Prospective Students
RequirementsOur students come from a wide range of backgrounds and bring a rich diversity of experience. Some have significant work experience and some come straight from other university degree programs. It is not necessary to be a law student to apply. Some of our students are pursuing concurrent Master's and JD degrees. Most of our students are not law students. We look for students who are passionate about making a difference, have a sense of purpose, and are independent and creative thinkers. Communication is at the heart of conflict resolution. Practitioners must be able to communicate well verbally and in writing. We look for those skills in prospective students. We expect our students to write well. As members of a professional discipline, we use writing to contribute to the growth of the body of theory that underpins our work. As well, writing is a method with which we can explore, test, and share ideas and apply discipline to our thinking. We recognize and make allowances for international and other students for whom English is not their first language. For the right applicant, we can work with a student who is developing English competency. We do not have absolute cut-off scores for the GRE, LSAT, or GMAT. Rather, we look at whole application package and make our admissions decision based on the whole picture.
As part of the application process, we require a phone or in-person interview. If you would like to conduct your interview via video conferencing, contact Joshua Docherty in our tech dept to make arrangements. A BA or BSc degree, or the equivalent for international students, is a prerequisite. You'll find information on the application procedure under Admissions. Cohort StructureThe cohort structure means that students become part of a learning community rather than exist solely as independent individuals within the larger university community. From orientation on throughout the first year, the cohort functions as a group with the students taking all required core courses together. During the second year, when students are completing their independent electives course work, Internship, and Final Project, the cohort meets as a group at least three times, and students continue to rely upon the relationships forged during the intensive first year. OrientationIf you are accepted into the program, plan on attending the orientation day (August 12th this year) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to meet and begin to get to know the other cohort members and some of the faculty, get an overview of the coming year, and get information on a variety of administrative details including course registration, lockers, university ID cards, and financial aid. Because the day of orientation is the beginning of the formation of the cohort community, it is mandatory for all students. That evening, we celebrate the beginning of your educational adventure with a dinner for cohort members, faculty, and the program director and staff.
Our Annual ScheduleBecause some of our students (typically a bit fewer than a third) are pursuing concurrent JD and Master's degrees, we begin the first year of studies when the law school semester begins in mid-August. During the first four weeks, students take only one course (The Philosophy of Conflict Resolution) and then the Basic Mediation Training. After a short break of a week or so, students then begin the 10-week Fall Term that coincides with the term structure of the rest of campus. The fall term is followed by the 10-week Winter Term beginning in January, which is then followed by the Spring Term which, instead of being 10 weeks long as is true for the rest of campus, ends after 5 weeks in order to end when the law school spring semester ends. So, we begin and end on the law school semester dates but we follow the rest-of-campus term structure in between. A bit complicated, but it works. Current and past students' statements about the ProgramWhat began as an internship turned into an employment contract with the Oregon Consensus Program as a member of the facilitation team helping the West Eugene Collaborative seek consensus among multiple stakeholders on solutions to the knotty issues of transportation, environmental protection, and commercial vitality. The flexibility of the Master's Program allowed me to pursue my goal of a career in environmental conflict resolution and collaborative planning and has prepared me thoroughly for it. Tim McCabe - Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's student Very nice to be employed at this time when so many are not. I have largely my graduate education to thank for it. People I discuss my background with (present employer included) really take note of my conflict resolution training and experience. Derek Campbell, Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's graduate My internship experience with the Holden Leadership Center creating an infrastructure for facilitating community partnerships for undergraduates to intern in a newly developing Government Relations Internship Program illustrates for me the broad scope of the Master's program and the support for students' varied interests. Leslie Prieto - Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's student When I was interning at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, I realized I was in a unique position as a student in this burgeoning field to help design something truly new and innovative. It was tremendously affirming to know that what I'd been learning in the Master's degree program could be applied almost anywhere, in even the farthest corners of the world. What has stood out for me has been the overwhelming encouragement I've received from the program and the curiosity people have expressed when I have told them about my studies. Ryan Millard, Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's student Being selected as one of four "youth delegates" from the Pacific Northwest to attend the Terra Madre 2008 conference in Turin, Italy, where the diverse and complex issues of the international food system were discussed, helped me complete my Master's final project that focused on international conflicts over food at various points along the supply chain. Attending the conference, with help from the ADR Center, gave me a unique and valuable research and learning opportunity. Mari Mizobe, Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's student The Master's program has not only exposed me to a whole new way of thinking about conflict resolution, but it has helped me identify where my true interests lie and what kind of opportunities are out there for someone with this type of training. Tatiana Cordova - Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's student What I love about Oregon's CDR program is the wide range of perspectives it offers students on the field of Conflict Resolution. I can now draw parallels between the conversation that allows two separating parents to share custody of their child, and the negotiation that precedes an international peace treaty between two countries. I never thought such a connection would be possible. The faculty are thoroughly committed to helping students develop their own interests, and integrate them into a degree that reflects who we are, and where we see ourselves going. Jonathan Graves - Concurrent degree student in Conflict and Dispute Resolution and International Studies This program is great because it teaches skills that can be used in variety of situations. These skills can, and have, been used in the formal settings of the legal world as well as in the informal settings of everyday life and relationships. Paul Bruch - Concurrent JD and Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's degree student As for the employment aspect, I got my summer practicum last year in significant part due to my experience in the Master's program....In talking with my supervisor, a former high-powered private attorney from Kansas, I discovered that my strongest selling point was my interest in ADR because of the increasing importance of non-litigation tactics, particularly when working for a non-profit. As for private practice, I've done something on the order of ten firm interviews this year...In each of the interviews, I was asked extensively about the Master's program and received entirely positive feedback from the interviewers about it. They all thought it was a great thing for me to be doing, and I got the impression from at least one that the reason I was asked to interview...was because of my involvement in the Master's program. I continue to believe that the master's program will be an asset in my career search. I think one of the biggest things about doing the Master's program is that it gives you a particular skill set that sets you apart. For me the Master's program was a great experience, and I believe it's going to play an important role in my legal career and life. Paul Bruch - Concurrent JD and Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's degree student The University of Oregon's Master's Program in Conflict and Dispute Resolution has exceeded my expectations. I came to the program hoping to learn about the resolution of environmental conflicts and disputes. I will leave the program with more than I'd hoped for. The Program has provided me with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage and resolve a wide array of disputes in both public and private settings. Drew Johnson - Concurrent JD and Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's student This program has really opened my eyes to all of the ways we can utilize conflict resolution. My professors have come from such varied professional backgrounds and they have made me feel confident that I'll be able to take the skills that I have picked up from my time in the program and transfer them to any career field that I choose to pursue after I graduate. Tatiana Cordova - Conflict and Dispute Resolution Master's student |
“An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind.”
Gandhi
Click here if you would like to speak with Tim Hicks, the Program Director, about our program or the field of conflict resolution generally and how they may relate to your educational and career goals.
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Master's Degree Program In Conflict and Dispute Resolution
GRE preparation help can be found on campus at Academic Learning Services. The GRE workshops offer comprehensive instruction in the exam's math, verbal, and analytical writing sections. In addition, participants learn effective test-taking and pacing strategies. Workshop materials include a study book and practice GRE exams. Workshop dates are listed 
Students should be prepared to jump right into the program after orientation. The first course, "The Philosophy of Conflict Resolution", begins either the next day or the following Monday. This is an intensive four-credit course completed in four weeks. Additionally, all students will attend the 32-hour mediation training over two weekends at the end of August and the beginning of September. Dates will be provided with the acceptance packet.