BS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: CA-BS-CONF-KOR

Analytical skills and techniques are critical to solving the world's toughest problems. In order to solve conflict we must first understand it. Critical thinking and research skills are the focus of our Bachelor of Science program and are in demand by employers of all sectors. Students pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution develop research skills and have the opportunity to gain experience designing surveys, conducting interviews, analyzing statistics, and organizing data.

All conflict analysis and resolution majors choose an area of concentration:

• Building Peace in Divided Societies
• Global Engagement
• Political and Social Action
• Justice and Reconciliation
• Interpersonal Dynamics
• Collaborative Leadership
• Environmental Conflict and Collaboration

Advising

Advisors help students create an interdisciplinary course of study that meets their interests and career goals. All majors are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with an academic advisor from the School who will help students develop and follow a coherent plan of study and complete the degree in a timely manner.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 120

Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor's degrees as stated in Academic Policies including all Mason Core requirements. Carter School majors must complete the 6 credit college-level requirement in research methods as well as 51 major requirement credits for the BS 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

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 9 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. Please contact a Carter School advisor with questions or for information on the opportunities, policies, and procedures for field experience credit.

Skills and Practice

This three credit requirement can be fulfilled by taking

1. an additional 3 credits from a second field experience, OR
2. a foreign language course at the 250 level or higher, OR
3. one 3 credit course or three 1 credit courses from the following:

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

Research Methods

Concentrations

There are eight concentrations:

• Concentration in Building Peace in Divided Societies (BPDS)

• Concentration in Global Engagement (GLBE)

• Concentration in Political and Social Action (PSA)

• Concentration in Justice and Reconciliation (JRCN)

• Concentration in Interpersonal Dynamics (INTD)

• Concentration in Collaborative Leadership (CLDR)

• Concentration in Environmental Conflict and Collaboration (EVCC)

• Individualized (IND)

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 the applicability of courses that 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.

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, 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 will fulfill the requirements of the BS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Individualized concentrations must be approved by the Director of the Undergraduate Program.

BS 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.

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

¹

Up to 3 credits of 100 level Recreation (RECR) courses may be taken as general elective credits.

²

Only Military Science (MLSC) courses at the 400-level can be used for credit for a degree in the School; credit for other MLSC courses may not be applied toward a degree in the School. 

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.

Students who have completed the following credentials are eligible for a waiver of the Foundation and Exploration (lower level) requirement categories. The Integration category (upper level) is not waived under this policy. See Admissions for more information. 

• VCCS Uniform Certificate of General Studies
• VCCS or Richard Bland Associate of Science (A.S.), Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.&S.), or Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.)

¹

Most programs include the writing-intensive course designated for the major as part of the major requirements; this course is therefore not counted towards the total required for Mason Core.

²

Minimum 3 credits required.