Undergraduate Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution - Center for 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

KIN 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: Note: To be admitted you must have 60 credit hours and 3.00 GPA. Complete an Undergraduate Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution Information Interest Form. Submit this form to Deborah Craig (Craig Hall room 375, fax 417-836-4774, email DeborahCraig@MissouriState.edu) or to Charlene Berquist at the Center for Dispute Resolution (PCOB room 212, fax 417-836-8288, email CDR@MissouriState.edu).

Step 2: Write a 1-2 page personal statement describing why you are interested in pursuing the undergraduate certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution and the specific ways that you believe the certificate will enhance your personal and professional career goals. Submit this statement to Deborah Craig (Craig Hall room 375, fax 417-836-4774, email DeborahCraig@MissouriState.edu) or bring it with you to your appointment with the program advisor (see Step 3).

Step 3: Set up an appointment with the program advisor, Deborah Craig (DeborahCraig@MissouriState.edu or 417-836-6277) so you can discuss your career goals and your program of study. If you are unable to reach Ms. Craig, please contact Dr. Charlene Berquist, the program director (CharleneBerquist@MissouriState.edu or 417-836-8831).

Step 4: Complete the Plan of Study Form for the Undergraduate Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution in consultation with the program advisor 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 Deborah Craig or Charlene Berquist.

Step 5: Complete the required coursework for the certificate, maintaining a 3.0 GPA.

Contact Information

Physical Address: Missouri State University, Park Central Office Building room 212, 117 Park Central Square, Springfield MO (View a map of the CDR's downtown location.)

Mailing Address: Missouri State University, Center for Dispute Resolution, 901 S. National, Springfield MO 65897

CDR Phone: (417) 836-8831

Fax: (417) 836-8288

E-mail: CDR@MissouriState.edu

CDR Staff

Charlene Berquist, Director, Center for Dispute Resolution; Professor, Department of Communication
Heather Blades, Associate Director, Center for Dispute Resolution
Janelle Thacker, Dave Simmons, Kristin Gearhart, Graduate Assistants
Deanna Cornett, Brandi Farris, Taylor Friedli, and Cassie Kite, Student Workers