Conflict and Dispute Resolution (MA/MS)
The graduate program in conflict and dispute resolution (CRES), housed in the School of Law, offers an interdisciplinary master’s degree (MA or MS) granted by the Division of Graduate Studies. It is an interdisciplinary program that prepares professionals from all disciplines to be collaborative problem-solvers in every aspect of society. The curriculum includes a balance of theory and skills-based learning designed to sharpen analytical and practical skills, encourage intellectual rigor and foster the lively exchange of ideas in and out of the classroom. The program operates on the quarter (term) calendar. The calendar is available for review online.
Tuition information can be found here. For fee information, please refer to financialaid.uoregon.edu.
For specific questions: Email: cres@uoregon.edu.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Integrate and apply a broad range of theoretical concepts, processes, skills, and strategies to analyze, prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts.
- Understand the contexts in which conflicts occur and apply to them the appropriate conflict and dispute resolution theory and skills.
- Facilitate, lead, and engage in constructive communication and collaborative problem-solving in a variety of interpersonal, cross-cultural, and intra-and inter-institutional settings.
- Recognize, understand, acknowledge, and address the role of power, difference, and inequity in conflict.
- Demonstrate deepened and self-reflective skills in critical thinking, research, writing, ethics, and the craft of conflict management.
Conflict and Dispute Resolution Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 31 | |
| Culture, Power, and Conflict Resolution I | ||
| Experimental Course: [Topic] (Professional Development Seminar) | ||
| Adversarial Processes | ||
| Culture, Power, and Conflict Resolution II | ||
| Law Courses for Nonlaw Students (Negotiation) | ||
| Managing Conflict in Organizations (Research Methods) | ||
| Experimental Course: [Topic] (Psychology of Conflict) | ||
| Culture, Power, and Conflict Resolution III | ||
| Philosophy of Conflict Resolution | ||
| Law Courses for Nonlaw Students (Mediation) | ||
| Capstone Seminar | ||
| Academic Capstone: Course Concentration | ||
| Electives | 20 | |
| Internship | 8 | |
| Internship: [Topic] | ||
| Thesis/Terminal Project/Course Concentration | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 68 | |
*Students who wish to obtain a master of arts degree instead of the master of science must demonstrate proficiency in a second language.
Additional Requirements
Students currently enrolled in the program must finish all CRES requirements by end of Spring 2026.
The thesis, terminal project, or course concentration component (the final project for the degree requirement) is flexible in format and content to allow students to choose among a theory-based academic paper that studies an aspect of the field, a practical applied project, or a set of courses selected to build specific expertise in a given area. Successful completion of the final project requires an oral defense before the student’s final project committee.