Offered in: Chicago

Program description

The MA in Conflict and Mediation prepares students to work as professional mediators or to work in job positions where conflict resolution skills are utilized. The program includes Mediation Certification from the Chicago Center for Conflict Resolution, a non-profit partner of Roosevelt, and real-world mediation experience. Coursework covers the full range of societal conflict, from familial and interpersonal conflict to public and community conflict.

Mediators work in many areas, including social services, government, education, health care, human resources, project management, customer service, politics, insurance, and sales. Careers in conflict resolution include Human Resources Specialist, Ombudsperson, Facilitator, Investigator, Researcher, Policy Analyst, Contract Negotiation Manager, and Claims Adjuster. The degree will enhance a professional's ability to manage conflict in their current organization. Professionals in the fields of organizational development, human resources, law, and criminal justice can make ready use of the variety of skills learned in this program. Recent college graduates or anyone looking to change careers will gain marketable skills to add to their resume.

Program objectives

From an over-arching perspective, the Conflict and Mediation Master’s program is grounded on three central ideas: 

1. Managing conflict is a construct that can be learned and developed.
2. Managing conflict and mediating assertively is rooted in the ability to communicate purposefully, to evaluate situations, reflect back both facts and feelings, and to adjust one's style to manage the realities of the given conflictual situation. 
3. The ability to de-escalate conflict and move toward resolution is a skill that enhances the personal, familial, organizational, and social good. 

Admission

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and submit the university graduate application, a letter of intent, a resume or curriculum vitae, and participate in an admission interview.

Course requirements

The MA in Conflict and Mediation may be completed fully online. Courses are delivered through a combination of asynchronous instruction, virtual evening class sessions, virtual conflict simulations as well as actual, virtual mediations. Students take 10 courses, most lasting eight weeks. The program can be completed on a part-time basis in two years taking one class at a time. Full-time students can complete the program in 1 year.  

An overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher must be maintained in the courses with no more than two grades lower than a B-. A graduate course can only be repeated once; no more than two courses can be repeated. 

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different. No more than two grades lower than B- may be applied toward the 30 hours used for the degree. A graduate course can only be repeated once; no more than two courses can be repeated.

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Take one of the following: CNMN 460, CNMN 465, CNMN 468 or CNMN 485. Not all elective courses are offered every semester. Contact the program director for more information.