Undergraduate Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution
What is an Undergraduate Certificate?
It is a transcripted degree program. This means that once you have completed the program the degree will appear on your transcript
Program Description
This 16-hour program is designed to prepare students to analyze, address, and manage conflict effectively. The management and resolution of conflict is relevant across professions. This certificate, through its elective component, will allow students to tailor their course of study to fit their different interdisciplinary needs.
Conflict is a reality in all communities, workplaces, and educational settings. Understanding how conflict works and how to manage conflict effectively is a relevant and desirable skill for students in a wide range of disciplines. The knowledge and skills of conflict management directly apply to many professions, including communication, business, child and family development, criminal justice, education, psychology, and social service. This 16-hour program is designed to prepare students to analyze, address, and manage conflict effectively. The management and resolution of conflict is relevant across professions. This certificate, through its elective component, allows students to tailor their course of study to fit their different interdisciplinary needs.
This undergraduate certificate program will provide students with the following:
- an overview of the types of conflict found in community, workplace, educational, and interpersonal and family settings.
- a comprehensive overview of current theory and research on conflict in a variety of settings and disciplines, and within culturally diverse populations.
- an overview and understanding of conflict management skills and tools.
- practical experience in conflict management, mediation, and negotiation skills.
Course Options
This program includes 3 required courses, an internship experience, and an elective component that allows students to focus on conflict processes that are specific to their professional interest areas. Students should consult with the program director in choosing courses and in developing a program of study
Required Courses (9 hours)
COM 205: Interpersonal Communication
COM 511: Communication Community and Conflict
COM 521: Communication, Mediation, & Negotiation
Internship Experience (1 hour)
Students in this program select a 1-credit hour of internship experience that directly relates to conflict and its application in professional settings.
Elective Courses (Select two courses – 6 hours)
The list below, while not exhaustive, offers examples of appropriate elective courses.
COM 307 Gender and Communication
COM 325 Nonverbal Communication
COM 326 Effective Listening
COM 332 Small Group Communication
COM 360 Introduction to Intercultural Communication
COM 390 Communication and Aging
COM 405 Interpersonal Communication
COM 436 Communication and Leadership
COM 506 Family Communication
COM 512 Communication & Diversity in the Workplace
COM 550 Political Communication
COM 566 Social Movement Communication
ANT 325 North American Indian Cultures
ANT 331 Peoples & Cultures of the Caribbean
ANT 335 Peoples & Cultures of the Middle East
CFD 257 Principles of Development in Middle Childhood
CFD 305 Multicultural Studies in Child/Family Development
CFD 361 Principles of Family Development
CFD 365 Families in Later Life
CFD 532 Family Advocacy
CFD 463 Administration of Programs for Children & Families
CRM 210 (CAS) Intro. to the Criminal Justice System
CRM 330 (CAS) Delinquency & the Juv. Justice System
CSD 321 (461) Conceptually Accurate Signed English I
CSD 322 (462) Conceptually Accurate Signed English II
CSD 562 Psycho-Social Implications of Being Deaf and Hard of Hearing
ELE 302 Intro to Elem. Ed. & Clinical/Field Experience
FGB 307 Business in the Community
FGB 596 Negotiation, Mediation & Arbitration in Business
GER 310 Social Forces & Aging
HCM 301 Health Care Organization
HCM 303 Health Care Legal Issues
MGT 286 (AOS) Business Communications
MGT 320 (240) Patterns of Management
MGT 325 Fundamentals of Personnel Administration
MGT 340 Organizational Behavior & Management
MGT 345 Human Resources Management
MGT 398 (AOS) Managerial Communication
MGT 447 International Management
MGT 465 Industrial Relations
PED 256 Community Health
PHI 302 Environmental Ethics
PHI 513 Bioethics
PLN 372 (CRP) Community Development
PLS 232 International Relations
PLS 255 Public Administration
PLS 356 Public Personnel Administration
PLS 419 The Judicial Process
PLS 515 Constitutional Law & Politics
PSY 250 Analysis of Interpersonal Behavior
PSY 339 Intro. to Clinical Psychology
REL 210 Paths of World Religions
REL 530 Topics in Religion, Self, & Society
SFR 250 (SFT) Foundations of American Education
SFR 351 (SFT) Philosophical Problems of Education
SFR 581 (SFT) Law & the Classroom Teacher
SOC 284 Social Movements
SOC 310 Social Deviance
SOC 314 Rural Sociology
SOC 315 (414) The Family
SOC 316 Urban Sociology
SOC 336 Race & Ethnic Group Relations
SOC 341 Medical Sociology
SOC 351 Sociology of Childhood
SOC 390 (560) Religion in Society
SOC 420 Social Inequality
Useful Forms
Step 1 Be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program. You may be able to double-count coursework in the certificate program towards your bachelor's degree.
You should also complete a Undergraduate Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution Information Interest Form and return it to The Center for Dispute Resolution.
Step 2 Set up an appointment with Dr. Charlene Berquist, the program director, so you can discuss your career goals and your program of study. You can reach Dr. Berquist at CharleneBerquist@MissouriState.edu or (417) 836-8831.
Step 3 Complete the Plan of Study for the Conflict and Dispute Resolution Undergraduate Certificate during your first semester in the program. This form lists the courses you will take to complete the certificate program. The form must be signed by Dr. Berquist.
Step 4 Complete the required coursework for the certificate, maintaining a 3.0 GPA.