Program Overview

Introduction to the Conflict Management Program

The Master of Arts in Conflict Management program at Lipscomb University is designed to empower students to explore the building blocks of dispute resolution, examine problems in negotiation and mediation, and develop processes for solving complex issues in the face of conflict. This program aims to strengthen students' qualifications and confidence in navigating conflict management and resolution processes in different contexts.

Program Overview

The Conflict Management program is available in a hybrid format at the Nashville campus location. The program offers two options: a 15-credit Graduate Certificate program and a 30-credit Master of Arts in Conflict Management. The Master of Arts in Conflict Management program takes a holistic approach to introducing root causes, theories of conflicts, and the process of dispute resolution.

Learning Outcomes

The master's in Conflict Management degree program is designed for students who want to become experts in conflict management and resolution. The Conflict Management certification is designed for students seeking an introduction to conflict management skills. Both programs are meant to equip students with the tools to recognize, understand, and alleviate conflicts across intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and governmental settings.

Career Opportunities

A degree in conflict management can prepare students for various professional areas, including:

• Business Leadership: Lead teams, become an expert negotiator, and gain the tools to become a transformational leader.
  • Evolve into an expert negotiator
  • Gain the tools to become a transformational leader
• Human Resources: Untangle disputes within organizations, work in employee relations, and empower employees with conflict management skills.
  • Untangle disputes within organizations
  • Work in employee relations
• Education: Solve complex interpersonal and systemic conflicts in the education system, initiate mediation programs, and model and teach students strong negotiation and mediation skills.
  • Solve complex interpersonal and systemic conflicts
  • Initiate mediation programs
• Organizational: Become an indispensable person on the team, lead the organization through change, and facilitate groups with differing needs and agendas.
  • Become an indispensable person on the team
  • Lead the organization through change
• Legal System: Take legal skills to a higher level, build a fulfilling career in mediation, arbitration, negotiation, or dispute resolution.
  • Take legal skills to a higher level
  • Build a fulfilling career in mediation, arbitration, negotiation, or dispute resolution
• Public Decision-Making: Work with local leaders, implement programs, and make decisions on land use, public rights, free speech, or community policy.
  • Work with local leaders
  • Implement programs
• Security: Build a meaningful role in intelligence services, military, or law enforcement, fostering relationships and trust between security personnel and the communities they serve.
  • Build a meaningful role in intelligence services, military, or law enforcement
• International and Humanitarian Development: Do humanitarian work, help rebuild communities around the world, and work in places like Rwanda, the Philippines, and Peru.
  • Do humanitarian work
  • Help rebuild communities around the world
• Peacebuilding: Start and carry on dialogues, problem-solving workshops, and work on issues of religion, race, gender, community, and interfaith peacebuilding.
  • Start and carry on dialogues
  • Work on issues of religion, race, gender, community, and interfaith peacebuilding
• Peacemaking: Negotiate treaties, ceasefires, and be on the front lines to resolve intense, high-stakes disputes.
  • Negotiate treaties, ceasefires
  • Be on the front lines to resolve intense, high-stakes disputes

Admissions Requirements

To apply for the Conflict Management program, students must submit:

• Graduate Application Form
• Application Fee: A non-refundable $50 application fee
• Résumé: Detailing academic, personal, and professional experiences and achievements
• Official Transcripts: From all previously attended colleges and universities
• References: Two references are required
• Personal Statement/Essay: A written response to specific questions
• Standardized examination score OR writing sample: Accepted standardized test scores include GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MAT, or MCAT
• On-Campus Interview: After all application documents are received and academic requirements are met

Courses

The Conflict Management degree program offers two options:

• Master of Arts in Conflict Management: A 30-credit program that takes a holistic approach to introducing root causes, theories of conflicts, and the process of dispute resolution.
• Conflict Management Certificate: A 15-credit program that aims to establish essential conflict management skills in a short time period.

Tuition and Aid

The Conflict Management program tuition is approximately $1,091 per credit hour. Types of aid include:

• Assistantships and Scholarships: Offered by individual departments and programs, based on academic standing, work experience, and financial need.
• Student Loans: Federal Stafford Loan, Graduate PLUS Loan, and private loans.
• Veteran Aid/Yellow Ribbon Program: Lipscomb University guarantees some level of graduate tuition funding for graduate students who qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program.