MA in
Negotiation, Conflict Management & Peacekeeping

Course Schedule

Courses are offered on Mondays and Wednesdays 6:00-9:00 PM (PST). Courses are taken in order indicated below.

Cost of Courses

The cost per unit for 2004-2005 is $185. Price includes TV surcharge and all fees but not books and materials.

Course Descriptions

NCR 504 Theories of Conflict (3) Critical analysis of conflict theories and models among individuals, organizations and governments; exploring causes, functions and effects. Perspectives from anthropology, archaeology, biology, communications, economics, gender studies, geography, history, mathematics, political science, psychology, psychiatry, sociobiology, and sociology.

NCR 507 Seminar: Research Design and Interpretation (3) Consideration of research methods used in the behavioral sciences. Elements of research design including problem formulation; sampling, data collection, instrument development; problems of reliability and validity; selection, calculation, and interpretation of appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics.

NCR 508 Communication and Conflict (3) Prerequisite: BEH 504 Emphasizes human communication in context of conflict. Addresses challenges to effective communication caused by interpersonal, intrapersonal, intergroup or intragroup conflict, and role of communication in resolving such conflicts. Concentrates on methods of communication most effective in dealing with differences.

NCR 522 Seminar: Negotiation Tactics (3) Prerequisites: BEH 504 Tactics used in negotiations among individuals, institutions, and societies.Planning and conducting personal, corporate, labor, hostage, and diplomatic negotiations. Cross-cultural, ethical, and historical dimensions.

NCR 525 Mediation (3) Prerequisites: BEH 504, BEH 507, BEH 508, and BEH 522. Theory and skills including requirements for certification under the California Dispute Resolution Programs Act, especially agreement procedures, case development, consensus building, issue framing and prioritizing, orientations toward conflict, and record keeping.

NCR 527 Arbitration (3) Prerequisites: BEH 504, BEH 507, BEH 508, and BEH 522. Compulsory and noncompulsory arbitration of grievances in public, private, corporate, labor, and international disputes. Case studies explore the arbitration role in unique settings.

NCR 530 Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) (3) Prerequisites: BEH 504, BEH 507, BEH 508, BEH 522, BEH 525 and BEH 527 Addresses emerging practice of conflict resolution in cyberspace. ODR utilizes online resources as the “fourth party” collaborating with the traditional third party in resolving conflicts more efficiently and less expensively.

NCR 533 Labor Conflict (3) S. Prerequisite: GWAR Case and historical studies in selected industries. Past, present, and pending court decisions or national and state labor laws. Strategic planning for labor organizations. The process of negotiating a labor contract. Grievance and arbitration procedures.

NCR 535 Organizational Conflict (3) F. Prerequisite: GWAR. Origin and types of conflicts which arise within and between complex organizations. Positive and negative effects of organizational conflict. Exploiting, preventing, containing, escalating, and resolving conflict.

NCR 540 Seminar: Community Conflict (3). Prerequisites: GWAR The impact of system dynamics on conflict management on communities from neighborhoods to nations. Implications of system dynamics for specifying goals and planning interventions to achieve them, from pre-emptive to corrective. Implications for training and organization.

NCR 544 Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes (3) Prerequisites: BEH 504, BEH 507, BEH 508, BEH 522, BEH 525 and BEH 527 Surveys a variety of process choices in dispute resolution. Recognizing that litigation may not be appropriate in many cases. Course examines alternatives such as negotiation, mini-trial, mediation, panel evaluation, summary, jury trial, private judging, arbitration, and use of special masters.

NCR 597 Directed Reading in the Behavioral Sciences (3) In consultation with a faculty member, completion of readings to prepare for the comprehensive examination; or for orientation to a little known topic; or as background for writing a research, thesis, or project proposal. CR/NC grading. Repeatable for total of six units.

NCR 598 Directed Research in the Behavioral Sciences (3) Prerequisites: BEH 507 and BEH 505. Conduct of pilot studies, development of research instruments, or similar independent research in preparation for the project or thesis, under the supervision of a faculty member in any area of Behavioral Science. CR/NC grading. Repeatable for total of six units.

NCR 599 Thesis or Project in the Behavioral Sciences (1-3) Prerequisites: BEH 507 and nine additional units to be approved by the Program Coordinator. In consultation with a faculty member, writing of a masters thesis or completion of a project in the Behavioral Sciences. Choice of area requires prior consent of advisor. Repeatable for credit up to six units. CR/NC grading.

NCR 600 Graduate Continuation Course (0) Graduate students who have completed their course work but not their thesis, project, or comprehensive examination, or who have other requirements remaining for the completion of their degree, may maintain continuous attendance by enrolling in this course.

Comprehensive exam to be taken during Final Semester.