Conflict Resolution

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Dr. Ifeoma Kiddoe Nwankwo

Lam Family College of Business

Dean: Dr. Eugene Sivadas

College of Ethnic Studies

Dean: Dr. Grace Yoo

College of Health and Social Sciences

Interim Dean: Dr. Andreana Clay

Conflict Resolution Program

Communication Studies Department
Humanities Building, Room 289
Coordinator: Dr. Ashmi Desai

Program Scope

The purpose of the Conflict Resolution Certificate is to learn to manage conflicting positions in various contexts and to develop constructive ways to engage in dispute management or conflict negotiation. Students may use this certificate to enhance their understanding of the critical role that conflict and its resolution play in the world today. This certificate complements degree programs in Communication, Criminal Justice, Labor and Employment Studies, Ethnic Studies, Business, International Relations, Psychology, Political Science, and Women and Gender Studies.

Note: Non-degree students apply through the College of Professional & Global Education, (415) 405-7700. For additional information, visit www.cel.sfsu.edu. The Certificate in Conflict Resolution is available to anyone admitted through the College of Professional & Global Education/Open University. 

Career Outlook

Completion of the certificate contributes to a student's preparation for employment in such fields as counseling, criminal justice, diplomacy, education, government, human resources, international relations, labor, law, management, mediation, public relations, and social work.

Certificate in Conflict Resolution

It is recommended that General Education Areas A and B4 be completed prior to students beginning this program. Students must pass a GWAR course before receiving the certificate.

Note:  Courses in the certificate may be substituted on advisement.  At least three courses in the certificate must have a prefix that is different from the student's major prefix.

Conflict Resolution, Certificate — 21 units minimum

Core Requirements (12-16 units)

Introduction to Conflict Resolution (3-4 units)

Select One:

COMM 531Conflict Resolution4
PSY 547Social Conflict and Conflict Resolution3

Alternative Models of Conflict Resolution (3-4 units)

Select One:

AFRS 660Civil Rights Movement and Education3
COMM 534Mediation Theory and Practice4
COMM 543Dialogues Across Differences4
ECON/LABR 511Collective Bargaining3
GPS/I R/PHIL 315Introduction to Global Peace Studies3
GPS/PHIL 375Peace Law and Human Rights in the U.S.3
IBUS/MGMT 659Introduction to International Business Negotiation3
I R 4324

Communication Skills (3-4 units)

Select One:

COMM 250Introduction to Group Discussion and Teamwork3
COMM 502Interpersonal Communication4
PSY 645Group Processes3

Conflict Resolution Internship (3-4 units)

Internship course with a focus on conflict resolution with placement by an advisor.

Focus Areas (9-12 units)

Select three courses from one of the following areas. Courses may not double count for the Core and the Focus Areas:

Family/Culture/Community Issues

AA S 681Asian American Community Changes and Development3
COMM 503Gender and Communication4
COMM 515Family Communication4
COMM 525Sexualities and Communication4
COMM 543Dialogues Across Differences4
RRS 571Women, Race, and Class3
PSY 440Social Psychology3
PSY 441The Psychology of the Family3
PSY 455Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Psychology3
PSY 525Community Psychology3
LTNS 680Latina/o/x Community Organizing and Career Futures3
SOC 464Families and Society4
USP 515/GEOG 667Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment4
WGS 3013

Legal/Political Issues in the United States

AA S 595Asian American Communities and Public Policy3
AFRS 376Government, the Constitution, and Black Citizens3
AFRS 660Civil Rights Movement and Education3
AIS 460Power and Politics in American Indian History3
COMM 564Issues in Free Speech4
C J 300Criminal Justice: A Cross-Disciplinary Perspective4
GPS/PHIL 375Peace Law and Human Rights in the U.S.3
HIST 465American Ethnic and Racial Relations II: 1890-Present3
LABR/SOC 553Labor Standards and Corporate Social Responsibility3
LTNS 430/C J 435Race, Crime, and Justice3
PHIL 335Law and Society3
PLSI 464Race and American Politics4
PLSI 553Legal Issues4
PLSI 478Judicial Process4
RRS 600/HIST 466History of People of Color in the U.S.3
USP 513/GEOG 668/PLSI 513Politics, Law, and the Urban Environment4

Labor/Business Issues

ECON/LABR 511Collective Bargaining3
IBUS 330International Business and Multicultural Relations3
IBUS 517Legal Environment of World Business3
IBUS/MGMT 659Introduction to International Business Negotiation3
LABR/ANTH 525Diversity in the Workplace3
LABR/PLSI 500Labor and Government3
PSY 461Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology3

International Issues

COMM 541Critical Approaches to Culture and Communication4
GPS/I R/PHIL 315Introduction to Global Peace Studies3
HUM 366India's Gandhi3
I R 330World Law4
I R/ENVS 331Global Environmental Crisis4
I R 332/C J 5054
I R 4324
JS/HUM/PHIL 501Judaism, Christianity, and Islam3
JS 560/I R 530The Arab-Israeli Conflict3
PHIL 435Human Rights in Global Perspective3
SOC 461Ethnic Relations: International Comparisons4
WGS 536Gender, Globalization, and Women's Human Rights3
WGS 5713