Courses

Please click on course titles below to see course descriptions.
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution courses offered in Spring 2013
Complete list of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program courses
Core Courses

These four core courses should be taken first, in this sequence.

Elective Courses

Four electives are required and may be taken in any order. Students must select at least two electives from the intermediate core courses. Up to two approved electives may be chosen from the course offerings in other schools or departments of the University. Students may take additional electives beyond those required in order to deepen their study of a particular area. Not all courses are offered every semester.

Research and Practice Courses

Two research and practice courses are required.

Master’s Project Seminars

NECR K4100. Understanding Conflict and Cooperation. 3 pts.

Description

The field of conflict resolution has been developed academically as a discipline from diverse fields of knowledge. This course provides an introduction to the major schools of thought that contribute to the developments in social psychology, law, political science, social work, and business. The field of conflict resolution is also dynamically transforming, and the course introduces recent developments, particularly in the area of dynamical systems.

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NECR K4105. Introduction to Negotiation. 3 pts.

Description

Negotiation is one of the most important strategies in conflict resolution and is used routinely by all humans to resolve conflict and potential conflict successfully. This course examines both theoretical and practical implications of diverse assumptions and strategies. Students develop a deeper self-awareness of their role in the creation, perpetuation, escalation and resolution of conflicts, as well as in relationship with the other party.

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NECR K4107. Introduction to Mediation. 3 pts.

Description

Mediation is a strategy frequently used by parties in conflict to constructively address incompatibilities. New models of mediation have been developed recently and while presenting several models of mediation, emphasis is given to insight mediation.

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NECR K4200. Advanced Conflict Resolution. 3 pts.

Prerequisite

NECR K4100. Understanding Conflict and Cooperation.

Description

This course invites students to more deeply explore themes related to specific conflict resolution issues and theoretical approaches. It encourages an exploration of the new developments in the field and introduces current research topics. Emphasis is given to a dynamical systems approach.

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NECR K4090. Advanced Ombuds Practice. 3 pts.

Description

The ombuds profession has seen a tremendous growth in interest as interest in alternative dispute resolution and integrated dispute resolution systems within organizations has increased. However, when asked, the average person in the United States still neither knows what an ombudsperson is nor the functions that an ombudsperson fulfills within an organization. This class will introduce students to the major theoretical and practical issues inherent in the ombuds profession. With particular focus on the Standards of Practice as articulated by the International Ombudsman Association, students will learn about the unique services that organizational ombudspeople provide to organizations and to individuals within those organizations.

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NECR 4124. Intrapersonal Dynamics and Conflict. 3 pts.

Description

When we understand our cognitive, personality, temperament, motivational, learning, and communication styles, we can blend and capitalize on our strengths and manage our weaknesses. This course reviews the body of work that studies essential influences and the dimension of the intrapersonal dynamics that contribute to who we are and how we work. The course emphasizes a systems approach to understanding self and will be highly interactive, incorporating the participants' personal experiences and self-assessments (MBTI, The Bar-On Emotional Quotient Index, Communication Skills Assessment, Learning Styles Inventory).

The course will be a blend of concepts and skills, theory and practical application. You will have opportunities to practice developing your skills throughout the course, and develop and implement an individualized plan for guiding strengths and managing weaknesses.

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NECR 4128. Practical Applications in Environmental Conflict Resolution. 3 pts.

Description

This elective course is designed to expose students in the NECR program to ‘real world’ practical applications in environmental conflict resolution (ECR). The course will use a case study approach to demonstrate the field-based utility of the theory and practical skills taught in NECR 4218, and to inform students on the range of opportunities, avenues, and organizations available for building ECR practice. Through in-depth analysis of case-specific applications of ECR methods, students will gain an understanding of the practical challenges and complex dynamics of employing ECR processes. In each case study, students will explore the process that was, is currently, or will be applied to intervene in an environmental conflict. Students will gain additional insight from practitioners in the field and researchers from Columbia’s Earth Institute who will be invited as guest speakers to discuss their experiences intervening in contemporary environmental problems and conflicts.

The course will be a blend of concepts and skills, theory and practical application. You will have opportunities to practice developing your skills throughout the course, and develop and implement an individualized plan for guiding strengths and managing weaknesses.

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NECR K4205. Advanced Negotiation. 3 pts.

Prerequisite

NECR K4105. Introduction to Negotiation.

Description

The course focuses on negotiation in particularly challenging settings. The dilemmas and paradoxes generated by the unavailability of some actors to engage in negotiation are explored, as well as the dilemmas generated by particularly challenging environments. Emphasis is given to a dynamical systems approach.

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NECR K4207. Advanced Mediation. 3 pts.

Description

The course focuses on skill building and strengthening the capacity of students to actually perform mediation services in diverse settings. Actual cases are utilized. Emphasis is once again given to a dynamical systems approach.

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NECR K4210. Conflict Resolution and Dynamical Systems. 3 pts.

Description

The emergence of a dynamical systems understanding of conflict and its resolution is one of the most encouraging developments in the field of conflict resolution. The course focuses on dynamical systems and their relevance for successful conflict resolution analysis and interventions. A modeling and information technology component is part of the course.

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NECR K4212. Conflict, Social Networks, and Communication Technologies. 3 pts.

Description

This course will analyze the relationship between conflict and communications technologies. It will explore the challenges that individuals face in using online technology for collaboration and conflict mediation purposes.  It will show how recent software innovations can facilitate knowledge acquisition, network building, and the analysis and presentation of conflict-related data.  Finally, it will analyze contemporary cases where developments in communications technologies have played a critical role in exacerbating and/or resolving conflicts.  The course will also instruct students in the use of social software (such as blogs, wikis, and social bookmarking tools).  The emphasis of the course is to provide practical examples and to challenge students to reflect on how these experiences and tools will be useful in their work environments.

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NECR K4218. Environmental Conflict Resolution Strategies. 3 pts.

Description

The environment is an increasingly important factor in human communities and especially in public affairs. The environment has become the focal point of many disciplinary enquiries, yet its relationship with conflict resolution and its constructive strategies are not widely available. The course brings together conflict resolution literature and skills, particularly as they pertain to the environment. Emphasis is given to a dynamical systems approach.

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NECR K4240. International Fieldwork in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding. 3 pts.

Description

This one-of-a-kind fieldwork course is designed to provide hands-on, practical experience for students to apply the skills they have been learning in the program, namely research and conflict analysis. It will also give them an opportunity to observe conflict resolution work within an organization and deepen their understanding of critical concepts around negotiation, mediation, peace-building, and sustainability.

Our fieldwork site is with the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) based in Durban, South Africa. The duration of the course is 8 weeks. For a period of three weeks, students will be on-site in Durban, working from ACCORD headquarters. There will be preparatory assignments before departure, as well as upon return from the site of the fieldwork. The fieldwork portion will entail students doing on-site research for ACCORD, under the direct supervision of faculty lead, Jose Pascal da Rocha.

We envision this to be a valuable opportunity for our students to gain hands-on experience in a research capacity that will not only address the stated gap between academic study and marketable skills, but also benefit the mission of the partnering organization. Students will have the unique opportunity to learn about ACCORD's framework for conflict transformation, multi-track diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-building.

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NECR K4880. Self as Instrument: Skills Practicum. 2 pts.

Description

To intervene as skilled practitioners, conflict resolution professionals need to understand both what they themselves bring to the table as well as the appropriate strategies and communicative skills for effective conflict management. Along with those skills, they require a deep understanding of how their own worldview shapes their biases and perspectives to form the lens through which they view and respond to conflict. We recognize that, as adults, participants bring their own unique experiences, insights and communicative strengths to the process. This course seeks to build on those contributions, providing (1) tools for deepening self-awareness as a means of advancing connection to others, and (2) opportunities for strengthening their face-to-face communications skills as negotiators and as mediators.

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NECR K4885. Applied Research Methods.  2 pts.

Description

This course is designed to help students develop an understanding of the various methods and designs available to them when conducting research. Students will gain hands-on experience mainly in different qualitative research methods and design techniques. Even though the class will address some aspects of quantitative methods, the main focus will be on the qualitative ones.

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NECR K5100. Master's Project, I: Conflict Assessment.  3 pts.

Prerequisite

K4100 Understanding Conflict and Cooperation. K4105 Introduction to Negotiation. K4107 Introduction to Mediation. Plus additional 15 elective credits.

Description

The first Master's Project Seminar examines how to assess complex conflicts. The seminar is also a forum for testing and group feedback. Each student chooses a real-world conflict resolution scenario of which they have firsthand experience and develops an applicable conflict resolution or negotiation strategy. After completing each Master's Project Seminar, students defend the corresponding master’s project chapter before a review board. Each defense simulates a team review experience, with students judged individually on the effectiveness of their presentations and their skill in fielding questions and supporting their proposals.

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NECR K5200. Master's Project, II: Resolution Strategies.  6 pts.

Description

The second Master's Project Seminar examines how to determine the best strategies for resolving and managing conflict. The seminar is also a forum for testing and group feedback. Students continue focusing on their chosen real-world conflict resolution scenario. After completing the seminar, students defend their completed master’s project chapter before a review board.

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NECR K5300. Master's Project, III: Networking and Sustainability.  3 pts.

Prerequisite

K4100 Understanding Conflict and Cooperation. K4105 Introduction to Negotiation. K4107 Introduction to Mediation. Plus additional 15 elective credits.

Description

The final Master's Project Seminar examines the role of networking in mediation and negotiation to solve problems. It is the final installment of the real-world conflict resolution scenario each student chose to examine, culminating in a coherent presentation of a fully developed and practical conflict resolution plan that responds to an actual conflict scenario. After completing the final seminar, students defend their completed master’s project chapter before a review board.

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