a substantial paper, indicating mastery of pertinent concepts and critical analysis that is assessed by the student's advisor and by an external evaluator outside of the department. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 690 Court Internship +
Description:
Students mediate cases, under close faculty supervision, in one of the small claims courts in Greater Boston. Each day of mediation is followed by a debriefing session with the supervisor. A mediation seminar is part of the internship. The seminar enables students to compare mediating experiences, focus on particular problem areas encountered by mediators, and re-examine theoretical concepts. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 692 Internship +
Description:
This course will require a student to find and participate in a field placement. The placement can be one of those listed on the Program website, or one created by the student The placement should provide the student with the opportunity to do one or more of the following: - improve skills relevant to making a career/getting a job in the field of conflict resolution.- enhance the student's network of people in the field of conflict resolution.- expose the student to the work or professionals In the field of conflict resolution.The placement should require a minimum of thirty-five hours p/semester. Student will be required to submit a field placement application to be approved by the faculty supervisor. The student will also meet with the Conflict Resolution faculty supervisor several times during the semester to discuss progress and Issues. That faculty supervisor may require written submissions. Each placement will have a field supervisor and that supervisor will submit to the Faculty supervisor an evaluation of the student's field work. The faculty supervisor will submit a final grade.{Note: If the student is participating In one of the Program-managed Internships that carry their own credits, or if the student finds it impossible lo Integrate any placement Into his/her academic/family/work schedule, then the internship requirement can be waived.) More Info
Offered in:- TBA
CONRES 693 Capstone Seminar +
Description:
Students complete one of 3 types of Capstone projects (Master's Theses, Master's Projects, or Integrative Papers) that integrate the knowledge and skills acquired during their training. Capstones can take a wide variety of forms, including 1) empirical research; 2) apprenticeships with professionals or agencies; 3) evaluations and/or analyses of existing practices; 4) the creation of new dispute resolution programs or curricula, tailored to specific, identified, unmet needs; or 5) conflict analyses and proposed interventions focused on a conflict of the instructor's choosing. Each Capstone culminates in a work product, such as a research paper or written account of an applied project, demonstrating substantial progress beyond previous learning. The accompanying seminar brings together all students working on their Capstone projects to review methods needed for their projects (e.g., research skills, intervention techniques), discuss literature covered in previous courses, and plan for their future learning as conflict resolvers. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 694 Integrative Seminar +
Description:
Students in the Dispute Resolution Masters program have 2 options for completing their capstone requirement: doing a written Masters Project or taking this seminar. The goal of the Seminar is to help students see their dispute resolution study as a whole, to demonstrate their ability to integrate and synthesize their knowledge of conflict resolution theory and skills gained over the course of the Masters program. Through class discussion, students will identify cross-cutting issues or themes relating to conflict resolution theory or practice; they will select three topics and produce a substantial paper (10, 15 or 20 pages, respectively) about each of them, drawing on what they have read/written/thought about/experiences over the course of their studies. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
CONRES 696 Independent Study +
Description:
This course provides students the opportunity for students to pursue in-depth study of a particular topic under the direction of a faculty member. A student must find a faculty sponsor, and together with that faculty member develop a study plan detailing topics to be covered, readings and activities to be completed, and products to be produced. A copy of the study plan should be signed by both the student and the faculty sponsor and filed with the department office. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 697 Special Topics in Dispute Resolution +
Description:
Special topics courses are advanced courses that offer intensive study of a selected topic in dispute resolution. With faculty approval, students select a topic from a broad range of options. The course can be used to deepen knowledge of the specialization area, or to broaden a student's range of dispute resolution experience. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
CONRES 698 Conflict Resolution Skills Practicum +
Description:
The course allows students to take short trainings in conflict resolution skills offered by leading conflict resolution organizations based in the Greater Boston area. More Info
Offered in:CONRES 699 Master's Thesis in Conflict Resolution +
Description:
Under the guidance of an individual faculty advisor, students complete a major research project that makes a substantive contribution to critical understanding of an issue in conflict resolution. The final product is a substantial paper, indicating mastery of pertinent, concepts and critical analysis that is defended before a committee of 3 faculty members. More Info
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