Phone: 703-993-1300
Web: icar.gmu.edu
College Code: CA
Sara Cobb, Director
Kevin Avruch, Associate Director
Professors: Avruch, Cheldelin, Gopin, Jeong, Rothbart, Rouhana, Rubenstein, Sandole
Associate professors: Bartoli, Cobb, Hirsch, Lyons, Warfield
Assistant professors: Goodale, Howard, Nan, Paczynska, Schoeny, Simmons
Research professors: Korostelina, Price, Sluzki
Affiliate faculty: Dale
Emeritus faculty: Mitchell
The Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) offers all course work designated CONF in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.
ICAR provides the following academic offerings:
Undergraduate
Graduate
Phone: 703-993-4165
E-mail: ugradcar@gmu.edu
Location: Fairfax Campus
Susan F. Hirsch, Undergraduate Program Director
Conflict Analysis and Resolution (CAR) offers students a BA, a BS, or a minor in a growing interdisciplinary social science field with practical applications. Conflict analysis and resolution is committed to analyzing the sources and dynamics of conflict and the means for resolution toward lasting peace. All CAR students take a series of core courses that provide a background in conflict theory, analysis, and conflict resolution skills. Required bridge courses cover conflict analysis and resolution at three levels: interpersonal conflict, community and organizational conflict, and international conflict. After selecting a level of conflict as a concentration, students choose courses from units throughout the university that relate to the concentration and their areas of interest, such as anthropology, communication, government, philosophy, psychology, management, sociology, and New Century College. The major also requires 3 credits of field experience in the form of an internship, a service-learning opportunity, or study abroad.
BA-CONF
In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) college-level requirements for philosophy or religious studies, foreign language proficiency, social sciences, and non-Western culture, CAR majors must complete 39 credits for the BA degree:
Students pursuing a double major/degree with a program outside of the ICAR undergraduate program will be expected to fulfill all of the university general education and college requirements necessary to complete the second major. Please check with the second major department concerning additional requirements.
Required core courses (15 credits): CONF 101, 300, 301, 302, 490
Required bridge courses (9 credits): CONF 320, 330, 340
Field experience (3 credits): Students can choose to fulfill this requirement through an internship, service learning, or study abroad. Students register for internship credits through New Century College. More information is available at http://ncc.gmu.edu. Students interested in study abroad should register through the Center for Global Education. More information can be found at http://www.gmu.edu/departments/cge. Prior approval by the major advisor is required for all field experience options.
Concentration courses (12 credits): Students choose courses from one of three levels of conflict: interpersonal (micro level), community and organizational (mezzo level), and international (macro level). Students should choose classes that pertain to their concentration and are listed as approved. 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. Independent study approved by the advisor is also an option. The CAR director will consider student requests for approval of courses not listed below.
Students choose four courses from the following areas: ADJ 302, 404, 406; ANTH 315, 365, 371; COMM 305; CONF 202, 393, 399, 495; NCLC 305, 310, 315, 317, 320, 395; PHIL 309, 355; PSYC 231, 321, 324, 467; SOCI 300, 302, 305, 309, 350; SOCW 323
Students choose four courses from the following areas: ADJ 302, 406, 407; ANTH 310, 365, 488; COMM 326, 335, 350, 432; CONF 202, 240, 393, 399, 495; ECON 309, 320; GEOG 306, 406; GOVT 301, 309, 337, 365, 414; HIST 340, 350, 418; MGMT/MSOM 301; MGMT 412, 463; NCLC 301, 304, 310, 320, 361, 381, 395; PHIL 254, 309, 326, 355; PSYC 231; SOCI 300, 301, 302, 307, 308, 315, 326, 332, 340, 352, 373, 492; SOCW 351, 425; UNIV 342
Students choose four courses from ADJ 405, 475; ANTH 312, 331, 332, 333, 365, 385, 440; COMM 412/GOVT 412; CONF 240, 393, 399, 495; ECON 360, 361; GEOG 301; GOVT 331, 332, 333, 334, 336, 337, 338, 342, 345, 349, 421, 432, 446, 448; HIST 364, 461, 466; MGMT 461; MSOM 305; NCLC 381, 395, 424; PHIL 327, 355; SOCI 307, 320, 326, 340, 450
BS-CONF
In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements CAR majors must complete 54 credits for the BS degree:
Students pursuing a double major/degree with a program outside of the ICAR undergraduate program will be expected to fulfill all of the university general education and college requirements necessary to complete the second major. Please check with the second major department concerning additional requirements.
Required core courses (15 credits): CONF 101, 300, 301, 302, 490
Required bridge courses (9 credits): CONF 320, 330, 340
Non-Western culture (3 credits): from institute BA requirement list. Cannot be double counted for global understanding requirement.
Research methods (6 credits):
Field experience (3 credits): Students can choose to fulfill this requirement through an internship, service learning, or study abroad. Students register for internship credits through New Century College. More information is available at http://ncc.gmu.edu. Students interested in study abroad should register through the Center for Global Education. More information can be found at http://www.gmu.edu/departments/cge. Prior approval by the major advisor is required for all field experience options.
Concentration courses (12 credits): Students choose courses from one of three levels of conflict: interpersonal (micro level), community and organizational (mezzo level), and international (macro level). Students should choose classes that pertain to their concentration and are listed as approved. 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. Independent study approved by the advisor is also an option. The CAR director will consider student requests for approval of courses not listed below.
Students choose four courses from ADJ 302, 404, 406; ANTH 315, 365, 371; COMM 305; CONF 202, 393, 399, 495;NCLC 305, 310, 315, 317, 320, 395; PHIL 309, 355; PSYC 231, 321, 324, 467; SOCI 300, 302, 305, 309, 350; SOCW 323
Students choose four courses from ADJ 302, 406, 407; ANTH 310, 365, 488; COMM 326, 335, 350, 432; CONF 202, 240, 393, 399, 495; ECON 309, 320; GEOG 306, 406; GOVT 301, 309, 337, 365, 414; HIST 340, 350, 418; MGMT/MSOM 301; MGMT 412, 463; NCLC 301, 304, 310, 320, 361, 381, 395; PHIL 254, 309, 326, 355; PSYC 231; SOCI 300, 301, 302, 307, 308, 315, 326, 332, 340, 352, 373, 492; SOCW 351, 425; UNIV 342
Students choose four courses from ADJ 405, 475; ANTH 312, 331, 332, 333, 365, 385, 440; COMM 412/GOVT 412; CONF 240, 393, 399, 495; ECON 360, 361; GEOG 301; GOVT 331, 332, 333, 334, 336, 337, 338, 342, 345, 349, 421, 432, 446, 448; HIST 364, 461, 466; MGMT 461; MSOM 305; NCLC 381, 395, 424; PHIL 327, 355; SOCI 307, 320, 326, 340, 450
Major electives (6 credits): Elective courses can be chosen from the approved concentration course list at any level but may not count for both concentration and elective credit. Independent study approved by the advisor is also an option.
Students are required to achieve a minimum of 2.00 GPA in courses applied to a minor. At least 8 credits of the minor must be applied only to the CAR minor and may not be used to fulfill requirements of the student’s major, major concentration, or another minor.
Students pursuing a minor complete 18 credits distributed as follows:
Required core courses (6 credits): CONF 101 and 300
One of three bridge courses (3 credits): CONF 320, 330, 340
Emphasis courses (9 credits): Students choose courses from one of three levels of conflict: interpersonal (micro level), community and organizational (mezzo level), and international (macro level). With permission of the advisor, students may use other CONF designated courses to fulfill emphasis requirements. The CAR director will consider student requests for approval of courses not listed below.
Emphasis in Interpersonal ConflictStudents choose three courses from ADJ 302, 404, 406; ANTH 315, 365, 371; COMM 305; CONF 202, 393, 399, 495; NCLC 305, 310, 315, 317, 320, 395; PHIL 309, 355; PSYC 231, 321, 324, 467; SOCI 300, 302, 305, 309, 350, SOCW 323
Emphasis in Community and Organizational ConflictStudents choose three courses from ADJ 302, 406, 407; ANTH 310, 365, 488; COMM 326, 335, 350, 432; CONF 202, 240, 393, 399, 495; ECON 309, 320; GEOG 306, 406; GOVT 301, 309, 337, 365, 414; HIST 340, 350, 418; MGMT/MSOM 301; MGMT 412, 463; NCLC 301, 304, 310, 320, 361, 381, 395; PHIL 254, 309, 326, 355; PSYC 231; SOCI 300, 301, 302, 307, 308, 315, 326, 332, 340, 352, 373, 492; SOCW 351, 425; UNIV 342
Emphasis in International ConflictStudents choose three courses from ADJ 405, 475; ANTH 312, 331, 332, 333, 365, 385, 440; COMM 412/GOVT 412; CONF 240, 393, 399, 495; ECON 360, 361; GEOG 301, GOVT 331, 332, 333, 334, 336, 337, 338, 342, 345, 349, 421, 432, 446, 448; HIST 364, 461, 466; MGMT 461; MSOM 305; NCLC 381, 395, 424; PHIL 327, 355; SOCI 307, 320, 326, 340, 450
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 has been designated “writing intensive.”
CAR advisors help students create interdisciplinary programs that meet their interests and career goals. All majors and minors are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with a CAR academic advisor who will help students develop and follow a coherent plan of study and complete the degree in a timely manner.
PHED courses offered by the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism that are activity courses cannot be counted toward credits required for a degree in CAR. Students may use nonactivity PHED courses for elective credit for CAR degrees.
Phone: 703-993-1300
E-mail: icarinfo@gmu.edu
Location: Arlington Campus
MS-CONF
This two-year professional program prepares students for practice and further academic work by integrating conflict analysis and resolution theory, research, and practical techniques. Participants study the theory, methods, and ethical perspectives of the field, and apply this knowledge in laboratory simulations and workshops, internships, and field practice. Graduates work in a variety of settings where conflict resolution is useful and interest groups are in conflict with current and emergent public policy. Examples are businesses, unions, government agencies, religious groups, court systems, educational institutions, community centers, international relief and development organizations, and consulting firms.
In addition to meeting all admission requirements for graduate study, applicants must submit all undergraduate and graduate transcripts; three letters of recommendation, one of which should be from a faculty member in the applicant’s undergraduate or graduate major field; and a 750- to 1,000-word essay on goals and reasons for seeking admission to the program. GRE or other standardized test scores are not required but may be submitted. The TOEFL is required of international students. For more information, see the Admission of International Students section in the Admissions chapter of this catalog.
Background courses in social sciences, as well as prior work experience, are desirable. Prior graduate academic work is evaluated on an individual basis for possible transfer credit and fulfillment of program requirements; however, Mason usually does not reduce the total credits required for the degree. Although students may enroll on a full- or part-time basis, entry into the program is in the fall semester only.
Forty-one credits are required: 15 in required core courses, 20 in elective courses, and 6 in integrative courses (students can choose from a defined list). Mason requires all students to complete the master’s degree within six years of their official admission date.
Because the choice of electives can vary significantly according to individual goals or needs, each student should develop a plan of study that should be discussed once each semester with the advisor and updated as appropriate.
Students take 15 credits of required course work.
Students take 20 credits of elective course work. Electives are any 500-, 600-, or 700-level CONF courses, except required courses and courses from the Graduate Certificate Program. With the advisor’s approval, each student is eligible to include a maximum of 6 credits of electives from outside the ICAR Program, including courses in other Mason departments, consortium courses, ICAR graduate certificate courses, and transfer courses from other universities.
Students must complete 6 credits of integrative work, choosing one of the following options:
Only two directed readings (CONF 697) may be applied toward requirements for the master’s degree.
The internship program provides students with opportunities to use and develop conflict resolution skills, integrate theory and practice of conflict analysis and resolution, and network with professionals in the field to enhance employment opportunities. Experience does not necessarily have to be explicitly hands on. CONF 694 requires at least 160 hours of supervised work on a project toward the analysis or resolution of conflict. Such work must be spelled out in a memorandum of agreement to be signed by the student, the site supervisor, and the internship coordinator before the internship begins.
The Applied Practice and Theory (APT) Program is a 6-credit course that runs yearlong. It is designed to take the concepts presented in class and practiced in labs into real situations with conflict and consequences. Students work in teams integrating research and practice with theory development and applied ethics.
HH-MSW-SOCW, MS-CONF
The Department of Social Work and the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution have joined forces to offer a three-year dual-degree program. Students can earn both an MSW and an MS in conflict analysis and resolution while taking advantage of the diversity of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and the university’s proximity to the nation’s capital. This is the only dual-degree program of its kind.
Students applying for the dual MSW and MS in conflict analysis and resolution must apply separately to both the programs. If accepted into both programs, students request permission to pursue the dual degree. See admissions information for both the College of Health and Human Services and the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.
Students must successfully complete the following:
| Social Work Courses | 51 |
|---|---|
| SOCW 623 Human Behavior and Social Systems I | 3 |
| SOCW 624 Human Behavior and Social Systems II | 3 |
| SOCW 651 Social Policies, Programs, and Services | 3 |
| SOCW 652 Influencing Social Policy | 3 |
| SOCW 657 Directed Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SOCW 658 Directed Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SOCW 670 Communication and Technology for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOCW 672 Foundation Field Practicum and Seminar I | 3 |
| SOCW 673 Foundation Field Practicum and Seminar II | 3 |
| SOCW 684 Social Work and the Law | 4 |
| SOCW 685 Organizational Leadership for Social Workers | 4 |
| SOCW 687 Empowering Communities for Change | 4 |
| SOCW 688 Advanced Research in Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 690 Social Change Field Practicum | 6 |
| SOCW 691 Social Change Field Seminar | 3 |
| Conflict Analysis and Resolution Courses | 35 |
| CONF 501 Introduction to Conflict Analysis and Resolution | 3 |
| CONF 601 Theories of Sources of Conflict and Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| CONF 610 Philosophy and Methods of Conflict Research | 3 |
| CONF 642 Integration of Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CONF 694 Internship | 3 |
| CONF 713 Reflective Practice in Interpersonal-Multiparty Conflicts | 3 |
| CONF 795 Professional Development Seminar | 5 |
| CONF electives (selected with approval from ICAR) | 12 |
| Total | 86 |
The doctoral program, the first of its kind in the United States, provides advanced study for students in the fields of conflict and conflict resolution. Students are prepared for careers as researchers, theoreticians, and teachers in higher education, and as policy administrators, analysts, and consultants in the public and the private sectors.
The program stresses a close link between knowledge of theory and process in the resolution of conflict. For this, training in the methods of research and analysis is emphasized. In addition, students are expected to obtain a background in a substantive area of conflict, usually related to the topic of the dissertation.
In addition to the requirements listed for applicants to the MS program, requirements for the PhD program include a written sample of work that shows the applicant’s potential for completing dissertation research in a doctoral program. Although students may enroll on a full- or part-time basis, entry into the program is in the fall semester only. A master’s degree or equivalent degree is required for admission to the PhD program.
Fifty-seven credits are required.
Students take 27 credits of required course work; each course is 3 credits.
Eighteen elective credits must be completed prior to comprehensive exams. Electives are any 500-, 600-, and 700-level CONF courses, except required courses and courses from the Graduate Certificate Program. With the advisor’s approval, each student may include a maximum of 6 credits of electives from outside the ICAR Program, including courses in other Mason departments, consortium courses, ICAR graduate certificate courses, and transfer courses from other universities. The intent is to allow students to have maximum flexibility in selecting courses to build skills and knowledge needed in dissertation work.
Only two directed readings (CONF 897) can be applied toward doctoral elective requirements.
Twelve combined dissertation proposal and research credits are required:
CONF 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (All CONF 998 courses are graded In Progress until completion of the proposal. At that time, an appropriate grade is issued.)
CONF 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research (All CONF 999 courses are graded In Progress until the dissertation defense is successfully completed. At that time, an appropriate grade is issued.)
Students who have earned an MS in conflict analysis and resolution from Mason may have the course total required for a doctoral degree reduced by 15 credits. The actual number of credits reduced is determined in consultation with the student’s advisor and the program coordinator after a review of courses taken.
Students entering with other relevant degrees (MA, MS, or JD) may have the required course load reduced by up to 15 credits. The actual number of applied credits is determined in consultation with the student’s advisor and the program coordinator after a review of courses taken.
Every doctoral student must show competence in a foreign language (that is, a language other than their native tongue) before advancing to candidacy. Students cannot register for CONF 998 without evidence of meeting this requirement. International students may use English as their foreign language and the TOEFL as a demonstration of competency. The Department of Modern and Classical Languages has ruled that neither American Sign Language nor computer languages can be used to fulfill this requirement. All students, regardless of how recently language courses have been taken, are required to fulfill the same standard before advancing to candidacy.
Competence in a foreign language must be shown by taking a placement test at Mason’s Language Laboratory. The test has oral and written components. If the test is passed at a level greater than 300, which indicates the end of intermediate and beginning of advanced competency, the Department of Modern and Classical Languages will issue a certificate of proficiency.
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages conducts tests from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, on a first-come, first-served basis. Check with the doctoral program coordinator for more details, such as how to obtain tapes for language practice.
If the student desires testing in a language that Mason does not offer, the test can be taken at an outside organization, embassy, church, or other entity. The student must submit a letter to Mason certifying that the test was passed at a high, intermediate, or low advanced level. The student may submit for approval the names and qualifications of those capable of administering such a test.
After students pass their comprehensive exam and before they register for CONF 998, they should notify the PhD coordinator about the language they have selected to satisfy the foreign language requirement.
After completing course work (except the dissertation) listed on the Program of Studies, passing written comprehensive exams, and completion of the language requirement students are advanced to candidacy. A candidate is permitted five years from the advancement date to complete the dissertation.
Phone: 703-993-1300
E-mail: icarcert@gmu.edu
Location: Arlington Campus
Mara Schoeny, Certificate Program Director
Four graduate certificate programs are administered exclusively by ICAR. Each of these one-year, 15-credit programs is specifically tailored to provide students with practical knowledge of conflict analysis and resolution relevant to their focused areas of work. Designed for midcareer professionals studying in a cohort environment, the certificate programs integrate conflict analysis and resolution theory, research, and practical technique. These programs use intensive course sessions, lecture, seminar, and applied mentored learning in real and simulated situations to prepare students to use conflict analysis and resolution approaches in their work in a variety of fields.
In addition to meeting all admission requirements for graduate study, applicants must submit an undergraduate transcript showing completion of an undergraduate degree or equivalent, and a curriculum vitae or résumé indicating relevant work experience.
In addition, prior work experience in areas related to the chosen graduate certificate is desirable. GRE or other standardized test scores are not required but may be submitted. The TOEFL is required of international students. For more information, see the Admission of International Students section in the Admissions chapter of this catalog. Although students may enter the program in either the fall or spring semester, they are strongly encouraged to participate fully in the cohort learning experience by enrolling for the fall semester, taking two courses in the fall and two in the spring, and completing their certificate with the final course in the summer.
Fifteen credits are required for each graduate certificate degree. Each degree consists of three courses (9 credits) required of all certificate programs.
CERG-CARA
Students take 12 credits of required course work. The semester in which the courses are generally offered is indicated in parentheses:
Students take 3 credits of elective course work. They may choose from the following:
Application of any other course toward fulfillment of the elective requirement must be approved by the director of certificates.
CERG-CARC
Students take 12 credits of required course work. The semester in which the courses are generally offered is indicated in parentheses:
Students take 3 credits of elective course work. They may choose from the following:
Application of any other course toward fulfillment of the elective requirement must be approved by the director of certificates.
CERG-CARP
Students take 12 credits of required course work. The semester in which the courses are generally offered is indicated in parentheses:
Students take 3 credits of elective course work. They may choose from the following:
Application of any other course toward fulfillment of the elective requirement must be approved by the director of certificates.
CERG-CARW
Students take 12 credits of required course work. The semester in which the courses are generally offered is indicated in parentheses:
Students take 3 credits of elective course work. They may choose from the following:
Application of any other course toward fulfillment of the elective requirement must be approved by the director of certificates.