Is it necessary to have a law degree or legal background to apply?
No. This is an interdisciplinary graduate program open to all qualified students with a bachelor’s degree and a strong interest in the field of dispute resolution and negotiation.
Who Can Benefit from the Graduate Program?
Students with backgrounds in law, social sciences, business, and the health professions as well as mid-career professionals in a range of endeavors from corporate managers to lawyers, from human resources professionals to hospital administrators, and from international negotiators to community and educational leaders can expect to reap great rewards from the program. Heavy emphasis will be placed on linking applied studies to specific career opportunities.
How long will it take to earn the Master’s degree? The graduate certificate?
The master's program can be completed in 1 and 1/2 to 2 years, depending on whether the student attends full time or part time and on participation in summer course programs. The graduate certificate program can be completed in 6 months to a year.
What are the program requirements?
The master's degree requires completion of at least 32 credit hours in coursework including theoretical foundations of conflict resolution and practical skills/processes. After completing foundational and skills work, students select 9 credits of electives to fulfill their course requirements. Students must also complete a capstone course of independent, experiential work involving a practicum or a major piece of research. In addition to the required credits, students are expected to participate in Werner Institute conferences, symposia, and other programs, and present a paper or workshop at a regional or national conference on conflict resolution.
What kinds of career opportunities might be available to graduates?
The Werner Institute is placing strong emphasis on linking applied studies to specific career opportunities for its students. Those graduating from the program will be able to use their knowledge and skills in conflict management in a variety of careers that require dealing with human interaction. Employment opportunities will be enhanced in the fields of mediation, arbitration, health administration, business and human resource management, industrial relations, administration of justice, international relations, education administration, and law enforcement. For further information on career opportunities please click here.
What will it cost?
Cost of tuition and fees for the entire master's program is expected to be approximately $21,000 for students.
What features distinguish this program from other graduate programs in the field of conflict resolution?
A prestigious institution grounded in Jesuit values and consistently ranked as the top Master's degree granting university in the Midwest by US News, Creighton provides a wide variety of offerings and collegial connections across disciplines, which creates a unique position to champion an appropriately interdisciplinary approach to the newest vision of the field of conflict resolution.
Among the distinctive attributes of the program are:
• Focus on innovation and the next stage in the evolution of the conflict resolution field with particular attention to career and professional development
• Most courses are offered in varied formats, including evenings and/or short, intensive sessions to allow flexibility for students who are working full time or who could benefit from flexible arrangements for other reasons
• Emphasis on small class size allows personal attention to students in the program
• Emerging partnerships with local, regional, and national organizations, including mediation centers, major corporations, non-profits, and government entities, create valuable clinical opportunities for students as well as major bridges between theory and practice