Courses

Students may choose from a wide array of graduate courses in conflict analysis, resolution, and collaborative governance taught in the Maxwell School, other schools of Syracuse University, and at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry . For descriptions and time schedules, please refer to the current Schedule of Classes and Department of Public Administration class listing. Students may enrich their graduate degree programs by completing a concurrent 12-credit Certificate of Advanced Study in Conflict Resolution.  A special independent Certificate program is available for mid-career managers interested in conflict resolution, group effectiveness, and collaborative problem solving.

Fall 2008 Course Offerings:

IRP/PPA/SOS 601 Fundamentals in Conflict Studies (3 credits - Katz) F 9:00-12:15

ANT 616            Political Anthropology (Rubinstein) T,Th 9:00-10:50
ANT 683            Social Movement Theory (Burdick) M,W 3:45-5:05
ANT/IRP 707    Culture in World Affairs (Rubinstein) W 9:30-12:15

HED 600           Critical Incidence Management (Wolf)

HST 644            Israel & Palestine: Historical Approach (Elouafi)
HST/IRP 700    History of Nuclear Disarment (Tai)

PPA 600            Dispute System Design (1 credit - Merchant) T 8:00-10:45
PPA 600            Mastering the Skill of Interest-Based Problem Solving (1 credit - Merchant) T 8:00-10:45
PPA 600            Effective Group Facilitation (1 credit - Merchant) T 8:00-10:45
PPA 704            International Security (de Nevers) W 2:15-5:00
PPA/PSC 706   U.S. National Security Policy (de Nevers) W 9:30-12:15
PPA/IRP 715    Post-Conflict Reconstruction (Staff) 6:00-8:45
PPA 765            Humanitarian Action (Bertini) TH 2:00-4:40

PSC 753           International Political Economy (Rupert) T 9:30-12:15
PSC 754           International Conflict and Peace (Duffy) 3:45-6:30

Other Accepted Course Offerings:

PPA 600          Dispute System Design (1 credit mini course)

PPA 600          Mastering the Skill of Interest-Based Problem Solving (1 credit mini course)

PPA 600          Effective Group Facilitation (1 credit mini course)

PPA 600          Mediation (1 credit)

PPA 600          Community Mediations Skills Training (1 credit)

PPA 600          Resolving Environmental Management Conflicts through Collaborative Learning (1 credit)

PPA 600          Enhancing Emotional Intelligence & Collaborative Conflict Management (1 credit)

PPA 600          Interest-Based Negotiation and Bargaining (1 credit) 

PPA 600          Multi-Party Negotiation and Conflict Management of Environmental Disputes (1 credit)

PPA 632          International Public and NGO Management (3 credits)

PPA 706         US National Security Policy (3 credits)

PPA 730          Conflict Resolution in Groups: Facilitation & Conflict Mgmt (3 credits)

PPA 730          Humanitarian Action: Challenges, Responses (3 credits)

PPA 730          International Security (3 credits)

PPA 730          Humanitarian Action (3 credits)

PPA 730          Skillful Group Development: Facilitation & Conflict Mgmt for High Performance (3 credits)

PPA 746          Ethics & Public Policy (3 credits)

PPA 753          Executive Leadership Seminar (3 credits)

PPA 755          Public Administration and Democracy (3 credits)

PPA 756          Policy and Administration in Developing Countries (3 credits)

PPA 895          Executive Education Seminar: Managerial Leadership (3 credits)

PRL 602          Introduction to Public Diplomacy and Communications (3 credits)

IRP 700           Israel's National Security, 1948 to the Present (3 credits)

IRP 708           Issues for 21st Century Public Diplomacy (3 credits)

IRP 709           Public Communication in the Digital Era: Bridging Public Affairs and Institution Building (3 credits)ONLY if Research is focused in the field
                      of Conflict Resolution.

IRP 713           National Security Challenges in a New Century: Strategy, Policy and Resources (3 credits)

IRP 715           Nuclear Proliferation (3 credits)

IRP 715           Post Conflict Reconstruction (3 credits)

IRP 715           Strengthening Interagency Cooperation (3 credits)

PSC 682         Social Theory and the Middle East (3 credits)

PSC 700         Political Leadership (3 credits)

PSC 706         US National Security Policy (3 credits)

PSC 760         International Negotiation (3 credits)

PSC 785         Comparative Civil-Military Relations (3 credits)

PSC/IRP 700   Religion, Media and International Relations (3 credits)

PSC/IRP 700   Crisis Management (3 credits)

GEO 558         Sustainable Development (3 credits)

HST 700          Palestine-Jewish / Israeli Conflict (3 credits)

HST 700          History of Nuclear Disarmament: 1945-Present (3 credits)

HST/PSC 700  Perspectives on Terrorism (3 credits)

HST/PSC 700  The Arab-Israeli Conflict (3 credits)

ANT 684          Social Movements Research Methods (3 credits)

ANT/IRP 701    Multilateral Peacekeeping (3 Credits)

ANT/IRP 707    Culture in World Affairs (3 credits)

CRS 568          Rhetoric and Social Change (3 credits)

EST 608          Environmental Advocacy Campaigns and Conflict Resolution (3 credits)

EST 696          Collaborative Governance Processes for Environmental & Natural Resource Management (3 credits)

LAW 700         National Security Law (3 credits)

LAW 770         Indigenous Nations (3 credits)

LAW 778         International Human Rights (3 credits)

LAW 790         Counter Terrorism & the Law (3 credits)

LAW 840         Law and Armed Conflict (3 credits)

TBA                U.S. Policy in Latin America (MayMester) (3 credits)

Previous Summer Classes Offered:

PAF 400/SOS 600                          Improvisation Skills for Creative Conflict Resolution (1 credit)
It has been said "life imitates art."  In the case of improvisation, life is art.  Improvisional actors are observers and experts in creating and building on information that is presented to them.  That is what makes this form of comedy so exciting.  These same skills are of tremendous value to those of us who deal with conflict.  Before we can get to the structure of the resolution, we must first be able to communicate and adapt our communications styles.  Through improvisational exercises and techniques, this course develops new approaches to communication so that the student will become an effective and creative communicator in unexpected, stressful conflict and negotiation situations.  This unique course uses interactive cross-functional performance exercises to build new skills and thinking.  This course is adapted from a program Mr. Mahar offers for the world-renown Second City.

PAF 420/SOS 620                          Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Skills (3 credits)
Conflict among people who work together and live together is inevitable.  The key to successful conflict resolution is your ability to be resourceful and to communicate so that you are heard.  This workshop enhances communication and rapport-building skills to interact more effectively and solve problems creatively.  It provides a foundation in reflective listening, problem solving, assertion and managing conflicts among needs and values.  The course includes theory, demonstrations, skill practice, and critique and is designed to have immediate and wide applicability in interpersonal and group settings.

PAF 424/SOS 600                          Conflict Resolution in Groups: Facilitation and Conflict Management (3 credits)
Whether you work in student groups or manage workplace groups, facilitation skills are essential to your success and the effectiveness of your group.  This workshop focuses on the role and competencies of the facilitator in effectively managing group process, group dynamics, and differences among group members.   Among the subjects explored are contracting, design of agenda and process, stages of group development, observing and gibing feedback about group dynamics, and managing group conflict.  Format will provide opportunities for intensive practice, coaching by instructors, and reflective work in a Personal Learning Plan.

PAF 422/SOS 622/IRP 400/IRP 600  Negotiation: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
What strategy do you use to negotiate effectively?  This workshop introduces negotiation theory and the skills associated with successful practice.  It explores tensions between distributive and integrative negotiation, principles of interest-based negotiation, importance of preparation, sources of power, role of culture, and ways to overcome dirty tricks and other barriers to successful negotiation.  An interactive learning approach is featured, using lecture, discussion, exercises and simulations, to build personal capacities for successful negotiating.  Exercises include two-person to more complex multi-party negotiations, in both domestic and international cases.

ANT 477/ANT 677                           Culture and Conflict (3 credits)
This workshop uses the cross-cultural and holistic perspective of anthropology to examine conflict and conflict management processes, with a focus on practical applications of such knowledge. The course opens with a review of anthropology’s significant theoretical and methodological contributions to various aspects of conflict studies, including conflict analysis. Case studies explore the different ways in which cultures acknowledge and attempt to deal with conflicts, including conflict management processes that are rights-based, informally/locally-based, and alternative dispute resolution. The course also considers the significance of legal pluralism for understanding conflict management processes. There are no prerequisites.

PAF 421/SOS 621                           Mediation: Theory & Practice (3 credits)
Whether problems are small-scale roommate disputes or involve large-scale international challenges, mediators use the same set of sills to bring parties together and craft solutions.  This workshop centers on mediation theory and skills to facilitate the resolution of disputes and differences.  Techniques of third-party intervention with individuals and groups.  Learning approach includes lectures, simulations, demonstrations, and practice mediations, in a variety of areas, including community, workplace, family and commercial settings.

PAF 400 / SOS 600                         Leadership, Power and Authority in Groups (3credits)
Have you ever wondered why the process of leading a group and the dynamics of group membership are so challenging and fascinating?  This workshop will involve participants in a "learning laboratory" to explore issues of leadership, power, and authority in groups.  Students will gain insights into both conscious and unconscious group dynamics and group development, the behavior of individuals in groups, and how conflicts emerges and is managed both within and between groups.  This workshop, based on a psycho-analytic model developed over the past 50 years by the world-renowned Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, is designed for individuals who want to engage in an intensive experiential learning approach that will enhance their understanding and effectiveness in group and organizational settings.