Vermont

School of International Training  (university website) (Brattleboro, Vermont)

Graduate and Professional Training

Masters of Arts in Conflict Transformation.  

Acquire practical skills and strategies for peace building based on a holistic, multidisciplinary approach and real-world experience in the field.

SIT is a pioneer in the field of conflict transformation, which is an integral part of its broader academic focus on international peace studies and peace building. The SIT Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation is designed to help students develop the insights, analytical ability, theoretical knowledge, and practical skills they need to work with groups of people that are in conflict with other communities. In order to transform the relationships and systems that produce intractable inter-communal conflicts around the world, the SIT program takes an interpersonal and systematic approach to the identity-based dynamics of conflict, with a particular focus on developing holistic responses. During the program, students will:

• Study the theory and practice of conflict transformation, including conflict management and conflict resolution
• Examine the dynamics of deep-rooted conflicts
• Explore potential solutions in diverse settings

SIT’s Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation prepares professionals to:

• Design and lead conflict transformation programs
• Develop conflict prevention and conflict sensitive interventions
• Create and manage projects that address the causes and consequences of complex and multi-layered conflicts

Graduates are prepared for positions with nongovernmental organizations, education institutions, the media, the private sector, the government, international organizations, and other professional venues.

Students learn from faculty and alumni who are engaged in peace building activities in critical conflict zones. They conduct in-depth, multiangled analyses of conflict and explore potential solutions in diverse settings.

 

Champlain College  (university website)  (Montpelier, Vermont)

Dispute Resolution Center

Masters of Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies. This new program blends intensive on-campus residency sessions, online learning, and practical application in the student’s home community to offer one of the best mediation programs in the country today.  Students gain a strong theoretical foundation coupled with intensive practice that leads to a solid grounding in the best practices in this emerging and important field.

          All Woodbury College Mediation Programs use a “cohort model,” in which students come together as a community of learners to engage in continuous, collaborative learning. Your group will be pursuing a set sequence of courses, beginning and ending together. This model allows for: reflective practice and substantial skill development, Mentoring and peer coaching opportunities, and enhanced communication and quality of learning from one course to the next.

Key Features of the Master’s Degree

• 18-month, 42-credit program.
• 11 residencies of between 3 and 5.5 days over 18 months.
• All the advantages of face-to-face learning combined with the convenience of a distance education program.
• The opportunity to work with leading mediation practitioners and theorists.
• Individual coaching and mentoring emphasizing skill development.
• Solid advising relationships, both on campus and via ongoing telephone and e-mail communication.
• Supervised practice in the student’s home community.
• Final personal synthesis project integrating theory, research, and practical application.

Graduate Certificate in Conflict Studies. Students may choose to complete only Level 1 of the Master’s Program, earning a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Studies.  The Certificate program also uses the same "cohort model" as the Master's program (see above).

Key Features of the Graduate Certificate
(Level 1 of the Master’s Degree)

• Six-month, 14-credit program.
• Two five-day residencies plus two three-day residencies over six months.
• Taught by leading mediation practitioners.
• Individual coaching emphasizing foundation conflict resolution skills.
• Designed for those who want to increase their effectiveness in managing conflict in their professional and personal lives.