Online Conflict Resolution and Mediation Degrees

The emerging discipline of conflict resolution & mediation seeks to neutralize disputes so that the parties in disagreement can come to an agreement or achieve reconciliation. Mediators function as neutral advocates for peaceful resolution, emphasizing common ground over points of conflict. This approach to conflict has applications to legal practice, public policy and international diplomacy.

Some of the major areas of conflict resolution and mediation practice include:

• Contract and tort law
• Corporate and labor negotiations
• Public policy decision-making
• Environmental issues
• International humanitarian and relief work
• Community disputes
• Family and divorce law

As an academic discipline, conflict resolution & mediation sits at the intersection of psychology, public policy, human resources management and law.

Conflict resolution & mediation degrees offer an interdisciplinary curriculum touching on a range of social science fields relevant to the practice of mediation. Courses range from conflict resolution theory, negotiation and mediation techniques to related topics such as communication, international relations, public policy, sociology, organizational behavior and more.

Most programs incorporate an internship or practicum, allowing students to apply their knowledge in the practice of mediation. For example, a student might work alongside a mediator in a family court or small claims court. In addition, professional mediation programs generally meet the training requirements for specific state or court jurisdictions.

Both campus-based and online degrees in conflict resolution & mediation are available at every level, from associate to doctoral degrees. Look for programs in conflict resolution, mediation, peace studies or alternative dispute resolution. The most common conflict resolution & mediation degrees are:

• Bachelor of Science. The four-year B.S. in conflict resolution is the most common degree in the field, offering a solid general education to support the interdisciplinary social sciences curriculum.
• Master of Science. The academic master's in conflict resolution offers the opportunity for advanced coursework and a thesis project focusing on an issue in mediation theory or practice.
• Master of Business Administration. Some MBA programs offer a concentration in conflict or dispute resolution. This program follows a professional business curriculum with some elective courses in mediation and negotiation.

In addition, there are a growing number of two-year associate degrees and doctoral degrees in conflict resolution. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many mediators transfer into the field with a law degree or a master's degree in a related field such as public policy.

Conflict resolution & mediation is a discipline firmly grounded in working with people. So how do online courses in conflict resolution work? An online professor in the field, in a paper for the professional website mediate.com, described one approach to teaching online, which included optional conference calls for students to discuss course topics and issues in real-time, group projects that encouraged collaboration among students, and recorded lectures that could be discussed in online forums. Other online courses have used videotape or online simulations to recreate role-playing experience among virtual participants.

Conflict resolution and mediation is driving job growth in the judicial sector. While judge positions are declining, arbitrators, mediators and conciliators can expect 14 percent job growth in the 2008-2018 period, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Graduates with degrees in conflict resolution & mediation can go on to careers as mediators, negotiators and dispute resolution trainers. Some work in contexts related to mediation, such as human resources or labor negotiation, public policy administration or international diplomacy.

• Salaries: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mediators and arbitrators earned an average salary of $66,460 in 2010. The federal government was the highest-paying employer, with an average wage of $120,670.
• Key locations: California, New York and Florida have the highest employment levels of mediators in the nation.
• Common industries: Professional, scientific and technical services; government; business, labor and political organizations; legal services