George Mason University

Bachelor of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Carter School graduates follow many paths to success.

Our graduates serve in a wide range of leadership roles in numerous organizations.

Leadership Roles

• Lead Disaster Recovery Program Manager
• Restorative Justice Specialist
• Communications Strategy Consultant
• Public Involvement Specialist
• Foreign Affairs Officer
• Innovator, Founder, and CEO
• Program Director and Lead Facilitator
• Transplant Donor Coordinator
• Human Resources Generalist
• Business Development Specialist
• Immigration Services Officer
• Community Programs Manager
• Storyteller and Web Developer
• Chief of Staff, State Congressional Office
• Research Project Manager
• Operations Manager

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 120

Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor's degrees as stated in Academic Policies including all Mason Core requirements. Students majoring in Conflict Analysis and Resolution must also complete the college-level requirements for foreign language proficiency as well as 51 major requirement credits for the BA degree.

Students pursuing a double major/degree with a program outside of the Carter School undergraduate program will be expected to fulfill all of the Mason Core and college requirements necessary to complete the second major. Please check with the second major department concerning additional requirements.

Required Core Courses

• CONF 101 Conflict and Our World (Mason Core) 3
• CONF 210 Theories of Conflict Analysis and Resolution 3
• CONF 300 Conflict Resolution Techniques and Practice 3
• CONF 301 Research and Inquiry in Conflict Resolution 3
• CONF 302 Culture, Identity, and Conflict 3
• CONF 320 Interpersonal Conflict Analysis and Resolution 3
• CONF 330 Community, Group, and Organizational Conflict Analysis and Resolution 3
• CONF 340 Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution (Mason Core) 3
• CONF 490 RS: Integration (Mason Core) 3

Total Credits 27

Field Experience

Students can choose to fulfill this requirement through an internship, service learning, study abroad, or independent study.

Students may not be approved for field experience until they have earned at least 30 credits. It is recommended that students complete at least nine credits of conflict coursework before applying for field experience credit. Prior departmental approval is required for students to receive credit through any field experience options. Students can find trips with the Carter School and study abroad opportunities through the Global Education Office.

Select a minimum of three credits from the following: 3

• CONF 370 Internship Field Experience
• CONF 375 Special Programs Field Experience
• CONF 385 International Field Experience
• CONF 499 Independent Research in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Total Credits 3

Skills and Practice

This three-credit requirement can be fulfilled by taking:

• an additional 3 credits from a second field experience, OR
• a foreign language course at the 250 level or higher, OR
• one of the 3 credit courses or three of the 1 credit courses listed below:

Select one of these 3 credit courses: 3

• CONF 325 Dialogue and Difference
• CONF 326 Negotiation
• CONF 329 Community Engagement and Collaborative Problem Solving
• CONF 337 Restorative Justice
• CONF 398 Special Topics in Advanced Techniques and Practices
• CONF 425 Mediating Conflict
• CONF 499 Independent Research in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Or select three of these 1 credit skills courses:

• CONF 310 Special Topics in Practice
• CONF 314 Career Development Seminar
• CONF 331 Simulation in Community and Organizational Conflict Resolution
• CONF 341 Simulation in Global Conflict Resolution

Total Credits 3

Courses may NOT double count for the concentration requirement and the skills and practice requirement.

Concentrations

There are eight concentrations.

• Concentration in Building Peace in Divided Societies (BPDS): Focuses on how divided societies with a history of conflict seek to transform relationships and situations of violence and injustice. Examines communities and societies that have experienced conflict and how individuals and groups build peace locally and globally.
• Concentration in Global Engagement (GLBE): Focuses on studying the dynamics and impact of global conflict resolution. Examines domestic and international dimensions of security, state-to-state conflict, internal wars, terrorism, migration, negotiation, and diplomacy. Explores what can be done to reduce violent conflict and increase peace and security.
• Concentration in Political and Social Action (PSA): Focuses on the ways that people organize themselves to effect change in their societies. This concentration explores social action, social organization, social movements, and civil resistance to analyze and investigate the role of constructive conflict.
• Concentration in Justice and Reconciliation (JRCN): Focuses on the relationships between human rights, justice, and conflict resolution. Encompasses a spectrum of coursework including legal dimensions of human rights, trauma, memory, healing, conflict transformation, and forms of restorative justice.
• Concentration in Interpersonal Dynamics (INTD): Focuses on the dynamics of social interaction that lead to interpersonal conflict and the processes and skills that support the transformation of these conflicts. Issues examined include intercultural communication, the psychology of groups, family relationships, and other dimensions of human relations.
• Concentration in Collaborative Leadership (CLDR): Focuses on improving the capacity of leaders to work with conflict and manage change. Includes topics in conflict transformation, mediation, dialogue, and organizational leadership.
• Concentration in Environmental Conflict and Collaboration (EVCC): Focuses on using a variety of conflict resolution processes to address environmental issues. Examines how communities and societies are dealing with environmental issues and prepares students with process skills to promote collaborative solutions.
• Individualized Concentration (IND): Students interested in creating their own concentration can work with an advisor to decide upon a set of at least six courses that form a cohesive theme and will fulfill the requirements of the BA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Individualized concentrations must be approved by the Director of the Undergraduate Program.

To fulfill the concentration requirement students select six concentration courses. Four of those six courses must be taken from within their chosen concentration. The remaining two concentration courses may be taken from any of the concentration course lists. Special topics courses relevant to the concentration and/or courses that provide regional expertise can be substituted with departmental approval. Students are encouraged to check special topics courses each semester and think creatively about which courses support learning in their chosen concentration. At least two of the six concentration courses must be CONF courses taken in residence. CONF 397 Study Abroad Special Topics and courses transferred from another institution do not fulfill this requirement. Courses may not double count for the concentration requirement and the skills and practice requirement.

BA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution without Concentration

Students may opt to complete their major in Conflict Analysis and Resolution without a concentration. The department offers many elective courses that allow students to deepen their understanding of theory and practice within the field of Conflict Resolution. Students may choose this option and complete the conflict resolution Core and 18 credits of conflict coursework selected from the following. These credits may not be used to also fulfill the skills and practice or field experience requirements.

Select 18 credits from the following: 18

• CONF 325 Dialogue and Difference
• CONF 326 Negotiation
• CONF 329 Community Engagement and Collaborative Problem Solving
• CONF 335 Justice and Reconciliation
• CONF 345 Social Dynamics of Terrorism, Security, and Justice
• CONF 375 Special Programs Field Experience
• CONF 392 Youth and Conflict
• CONF 393 Violence: Causes, Dynamics Alternatives
• CONF 394 Human Rights and Inequality
• CONF 398 Special Topics in Advanced Techniques and Practices
• CONF 399 Special Topics in Conflict Analysis and Resolution
• CONF 425 Mediating Conflict
• CONF 435 Building Peace in Divided Societies
• CONF 499 Independent Research in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Total Credits 18

Foreign Language Proficiency

Students must demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language. This requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing a foreign language course numbered 202 or higher. Students may also fulfill this requirement by achieving a satisfactory score on a university-approved foreign language proficiency test. Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

All Mason students are required to complete at least one course designated as "writing intensive" in their major at the 300-level or above. CONF 302 Culture, Identity, and Conflict has been designated "writing intensive."

Electives

The remaining credits needed to bring the degree total to 120 may be fulfilled with general elective courses.

Mason Core

Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.

Foundation Requirements

• Written Communication (ENGH 101) 3
• Oral Communication 3
• Quantitative Reasoning 3
• Information Technology and Computing 3

Exploration Requirements

• Arts 3
• Global Understanding 3
• Literature 3
• Natural Science 7
• Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
• Western Civilization/World History 3

Integration Requirements

• Written Communications (ENGH 302) 3
• Writing-Intensive 3
• Synthesis/Capstone 3

Total Credits 40