George Mason University 1999-2000 Catalog

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Institute for Conflict Analysis & Resolution

Faculty
Other Faculty
Administrative Faculty
Course Work
Graduate Programs in Conflict Analysis and Resolution
- Conflict Analysis and Resolution, M.S.
  - Admission Requirements
  - Degree Requirements
- Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Ph.D.
  - Admission Requirements
  - Degree Requirements

Faculty
Cheldelin (director), Blechman, Clements, Druckman, Jeong, LeBaron, Lyons, Mitchell, Pearsond'Estree, Rubenstein, Sandole, Warfield

Other Faculty
Assefa, Avruch, Black, Broome, Brown, Gortner, Katz, Looney, McFerson, Paden, Scimecca, Stone, Taylor, Wilkins

Administrative Faculty
Drake

Course Work

The Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution offers all course work designated CONF in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.

Graduate Programs

Conflict Analysis and Resolution, M.S.

The Master of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, offered by the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, is a two-year professional program that prepares students for practice through the integration of conflict theory and such conflict resolution processes as negotiation, mediation, third-party consultation, and analytical problem solving. Students study the theory, methods, and ethical perspectives of the field and apply this knowledge in laboratory simulations and workshops, and in field internships. The internships are contracted with agencies in the Washington, D.C., area and elsewhere, including abroad. Graduates of the program work in a variety of settings where conflict resolution is usefulbusinesses, unions, government agencies, religious groups, court systems, educational institutions, community centers, and conflict resolution consulting firms.
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting all admission requirements for graduate study, an applicant to the M.S. program must have a GPA of no less than 3.000 in all undergraduate work and must submit the following:
1. All undergraduate and graduate transcripts
2. Three letters of recommendation, one of which should be from a faculty member in the applicant's undergraduate or graduate major field
3. A four- to five-page essay stating the applicant's goals and reasons for seeking admission to the program
The GRE is no longer required but represents valuable support for admissions decisions.
Background courses in the social sciences, as well as prior work experience, are desirable. A personal interview may be required by the admissions committee. Prior graduate-level academic work is evaluated on an individual basis for possible transfer credit and fulfillment of program requirements; normally, the university does not permit any reduction in the total credits required for the degree. Although students may enroll on a full- or part-time basis, entry into the program is in the fall semester only.
Degree Requirements
A total of 41 credits are required: 18 credits are required core courses, 12 credits are selectives (students can choose from a defined list), and 11 credits are electives (students may choose appropriate graduate courses that expand their education relevant to their areas of interest). The choice of electives can significantly vary according to each student's individual goals or needs. Therefore, each student should develop a Program of Study plan that should be discussed once each semester with his/her advisor and updated as appropriate.
Required Courses
Usually offered in the fall:
Usually offered in the spring:
Selective Courses
Students must select at least two courses from the following list:
Students must complete six credits (two courses) of integrative work:
Elective Courses
ICAR supports three primary emphases:
1. 72X series: Courses numbered 72X focus on conflict related to diversity, cultural, and regional issues.
2. 73X series: Courses numbered 73X focus on aspects of structural or institutional conflict.
3. 74X series: Courses numbered 74X focus on practice and application of conflict analysis and resolution to various situations.
Once students have taken CONF 720, 730, or 740, they may construct fields that cross these emphases and may choose approved master's-level courses from related disciplines. CONF 695 and CONF 795 may be repeated for credit as electives. Courses not used in the selective blocks may be used as electives.
Directed readings: Only two directed readings (CONF 697) may be applied toward requirements for a master's degree.
Field Opportunities
Internship. The internship is intended to provide students with opportunities to use and further develop applied conflict resolution skills; integrate theory and practice of conflict analysis and resolution; apply theory through practice; and network with professionals in the field to enhance employment opportunities. Experience does not necessarily have to be explicitly "hands on": interns need not actually be intervenors, because such opportunities may not be readily available; rather, the goal is to get as close to analysis and resolution practice as possible. It is George Mason policy that internships for which academic credit is received cannot be paid.
Students taking CONF 694 are required to register and pay for three credits of CONF 694 during the summer session. Internships consist of at least 160 hours of supervised work on a project involving the analysis and/or resolution of conflict. Such work must be spelled out in a Memorandum of Agreement to be signed by the student, the site supervisor, and the internship coordinator, Dr. Dennis Sandole, before the internship begins. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a 25- to 40-page paper on the experience, analyzing it in light of conflict and conflict resolution theories. In effect, the internship is an opportunity to apply theory or to test models, hypotheses, or processes; the internship paper is an opportunity to integrate the field experience with corresponding theory and research in thefield. Also, upon completion of the internship, the site supervisor submits to Dr. Sandole a report describing what theintern did, how well he/she did it, and a grade for the student's work.
Students are encouraged to arrange their own internships; however, Dr. Sandole is available to discuss internship possibilities and requirements. Additionally, an internship binder is kept in the Student Resource Room. Students are also encouraged to contact ICAR alumni for internship possibilities. Students will meet with Dr. Sandole as required.
APT.The Applied Practice and Theory (APT) program is a six-credit course running yearlong. It is designed to take the concepts presented in class and practiced in labs into real situations with conflict and consequences. Students work in teams integrating research and practice with theory development and applied ethics.

Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Ph.D.

The doctoral program, the first of its kind in the United States, provides advanced study for students in the fields of conflict and conflict resolution. Students are prepared for careers as researchers, theoreticians, and teachers in higher education, and as policy administrators, analysts, and consultants in both the public and private sectors.

The program stresses a close link between knowledge of theory and of process in the resolution of conflict. For this, training in the methods of research and analysis is necessary and is emphasized through the two-semester APT program (see M.S. program) required for doctoral students. Inaddition, students are expected to obtain a background in a substantive area of conflict, usually related to the topic of the dissertation.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the four requirements listed for applicants to the M.S. program, requirements for the Ph.D. program include a written sample of work that shows the applicant's potential for completing dissertation research in a doctoral program.

Although students may enroll on a full- or part-time basis, entry into the program is in the fall semester only.

Degree Requirements

For students with a master's degree accepted as of fall 1998 and later, a total of 57 credits are required. The semester in which courses are usually offered is indicated in parentheses.

Required Core Doctoral Courses

CONF 713

CONF 801

CONF 802

CONF 803

CONF 810

CONF 811

CONF 812

CONF 900

Total:
Interpersonal and Intergroup Conflict

Introduction to Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Micro Theories (fall)

Macro Theories (spring)

Philosophy of the Social Sciences (spring)

Advanced Research Methods (fall)*

Advanced Research Methods II (spring)

Integrating Theory, Practice, and Method in Conflict Analysis (spring)

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

24

Selective Courses

Students must take two (six credits) of the following:

CONF

Total: 6

Elective Courses

A total of 15 credits of electives from among any appropriate graduate courses, provided that one is in the diversity, cultural, and regional emphasis (72X series), one is in the structural or institutional conflict emphasis (73X series), and one is in the conflict analysis and resolution emphasis (74X series). The intent is for students to build a specialization and skills that will be needed in their dissertation work. These courses are to be completed before "comps."

CONF

Total: 15

Directed Readings

Only two directed readings (CONF 897) may normally be applied toward doctoral elective requirements.

Dissertation Units

CONF 998 (up to 6 credits) Doctoral Dissertation Proposal**; CONF 999 (up to 12 credits) Doctoral Dissertation Research***

Total: 12

Total: 57 (24+6+15+12)

* CONF 811 has a prerequisite, "demonstrated competence in social statistics." This means that the entering student may be required to take an advanced course in statistics, STAT 510 (fall) or STAT 550 (spring), before registering for CONF 811. Such a course will not, however, be counted toward the total credits needed for the degree.

** All CONF 998 courses will be graded In Progress (IP) until completion of the proposal. At that time an appropriate grade will be issued.

*** All CONF 999 courses will be graded In Progress (IP) until the dissertation defense is successfully completed. At that time an appropriate grade will be issued.

Credit for a Master's Degree

Students with an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University may be forgiven up to 18credits toward the doctoral degree. The actual number of forgiven credits is determined in consultation with the student advisor and the program coordinator, after a review of courses taken.

Students entering with an M.S. in a related field or a J.D. are forgiven up to 15 credits of electives. The actual number of forgiven credits is determined in consultation with the student advisor and the program coordinator, after a review of courses taken.

Entering the Doctoral Program without a Master's Degree

In some cases, students may be admitted to the doctoral program directly without completion of a relevant master's degree (in conflict analysis and resolution or a related field). Such students will be required to take the following 21 credits at the beginning of their doctoral course of study: CONF 501, 601, 610, 713, 720 or 730 or 740, and 799.

Foreign Language Requirement

Every doctoral student must show competence in a foreign language (that is, a language other than the native tongue), preferably before "comps." This requirement must be completed before beginning the dissertation. On no account will dissertations be accepted without evidence of meeting this requirement. Overseas students may use English as their "foreign language" and the TOEFL examination as a demonstration of competency. The Department of Modern and Classical Languages has ruled that American Sign Language or computer languages cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.