2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution


Phone: 703-993-1300
Web: scar.gmu.edu
College Code: CA

Administration

Andrea Bartoli, Dean
Julie Shedd, Associate Dean for Administration
Sandra Cheldelin, PHD Program Director
Daniel Rothbart, MS Program Director
Mara Schoeny, Graduate Certificate Program Director
Agnieszka Paczynska, Undergraduate Program Director

Faculty

Professors: Avruch, Bartoli, Cheldelin, Gopin, Hirsch, Jeong, Rothbart, Rubenstein, Sandole, Sluzki

Associate professors: Cobb, Goodale, Korostelina, Lyons, Paczynska

Assistant professors: Dwyer, Flores, Maulden, Nan, Schoeny, Simmons

Research professors: Price, Sluzki

Affiliate faculty: Cioffi-Revilla, Dale, Diamond, Dukes, Geller, Hamrin, Johnston, Montville, Murdock, Oren, Osman, Paden, Pirio, Pruitt, Stanton

Emeritus faculty: Mitchell

Course Work

The School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR) offers all course work designated CONF in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

Phone: 703-993-4165
E-mail: ugradcar@gmu.edu
Location: Fairfax Campus

Agnieszka Paczynska, 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.

Graduate Programs

Phone: 703-993-1300
E-mail: scarinfo@gmu.edu
Location: Arlington Campus

Sandra Cheldelin, PHD Program Director

Daniel Rothbart, MS Program Director

The Ph.D. program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, 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.

The M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution is a two-year professional program that 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. 

Graduate Certificates

Phone: 703-993-1300
E-mail: icarcert@gmu.edu
Location: Arlington Campus

Mara Schoeny, Certificate Program Director

Five graduate certificate programs are administered by S-CAR. 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.

Academic Policies

Students should become familiar with the university’s general academic policies in addition to those specific to each academic unit.  Please see the Academic Policies  section of this catalog.

Appeal of Decisions

The policies of the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution are designed to be consistent, equitable, and transparent.  Our office strives to be thorough, timely, and open to answer any questions students may have regarding our decisions and/or the process through which they were reached.  Students seeking clarification and explanation of the decision should request an appointment with the S-CAR Program Director to discuss their concerns.

Students have the right to appeal decisions regarding requests for academic actions.  This step can only be taken after a request to meet with the Program Director.  Students who wish to pursue an appeal after this meeting should do so only if they can provide sufficient and compelling reasons for their initial claim to be reconsidered.  Such reasons include newly available documentation, proof of an irregularity in procedures, proof of inequity or inconsistency, or consequences so serious that further review is warranted.  A student’s dissatisfaction or disagreement with the decision does not constitute sufficient reason for a decision to be changed.  Appeals are first reviewed by the Program Director.  If denied, the appeal is forwarded to the S-CAR Dean.  The decision of the S-CAR Dean is the final decision of the School.

If the appeal is a case involving a school-level policy, the Dean serves as the final point of appeal.  If the appeal involves university level policies, students must first complete the school-level appeal process before appealing to the Provost’s Office.