Outcomes

The MA in Conflict and Analysis Management program exposes students to various roles and basic skills typically employed in the field of conflict analysis and management. These include negotiation, mediation, arbitration, facilitation, and consultation. The focus is on gaining an understanding and appreciation for how these skills can be effectively used to strategically manage conflict.

The mission of the program is the development of reflective professionals who understand the multiple forces at work in conflict situations related to their area of specialization, and who can offer leadership in taking action to anticipate, analyze, prevent, manage and resolve conflict. The program aims to:

• deal with all elements of conflict, including early detection, prevention, management, resolution and reconciliation;
• provide the students with a broad theoretical understanding of conflict analysis and management together with exposure to a range of skills for dealing with conflict in a variety of organizational large group, and multi-party settings;
• emphasize a  systems-based, cross-cultural approach to conflict analysis and management;
• focus on  intergroup  and multi party  disputes between governments, corporations, institutions and ethnic groups over issues related to community, trade, development, resource use, the environment, governance, ethnicity and security;
• emphasize the international dimensions of conflict management in the relevant concentrations with a special (though not exclusive) focus on the Pacific Basin area;
• create an academic climate that is interdisciplinary, innovative, interactive, competency-based, and student-centered.

Graduates of the program have the ability to plan, integrate and direct the application of these skills within a strategic conflict management framework specific to the conflict situation and its context. This strategy is built upon a sound theoretical foundation acquired throughout the program. Students wishing to develop the level of skills necessary to become practitioners in these roles will have ample opportunity to upgrade professional practice skills through course work, and through either the Major Research Project or the Applied Skills Option. Graduates should expect to continue to develop their professional skills throughout their careers.

This program does not focus on intrapersonal or interpersonal conflict, e.g. family relations, interpersonal counseling, etc. However, many individuals with experience in these areas find this program of assistance in their careers in that it broadens their world view and professional experiences.