This 15-credit certificate is specifically tailored to provide students with practical knowledge of conflict analysis and resolution relevant to their focused areas of work. Designed for mid-career professionals studying in a cohort environment, the certificate programs integrate conflict analysis and resolution theory, research, and practical technique. These programs use intensive course sessions, lecture, seminar, and applied mentored learning in real and simulated situations to prepare students to use conflict analysis and resolution approaches in their work in a variety of fields. Students choose one of four concentrations.
This certificate may only be pursued on a part-time basis, unless a student is concurrently enrolled in another degree program or takes additional courses over those required for the certificate program. Some courses are offered only in intensive Saturday and Sunday formats or online.
Concentrations
The Advanced Skills concentration covers conflict resolution skills in challenging conflicts and considers innovative and emerging practices. This concentration considers the complexity of conflict in a variety of different settings and prepares students to design and implement interventions for difficult conflicts. The concentration emphasizes skill development.
The Prevention and Stabilization Contexts concentration augments development, defense, security, or humanitarian aid work experience with the theories and skills of conflict analysis and resolution for designing, implementing, and evaluating conflict-sensitive initiatives internationally in areas of potential violence and post-conflict reconstruction and stabilization. Considers cross-sectoral approaches to long-term violence prevention and constructive conflict resolution.
The World Religions and Peacebuilding concentration considers strategies to reduce global violence and terrorism by incorporating the best moral practices of religious communities into policy planning, diplomacy, civil society building and democratization. Covers strategies to elicit moderate moral religious expression in conflict regions to strengthen civil society and democracy.
All communities have conflicts, some much more severe than others, often driven by deep racial and ethnic divisions, economic inequity, complex intractable problems, and environmental degradation. Many community conflicts are triggered by changes, whether a new law or new development. These are among the many issues that effective, inclusive, collaborative community processes can help address. This concentration incorporates theory and skills needed to identify concerns and design collaborative processes that employ a wide range of design options ranging from small group dialogue to facilitated consensus building and online engagement to thousand person town meetings.