NewsRelease

(Posted 4-22-04)
Contact: Dan Nonte, 336-334-5371

UNCG to Offer State's First Master's Degree in Conflict Resolution

GREENSBORO – School shootings. Domestic violence. Racial tension. Road rage. Escalating violence in Iraq.

The world is full of fear, conflict and violence. This fall, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro will become the first university in the state to offer a master’s degree in conflict resolution.

 The 30-semester-hour program will focus on pragmatic, nonviolent approaches to resolving conflicts among individuals, and within families, organizations and communities. Faculty will train students in mediation, negotiation, violence intervention and collaborative problem solving.

Flexible scheduling will allow students of all ages and needs, including working adults, to participate in the program.

UNCG will hold an open house for the new program 5-7 p.m. May 7 in Room 251, Brown Building Annex. The building is near Tate Street and Walker Avenue. For more information, call the program’s office at (336) 334-4118.

“In addition to peacekeepers, we need more peacemakers at all social levels,” said Dr. Cathie J. Witty, program director.

Witty has spent the past year and a half working as an advocate for disabled children in Kosovo. Before that, she spent eight years as a faculty member in the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

She earned a doctorate in anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley, a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from NSU.

UNCG is pursuing certification for its program from the Dispute Resolution Commission of North Carolina.
Requirements for Admission

Successful applicants will have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The GRE is required. Foreign students who are not native speakers of English will be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS test scores with their applications.

Applicants will be required to provide a UNCG application, undergraduate transcripts, three letters of reference and a personal essay. All applicants will be interviewed by the program director. Applications are accepted throughout the year, but should be received by May 30 for full consideration for fall enrollment.

Required Courses (18 credit hours)
CNR 600 - Concepts and Processes of Conflict Resolution
CNR 601 - Cultural Dimensions of Conflict
CNR 610 - Conflict Transformation
CNR 611 - Conflict in Communities
CNR 615 - Mediation Theory and Practice
CNR 616 - Practicum in Conflict Resolution

Electives (12 credit hours)
After their first semester, students may choose electives to compliment their goals. Electives may be selected from a list of approved courses or the following list of courses; additional electives may be approved with approval of the Program Director.

Practicum
Practicum placements will provide students with hands-on practice resolving conflicts in community settings such as schools, agencies, organizations and mediation centers. The experience will prepare students to facilitate workshops and other group activities.

Certificate Program
The 15-credit-hour certificate program will cover the fundamentals of conflict resolution in four first-year courses from the core curriculum and one elective in lieu of the practicum. Credits earned in this certificate program can be applied toward the master’s degree.

Back to the Latest News Releases
Return to the University News Service Home Page