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Our Program - Core Courses

CRES 612 Philosophy of Conflict Resolution (4 credits) Graded

This course will address some basic concepts of conflict resolution and their philosophical presuppositions. It is not a comprehensive survey of topics or theories in the field; it is selective in its approach, but in ways that mean to provoke reflection on the methods and aims of conflict resolution as a whole. Even when looking at more philosophical matters, its assumption is that philosophy is not a purely academic matter but is addressed to the practical urgencies of our lives.

The approach of the course is to ground itself in real life practical problems that will be studied somewhat in the manner that law school deals with case studies. The larger conceptual and philosophical issues will be drawn out of specific cases in ways that emphasize their bearing on practical problems. The cases are meant to be ones that involve real controversies, of a kind that express substantive values interests; students will be asked to look at the cases sympathetically from both sides as a way of framing the task of conflict resolution.

Finally, the specific cases will vary from year to year. It is the hope that each year's discussion and examination will either augment the cases or suggest new ones to be explored.

Mediation Training

All students participate in a 32-hour mediation training over two weekends at the end of August and the beginning of September. This training introduces students to the concepts of mediation and the methods and skills of mediating. In addition, the training provides a practical foundation for working with conflicts that might arise within the cohort and controversial topics that are addressed in subsequent course work. There are opportunities for additional mediation training during the course of their studies. This training is a requirement for all students and is a pre-requisite for the Mediation Skills course.

CRES 613 Perspectives on Conflict Resolution (4 credits) Graded

Conflict resolution is an inherently interdisciplinary field, influenced by and connecting such areas as law, labor relations, business and economics, environmental studies, public policy, philosophy, the cognitive and social sciences, counseling psychology, management, international relations, peace studies, intergroup relations, and communication. While exhaustive exploration of the field is not possible, the purpose of this course is to give participants a broad overview of methodological, professional, and research-focused approaches to conflict resolution considered from the literature and perspectives of multiple academic disciplines.

Class sessions will involve lectures, discussions, exercises and collaborative activities. Lectures provided by the CDR program director, UO faculty and other guests will characterize core aspects and issues of different theoretical, disciplinary, and professional approaches to various forms of conflict resolution. The opportunity to engage a breadth of topics and field experts at this point in their degree program studies will facilitate future learning experiences and outcomes relevant to students' coursework, practica, and final project requirements, as well.

Course lectures will draw extensively on the expertise of UO faculty and guest speakers, and one day per week will be set aside for these guest lectures. The invited speakers will present and discuss the underlying assumptions and characteristic research and/or methodological approach of their discipline to a given topic, highlight central questions on which researchers and practitioners have focused, and point to open questions in such areas as: cognitive and social psychology, organizational conflict, labor and business, and international relations. Speakers will also compare and contrast "conventional" conflict resolution approaches with "critical" ones, and assist our explorations of the relationships between justice, efficiency, fairness, power, neutrality, advocacy, and other topics significant to the field. In addition to lectures, films and guest presentations, students will participate in class exercises and simulations and learn basic communication skills and rudimentary conflict analysis and resolution skills. We will also utilize case studies to connect and explore deeper theoretical and methodological concerns in conflict resolution.

CRES 614 Negotiation, Bargaining and Persuasion (4 credits) Graded

This course is designed to develop students' skills of negotiating and communicating effectively, the heart of all conflict resolution and management. Negotiation is a communication processes that people use to plan transactions and resolve conflict. A natural tension exists between our willingness to compete with others by using adversarial negotiation strategies and our corresponding belief that in appropriate circumstances, a collaborative, problem-solving orientation might lead to mutual gains. Managing these mixed motives is the central task of effective negotiation. Much of a negotiator's success is dependent upon decisions made by the other parties to the negotiation. Therefore, we must know how to communicate with others effectively, understand our own motivations and emotions, and be strategic in the steps we take to negotiate through these contexts. With enhanced skills, students can be flexible enough to work successfully in many contexts. This course will include reading from texts and be made "life relevant" by utilizing information from daily newspaper articles for discussions and class exercises.

CRES 615 Cross Cultural Dynamics in Conflict Resolution (4 credits) Graded

Conflict resolution is practiced today within conditions of increasing diversity, migration, and globalization, and in response to specific interpersonal and historical dynamics. Our cultural identities are shaped by these conditions and dynamics, too. All individuals possess (or perform) multiple and intersecting cultural identities - e.g. ethnicity, gender, nationality, linguistic group, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, etc. These identities are salient in how we stand in relation to each other; experience operative policies, practices, and institutions in the public and private spheres; and "value" conflict and conflict resolution. To be successful practitioners, we must sensitively and effectively engage cross-cultural dynamics of communication, history, and relationships. We must also understand, respect, and effectively work with differential attitudes toward conflict and conflict resolution where they may exist.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to build or enhance necessary theoretical knowledge, awareness, understanding, practical skills, and strategies for effectiveness in cross-cultural conflict resolution. We will explore cultural competency models and will work (as individuals and practitioners) to examine our respective personal and cultural experiences, identities, norms, narratives, and biases. We will study, utilize, and practice various methods of interpersonal and intercultural communication. We will survey some specific responses to cross-cultural conflict and conflict resolution within US and international contexts. While this course is not envisioned as exhaustive in scope explored, issues engaged, or learning outcomes produced, students who complete this course successfully will possess demonstrable competencies - that is, awareness, knowledge, and/or skills - in the following areas:

CRES 616 Mediation Skills (4 Credits) Graded

This course aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of mediation practice, including not only the skills required to be a successful mediator, but also the legal and policy implications of mediation practice. The course begins with an examination of mediators' foundational practices and skills. The course then exposes students to the range of ethical, legal, and policy debates within the mediation community. Through the use of experiential exercises, the course challenges to students to develop their understanding of the potential gaps between theory and practice in mediation. The basic 32-hour Mediation Training is a pre-requisite for this course.

CRES 617 Professionalism in Practice (4 credits) Graded

This course will examine ethical issues that arise in mediation, as well as legal boundaries of which mediators must be aware. Students will consider the following topics, among others: ethical considerations in initiating the settlement process; proper procedures for engaging the mediator and framing the professional relationship; confidentiality; conflicts of interest; restrictions for nonlawyers; limits on admissibility of evidence; duty of candor in mediation and negotiations; and unique ethical issues relating to arbitration. Students will consider a number of case studies, including the mediation of claims by sex abuse victims and claims by Holocaust survivors.

CRES 618 Adjudication and Courts (2 credits) Graded

Dispute resolution courses typically focus on alternatives to litigation. Yet the civil litigation system is the most heavily subsidized dispute resolution system in our society. Those who are not trained in the law typically have, at most, anecdotal experience with litigation. To fully understand and appreciate the conditions in which litigation is (and is not) most appropriate as a dispute resolution mechanism, one must have some understanding of the litigation process. This seminar provides an overview of modern civil litigation in the United States. It begins with an exploration of some of the assumptions our litigation system makes about the appropriate role(s) of law, or courts, and of lawyers. It then traces the life of a typical civil case through the various stages of modern litigation. The seminar concludes with an examination of the incentives the current system of litigation creates for disputants, for lawyers, and for society generally.

CRES 610, Facilitation (4 credits) Graded

Conflict resolution practitioners may work interpersonally, with larger groups, or with multiple groups. While there is much correspondence and transfer of skills and principles between interpersonal mediation and group facilitation, the latter practice presents its own inherent challenges. Group and inter-group facilitation requires additional skills, tools, and conceptual frameworks. This hands-on, skills-building course will familiarize students with the basic methods, tools, principles, and theories of intra-group and inter-group facilitation, including values and ethics, core competencies, contracting with clients, assessment, decision making, problem solving, consensus building, group dynamics, leadership, and diversity. The course will look at a number of facilitation methodologies and approaches.

CRES 630 Arbitration and Hybrid Processes (2 credits) Graded

Three processes of dispute resolution - litigation, mediation, and negotiation - dominate much of the literature. Given the variety of circumstances giving rise to disputes, however, it is no surprise that practitioners have crafted other processes for addressing their concerns. This seminar provides students with a survey of other important mechanisms of dispute resolution. It begins with a detailed exploration of adjudicative alternatives to litigation - principally arbitration in its various forms. This exploration includes an overview not only of the practice of arbitration, but also of the legal, ethical, and policy implications of that practice. The seminar then considers various arbitral and non-arbitral hybrids, including med-arbitration, summary jury trial, judicial settlement conferences, early case evaluation, and various forms of facilitation. The seminar concludes by considering processes of dispute resolution in non-traditional contexts, including multiparty public disputes and intra-organizational disputes. The course includes readings from scholarly journals as well as from original texts of statutes and court opinions.

CRES 631 Seminar: Research Methodology (3 credits) Graded

In this seminar, students will learn what research is, what problems research may encounter or raise, and how to engage in it. The course considers some of the assumptions underlying both qualitative and quantitative research methods in traditional disciplines. We will hear from scholars in different disciplines discuss how they use theoretical models to guide their practical, empirical, and archival work. Among the questions and issues we will cover in this course are: How is theory related to research? How does research relate to efforts for social change? Does the social location (intersections of race, class, sexual identity, etc.) of the researcher affect her/his research? What is the relationship of the researcher to the researched? What ethical, political, and methodological considerations might arise in doing research?

In addition to becoming acquainted with a variety of current research methodologies of relevance in the interdisciplinary field of conflict and dispute resolution, students will also have an opportunity to sharpen their research skills. Research and library experts will help guide students how best to use various information resources (e.g., archival indexes and electronic databases). All students will participate in the professional technique of 'work-shopping' an outline of their proposed project to receive feedback from colleagues and the instructor. As their final assignment for the course, students will write a draft proposal for the students' professional project to be completed in the Conflict and Dispute Resolution master's degree program.

CRES 610 Drafting Settlement Agreements (1 credit) P/NP

Documenting agreements in writing is a key part of most dispute resolution processes. Whether one is functioning as a mediator, a manager, a participant in a business relationship, or a neighbor, recording agreements is good practice. This course helps students develop the skills to write agreements that are comprehensive, clear, and unambiguous while avoiding the unauthorized practice of law.

CRES 650 Capstone Seminar (2 credits) P/NP

This professional seminar is designed to promote the integration of the core curriculum, electives, professional project, and practicum experience of the Master's degree in Conflict and Dispute Resolution. Active participation in the course will help prepare you in the transition to a professional position following completion of the degree. In this course you will (1) assess your skills development up to this point; (2) write a professional narrative that explores and explains your interests and motivations; and (3) design a tentative plan for launching and/or developing your professional career.

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