Georgetown University's two-year M.A. program in Conflict Resolution is a multidisciplinary course of study that combines world class research and practice. Core courses are offered in the Government Department, Psychology Department, and the McDonough School of Business.
From Darfur to Iraq to Washington D.C. , disputes over politics, culture, resources, and religion have given rise to the need for new and creative approaches to resolving conflict. While deeply-rooted conflicts are often not fully resolved, they may be transformed from heated or violent disputes into more manageable, peaceful forms.
The two-year M.A. program is an intensive, theoretically- and practically-oriented, multidisciplinary degree. It is housed in the Government Department, with core courses offered also in the Department of Psychology and the McDonough School of Business. Elective courses may be selected from many other leading departments across campus. The program seeks to build on and reinforce Georgetown University 's traditional commitments to peace, outreach, and ethics.
CURRICULUM
One of the Conflict Resolution Program’s unique strengths is that the curriculum is built on a core set of multidisciplinary courses that provide students with conflict resolution practice and theory. The core courses are offered in the Government Department, Psychology Department, and the McDonough School of Business. Beyond the required classes, students are strongly encouraged, with the support of a faculty mentor, to concentrate their studies on a particular geographic and/or thematic area.
All students will complete the following four core courses in Conflict Resolution
GOVT 580 Conflict Resolution Theory
GOVT 581 Conflict Resolution Skills
PSYC 498 Multiculturalism, Democracy and Intergroup Relations
MGMT 670 Negotiations
In addition, students must complete one course that examines conflict in a particular region, five general electives, and four directed electives, which directly address the origins, analysis, mediation, negotiation and resolution of conflict, as well as post-conflict peacekeeping and development. For a list of suggested directed and general electives please visit the Conflict Resolution program website.
CONCENTRATIONS
With the assistance of a faculty adviser, students are encouraged to develop an area of concentration that best suits their interests and goals. Concentrations can be geographical, thematic, or a combination of the two.
Students may also develop a concentration through one of four certificate programs:
Arab Studies
Asian Studies
East European and Eurasian Studies
Refugees and Humanitarian Studies
The coursework for these certificates also count toward a student’s progress in the CR Program.
RECENT COURSES OFFERED BY THE CR PROGRAM
Applied Research Methods in Conflict Resolution
Business and Conflict Resolution
Capstone Course in Conflict Resolution
Conflict and State Formation in Africa
Conflict Resolution and Development
Conflict Resolution Theory (Required Core Course)
Criminal Law and Conflict Resolution
Culture and Conflict Resolution
Environment and Conflict Resolution
Evaluation and Conflict Resolution
Food Security and Conflict Resolution
Gender and Peacebuilding
Genocide, Justice and Reconciliation
Intergroup Relations (Required Core Course)
Introduction to Conflict Resolution Skills (Required Core Course)
Managing Organizational Conflict
Negotiations (Required Core Course)
Religion and Peacebuilding
Sport and Peacebuilding
Terrorism and Conflict Resolution
Transitional Justice
CAREERS
Students graduating from the program have established successful careers in government, non-governmental organizations, and private sector businesses. Students are also well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies.
While enrolled, most students take advantage of the numerous work-related opportunities in Washington, DC to gain practical experience in the field and earn academic credit through an internship. Others apply to work directly with Georgetown University faculty as one of 20 Conflict Resolution Research Assistants.Students have worked or interned at the following organizations, among others:
United States Department of State
US Agency for International Development
Search for Common Ground
Collaborative Development for Action
United Nations
Mercy Corps
Hunt Alternatives Fund
Pan African Capital Group, LLC
Partners for Democratic Change
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
ARD, Inc.
DAI, Inc.
United States Institute of Peace
Center for Strategic and International Studies
National Democratic Institute
Brookings Institution
Washington Hospital Center
PEOPLE
The Conflict Resolution program draws on a rich body of course offerings and leading faculty from multiple disciplines. The program's advisory committee is comprised of Georgetown faculty from the fields of Political Science, Law, Sociology, Psychology, and Business, among others.
Core Faculty and Advisory Committee
Fathali Moghaddam, Ph.D., Department of Psychology Director, Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution
Craig Zelizer, Ph.D., Department of Government,Associate Director, Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution
Dr. Ayse Kayadifci, Visiting Assistant Professor, Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution,
Tom Banchoff, Ph.D., Department of Government; Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, & World Affairs
Brian Kritz, J.D., Department of Government
Lise Howard, Ph.D., Department of Government
Carol Lancaster, Ph.D., Dean, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
Dr. Alexis Lyras, , Ph.D., The HRH King Abdullah II, Generations for Post-Doctoral Fellow in Sport and Peacebuilding, Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution
Carrie Menkel-Meadow, J.D., LL.D., Georgetown University Law Center
Jessica Raper, J.D., M.A. Office of the University President
George Shambaugh, Ph.D., Department of Government
Scott Taylor, Ph.D., School of Foreign Service, African Studies Program
Alan Tidwell, Ph.D., School of Foreign Service, Center for Australian and New Zealand Studies
Catherine Tinsley, Ph.D., McDonough School of Business
Charles Villa-Vicencio, Ph.D., Department of Government
Kevin Welber, J.D., McDonough School of Business
For a list of current adjunct and visiting faculty please visit our website.
ADMISSIONS
Applicants for the Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution hold Bachelors degrees in a variety of fields, including Government, International Relations, Psychology, Sociology, Business, Economics, Communications, Theology, Philosophy, and History. They have a broad range of professional, volunteer, and overseas experience.
To be considered for admission all candidates must complete the online application and upload the following documentation (please note all the materials are required):
Official GRE scores (institution code: 5244);
Official TOEFL scores (required for non-native English speakers who have not earned a degree at an English-speaking institution);
Official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended;
Statement of purpose;
Academic writing sample (10-20 pages, in English);
Resume or CV;
Three letters of recommendation; and
Application fee ($80 USD).
Admissions are conducted once per year, for fall enrollment. Part-time studies are permitted; interested applicants should contact the department for information on the part-time option. All applicants are considered for one of several merit-based, partial-tuition Conflict Resolution Scholar awards. The CR program also offers a number of competitive summer field research awards to students already enrolled in the program, including the CR Program Field Research Fellowships for applied practice overseas and the Generations for Peace Summer Fellowship for Research on Sport and Peacebuilding.
For any additional information or to schedule a visit to campus please write to CR Program Coordinator, at conflictresolution(at)georgetown.edu
We are currently accepting applications for the 2014-2015 academic year!
Applications are due January 15, 2014. Visit us on the web at
by clicking here or email us at conflictresolution(at)georgetown.edu
Also see our CR Program Brochure which is attached
& the latest issue of the CR Program Newsletter,
Building Bridges