Georgetown University's two-year M.A. program in Conflict Resolution is a multidisciplinary course of study that combines world class research and practice. Core courses are offered in the Government Department, Psychology Department, and the McDonough School of Business.

From Darfur to Iraq to Washington D.C. , disputes over politics, culture, resources, and religion have given rise to the need for new and creative approaches to resolving conflict. While deeply-rooted conflicts are often not fully resolved, they may be transformed from heated or violent disputes into more manageable, peaceful forms.

The two-year M.A. program is an intensive, theoretically- and practically-oriented, multidisciplinary degree. It is housed in the Government Department, with core courses offered also in the Department of Psychology and the McDonough School of Business. Elective courses may be selected from many other leading departments across campus. The program seeks to build on and reinforce Georgetown University 's traditional commitments to peace, outreach, and ethics.

CURRICULUM

One of the Conflict Resolution Program’s unique strengths is that the curriculum is built on a core set of multidisciplinary courses that provide students with conflict resolution practice and theory. The core courses are offered in the Government Department, Psychology Department, and the McDonough School of Business. Beyond the required classes, students are strongly encouraged, with the support of a faculty mentor, to concentrate their studies on a particular geographic and/or thematic area.

All students will complete the following four core courses in Conflict Resolution

• GOVT 580 Conflict Resolution Theory
• GOVT 581 Conflict Resolution Skills
• PSYC 498 Multiculturalism, Democracy and Intergroup Relations
• MGMT 670 Negotiations

In addition, students must complete one course that examines conflict in a particular region, five general electives, and four directed electives, which directly address the origins, analysis, mediation, negotiation and resolution of conflict, as well as post-conflict peacekeeping and development. For a list of suggested directed and general electives please visit the Conflict Resolution program website.

CONCENTRATIONS

With the assistance of a faculty adviser, students are encouraged to develop an area of concentration that best suits their interests and goals. Concentrations can be geographical, thematic, or a combination of the two.

Students may also develop a concentration through one of four certificate programs:

• Arab Studies
• Asian Studies
• East European and Eurasian Studies
• Refugees and Humanitarian Studies

The coursework for these certificates also count toward a student’s progress in the CR Program.

RECENT COURSES OFFERED BY THE CR PROGRAM

• Business and Conflict Resolution
• Capstone Course in Conflict Resolution
• Conflict and State Formation in Africa
• Conflict Resolution and Development
• Conflict Resolution Theory (Required Core Course)
• Criminal Law and Conflict Resolution
• Culture and Conflict Resolution
• Environment and Conflict Resolution
• Evaluation and Conflict Resolution
• Food Security and Conflict Resolution
  
• Gender and Peacebuilding
• Intergroup Relations (Required Core Course)
• Introduction to Conflict Resolution Skills (Required Core Course)
• Managing Organizational Conflict
• Negotiations (Required Core Course)
• Religion and Peacebuilding
• Sport and Peacebuilding
  
• Terrorism and Conflict Resolution
• Transitional Justice

CAREERS

Students graduating from the program have established successful careers in government, non-governmental organizations, and private sector businesses. Students are also well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies.

While enrolled, most students take advantage of the numerous work-related opportunities in Washington, DC to gain practical experience in the field and earn academic credit through an internship. Others apply to work directly with Georgetown University faculty as one of 20 Conflict Resolution Research Assistants. Students have worked or interned at the following organizations, among others:

• United States Department of State
• US Agency for International Development
• Search for Common Ground
• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
• United Nations
• Mercy Corps
• Hunt Alternatives Fund
• Pan African Capital Group, LLC
• Partners for Democratic Change
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees
• Global Witness
• ARD, Inc.
• DAI, Inc.
• United States Institute of Peace
• Center for Strategic and International Studies
• The Justice Project
• National Democratic Institute
• Brookings Institution
• Washington Hospital Center

PEOPLE

The Conflict Resolution program draws on a rich body of course offerings and leading faculty from multiple disciplines. The program's advisory committee is comprised of Georgetown faculty from the fields of Political Science, Law, Sociology, Psychology, and Business, among others.

Core Faculty and Advisory Committee

• Fathali Moghaddam, Ph.D., Department of Psychology Director, Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution
• Craig Zelizer, Ph.D., Department of Government,Associate Director, Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution
• Dr. Ayse Kayadifci, Visiting Assistant Professor, Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution,
  
• Tom Banchoff, Ph.D., Department of Government; Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, & World Affairs
• Brian Kritz, J.D., Department of Government
• Lise Howard, Ph.D., Department of Government
• Dr. Ayse Kadayifci, Ph.D, Department of Government
  
• Carol Lancaster, Ph.D., Dean, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
• Dr. Alexis Lyras, , Ph.D., The HRH King Abdullah II, Generations for Post-Doctoral Fellow in Sport and Peacebuilding, Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution
  
• Carrie Menkel-Meadow, J.D., LL.D., Georgetown University Law Center
• Jessica Raper, J.D., M.A. Office of the University President
• George Shambaugh, Ph.D., Department of Government
• Scott Taylor, Ph.D., School of Foreign Service, African Studies Program
• Alan Tidwell, Ph.D., School of Foreign Service, Center for Australian and New Zealand Studies
• Catherine Tinsley, Ph.D., McDonough School of Business
• Charles Villa-Vicencio, Ph.D., Department of Government
• Elizabeth Waetzig, J.D., Georgetown University Medical Center
• Kevin Welber, J.D., McDonough School of Business

For a list of current adjunct and visiting faculty please visit our website.

ADMISSIONS

Applicants for the Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution hold Bachelors degrees in a variety of fields, including Government, International Relations, Psychology, Sociology, Business, Economics, Communications, Theology, Philosophy, and History. They have a broad range of professional, volunteer, and overseas experience.

To be considered for admission all candidates must complete the online application and upload the following documentation (please note all the materials are required):

• Official GRE scores (institution code: 5244);
• Official TOEFL scores ( required for non-native English speakers who have not earned a degree at an English-speaking institution);
• Official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended;
• Statement of purpose;
• Academic writing sample (10-20 pages);
• Resume or CV;
• Three letters of recommendation; and
• Application fee ($80 USD).

Admissions are conducted once per year, for fall enrollment. Part-time studies are permitted; interested applicants should contact the department for information on the part-time option. All applicants are considered for one of several merit-based, partial-tuition Conflict Resolution Scholar awards. The CR program also offers a number of competitive summer field research awards to students already enrolled in the program, including the CR Program Field Research Fellowships for applied practice overseas and the Generations for Peace Summer Fellowship for Research on Sport and Peacebuilding.

For any additional information or to schedule a visit to campus please write to Amanda Potts Ruthven, Program Coordinator, at kar229(at)georgetown.edu

We are currently accept applications for the 2013-2014 academic year!
Applications are due January 15, 2013. Visit us on the web at

by  clicking here or email us at conflictresolution(at)georgetown.edu

Also see our CR Program Brochure which is attached.