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Learn to Manage Conflict

Mediation and negotiation skills are in tremendous demand in practically every field, from law enforcement and labor relations to international business and health care. Conflict is a reality of personal and professional life, and the practice of conflict resolution has emerged as an attractive alternative to costly litigation in overburdened courts.

In Dominican’s mostly online mediation and conflict resolution program, you’ll learn side-by-side with experts in the field. In fact, we designed the curriculum in partnership with the National Mediation Board, a federal agency that facilitates labor-management relations within the nation’s railroad and airline industries.

Dominican’s Master of Arts in Mediation and Conflict Resolution at a Glance

• Complete the program in 24 months—semesters are split into intensive eight-week sessions where you’ll take one class each session
• Courses taught by experienced professional mediators and professionals in their fields
• Curriculum is entirely online, with the exception of two five-day courses on campus
• Up to three graduate courses offered by other academic units may be applied to your degree with the dean’s approval
• Transfer up to nine semester hours of credit from another institution
• Certificate options that count toward the full master’s degree
• Choose any three courses from our program in Trauma-Informed Leadership, an emerging discipline focused on creating safe and supportive workplaces.

Build a foundation for effective mediation and conflict resolution in the service of peace and justice. Learn more about our curriculum

Note: Admission to graduate and certificate programs in mediation and conflict resolution is open only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

What You'll Learn

Dominican’s MA in Mediation and Conflict Resolution is almost entirely online, allowing you to complete your studies from anywhere while working full-time. We believe that a personal connection—to fellow students and professors—is also important.

That’s one of the reasons our powerful interdisciplinary curriculum begins with a five-day intensive gateway course taught on-campus by experienced professional mediators. You’ll learn—and practice—mediation skills through supervised role-playing and personalized coaching in small groups. From there, you will take online courses exploring the psychological origins of conflict, the ethical dimensions of the discipline, alternative dispute methods, and more. You’ll also choose from engaging electives in subjects such as online dispute resolution, family conflict resolution, and restorative justice. It’s the best of both worlds. .

You’ll take two courses per semester. Each semester is divided into two intensive eight-week sessions, so you’ll only be taking one course at a time, making it possible to study while keeping up with all the demands of work and family.

A Focus on Ethics

Crucially, Dominican’s mediation and conflict resolution program includes an entire course on ethics. Professional peacemakers are motivated by good intentions, of course, but without proper preparation could wind up inadvertently doing harm. We believe it is important for students to explore the ethical dimensions of conflict resolution from the beginning to guard against such outcomes. This course examines the ethical duties owed to parties in a dispute, with a focus on neutrality, confidentiality and informed consent.

The Dominican Difference

• Best of both worlds: the convenience of a primarily online program with the personal connection of intensive five-day introductory courses on campus
• Learn from nationally recognized professionals in the field
• Gain hands-on experience through an optional practicum assisting a professional mediator or serving in a nonprofit organization
• Year-round admission—start at your convenience

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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