Graduate Certificate in Mediation and Negotiation

The Department of Communication, in cooperation with the Master's in Human Resources and Labor Relations (MHRLR) and the Lubar School of Business, offers the Graduate Certificate in Mediation and Negotiation. The program of study is designed to provide practical and theoretical knowledge for students who wish to pursue or advance careers that involve managing or resolving disputes in organizational, educational, community, or family contexts. The program is designed to meet the increasing need of business, organized labor, public sector, and community organizations for people with skills in conflict resolution.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, the program offers a basic knowledge of mediation and negotiation between individuals and across organizations, allows some specialization in further course work, and is integrated with a final course involving either field-work or a research paper written under the direction of an expert in the area.

Students can complete the Graduate Certificate in Mediation and Negotiation while enrolled either part-time or full-time, and by taking courses during evenings and/or weekends. With the approval of the program, students admitted to either the MA in Communication or the MHRLR degree program may apply courses taken to meet certificate requirements toward their degree.

Admission

Students applying for the Certificate Program in Mediation and Negotiation must hold a bachelor's degree and must have earned a 2.75 GPA overall or must furnish substantial evidence of ability to succeed in graduate level work. Students may apply to the Graduate School as candidates for the certificate program in non-degree status, or they may pursue the certificate while enrolled in another graduate program.

Credits and Courses

The certificate requires 12 credits, including 9 credits of course work and 3 credits of field work or research.

Required Courses

The following two

Comm 665: Introduction to Mediation

Econ 753: Collective Bargaining

Elective Course

select one of the following

Comm 865: Theory and Practice of Meditation

IR 715: Alternative Dispute Resolution

Bus Admin 737: Managerial Decisions and Negotiations

Field Work or Research Requirement

select one of the following

Comm 998: Internship in Communication

Comm 999: Independent Study

IR 801: Research Seminar in Industrial and Labor Relations

IR 921: Internship in Industrial Relations

IR 999: Independent Study

Bus 799: Reading and Research

Recommended or Related Courses

Not required for the Certificate

Comm 710: Managerial Communication

Comm 823: Seminar in Small Group Communication

Ed Pol 510: Foundations of Human Relations

IR 711: Labor Relations Law

IR 714: Industrial Relations in the Public Sector

Soc 766: Theory and Method in Social Psychology