Best Online Master’s in Negotiation and Conflict Management Programs
Conflict is inevitable, and the world needs professionals with the skills and tools to navigate disagreements and promote peace. Graduate and law schools offer online master’s degrees in negotiation or conflict management to prepare aspiring peacemakers.
In these programs, you can learn about the roots of strife, theories behind conflict, and effective techniques for finding a just and equitable common ground. After graduation, you can pursue a career as a negotiator, mediator, or arbitrator. You might work in law offices, corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits.
If you aspire to build bridges between parents, companies, or nations, a master’s in conflict resolution could be the degree for you.
Top 5 Online Master’s in Conflict Resolution Programs
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $277
Out-of-State | $1,120
Credits to Graduate: 36
UNCW's conflict management and resolution MA is a hybrid program. Enrollees combine self-paced distance learning with campus-based coursework and mobile or desktop videoconferencing. Face-to-face instructional sequences extend for 2-4 weeks at the beginning of each academic session.
The degree offers three tracks: emergency and disaster management; national and international security; and domestic, social, and organizational conflict transformation. Each path includes courses about conflict management theory, mediation techniques, and intercultural dispute resolution practices.
- In-State$4,443
- Out-of-state$18,508
- In-State$4,719
- Out-of-state$18,548
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate68%
- Students Enrolled18,030
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment75%
- AccreditationYes
Pepperdine University
- Malibu, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $2,480
Out-of-State | $2,480
Credits to Graduate: 32
Pepperdine's online master of dispute resolution runs within the university's Caruso School of Law. The degree focuses on negotiation and conflict management in organizational contexts. Learners build skills that bring complex negotiations and disputes to successful conclusions with a special emphasis on legal and business scenarios.
Full-time enrollees can graduate in just 16 months, while part-time attendees can finish in 28 months. While most coursework runs online, Pepperdine requires two weekend residencies on its Malibu, California, campus. The program includes a dual-degree option that combines the master of dispute resolution with an online master of legal studies. This dual-degree option only requires 18 more credits than the dispute resolution master's.
- In-State$59,450
- Out-of-state$59,450
- In-State$37,300
- Out-of-state$37,300
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate53%
- Students Enrolled10,446
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment36%
- AccreditationYes
George Mason University
- Fairfax, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $658
Out-of-State | $750
Credits to Graduate: 33
GMU's conflict analysis and resolution MS runs through the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Enrollees explore conflict management across levels spanning from interpersonal to international. Students can finish 90% of degree requirements online. The curriculum also includes workshops, interactive labs, and an internship.
The program offers concentrations in social justice advocacy and activism; dynamics of violence; inclusive conflict engagement; conflict-sensitive development and resilience; and media, narrative, and public discourse. Learners can also design their own specialization in conjunction with the program director.
- In-State$9,510
- Out-of-state$32,970
- In-State$13,035
- Out-of-state$34,347
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled38,628
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Greensboro, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $299
Out-of-State | $597
Credits to Graduate: 33
UNC Greensboro's peace and conflict studies MA helps train students for careers as mediators, negotiators, and educators. All online enrollees complete the program's concentration in transformative peace and conflict. Coursework explores a diversity of perspectives on conflict management as well as critical analysis and research skills.
Classes run in an asynchronous online format. Required courses include indigenous peace practices, skills and techniques of conflict management, and conflict analysis: theories of change. The degree culminates in a practicum capstone experience.
- In-State$4,422
- Out-of-state$19,581
- In-State$5,219
- Out-of-state$18,937
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled19,038
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment82%
- AccreditationYes
California State University-Dominguez Hills
- Carson, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $321
Out-of-State | $321
Credits to Graduate: 36
CSUDH's online MA in negotiation, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding features a cohort model with required coursework in conflict theory, negotiation strategies and ethics, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution methods. The program uses a fully online, synchronous delivery model. Learners can graduate in as few as 18 months.
In addition to core coursework, enrollees take electives that let them customize their degrees. Elective class options explore topics like labor conflict, school violence, restorative justice, family and marriage mediation, and arbitration.
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$16,680
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate90%
- Students Enrolled17,837
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
What Is a Master’s in Negotiation and Conflict Management?
A master’s in negotiation and conflict management prepares graduates for mediator, conciliator, and negotiator careers. Professionals in entry-level positions can use this degree to boost their credentials and stay competitive in the job market. Established professionals in counseling or law can benefit by enhancing their conflict resolution skills.
A typical online master’s in conflict resolution or a related subject takes about two years to complete. Throughout the program, students develop communication, cultural literacy, decision-making, and mediation skills. They also learn to navigate the legal system and understand key features of typical legal disputes.
Conflict Management and Resolution Coursework
Course offerings and concentrations vary among master’s in conflict management programs. However, most degrees cover topics like the place of alternative dispute resolution in the legal system, conflict resolution in corporate settings, and fundamentals of family conflicts. The following list is not exhaustive but includes several example courses.
Commercial Conflict Resolution: This course targets students interested in using their degrees in corporate environments. During this course, enrollees learn to address conflict among business rivals, business partners, management levels, and employees constructively and neutrally.- Divorce and Family Mediation: In this course, students learn to mediate family court cases, such as divorce, parent guardianship, and child protection. The instructor may use role-playing exercises to simulate the family court environment. Other possible topics include the impact of domestic violence on mediation, the effects of separation on children, and family mediation ethics.
- Ethics of Conflict Resolution: This course explores how ethical conflicts in conflict resolution can lead to unintended consequences for clients and practitioners. Learners study neutrality, informed consent, and confidentiality through case studies and relevant texts, such as the American Bar Association’s code of ethics for mediators.
- Family Conflict Resolution: In this course, students investigate common legal disputes between family members, such as divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Course materials also cover the complex nature of personal disagreements between family members. This class explores strategies for resolving emotionally charged personal and legal conflicts between family members.
- Intercultural Conflict Resolution: This course explores how cultural and ethnic differences can create or exacerbate local and global conflicts. Students learn the basics of cultural literacy to combat intercultural conflict. Course materials explore case studies of cultural conflicts over trade, immigration, and access to resources.
- Leadership and Conflict Engagement: This course explores how conflict can affect change efforts and what organizational leaders can do to mitigate organizational conflict. Course materials typically cover supporting theories and history behind leadership and change management, as well as strategies for responding to conflict brought on by organizational change.
- Negotiation: Learners explore how negotiation skills can help resolve various conflicts. Course materials investigate how disputing parties and third-party mediators use negotiation to forge important agreements. Learners may participate in role-playing exercises supervised by experienced negotiators.
Admission Requirements for Master’s in Conflict Resolution Programs
Each school establishes specific admissions requirements. However, a typical conflict management student should bring the following:
- A bachelor’s degree with a qualifying GPA (often a 3.0 or higher)
- A well-stated goal of working in negotiation, conflict resolution, or management
- A qualifying GRE or LSAT score (some schools may waive this requirement)
- A resume
- Letters of recommendation from academic and professional colleagues, supervisors, or advisors
- Qualifying TOEFL score for applicants educated in languages other than English
Some schools may also ask you to attend an event, meet with an admissions counselor, or participate in an online or in-person interview process.
Accreditation of Conflict Resolution Master’s Programs
When choosing an online master’s in conflict management and resolution, prioritize programs from schools with institutional accreditation. This designation indicates that the school meets high standards for education quality and student career outcomes. You must attend an accredited school to qualify for federal financial aid and transfer credits to other institutions.
Currently, there is no programmatic accrediting body specifically dedicated to negotiation or conflict management and resolution programs.
Dual Degrees for Conflict Management Students
Many students earn a master’s in conflict management and resolution in dual-degree programs. These pathways allow graduates to complement their education with master’s degrees in neighboring fields.
For example, a future family and marriage therapist interested in mediation might pursue master’s degrees in family therapy and conflict management. Similarly, a student with an interest in global affairs might pursue master’s degrees in conflict management and international law.
Commonly paired specialties for negotiation and conflict management dual degrees include:
- Environmental studies
- Law or legal studies
- Public administration
- Social work
What Can I Do With a Master’s in Conflict Resolution?
A master’s in conflict resolution, negotiation, or conflict management typically prepares graduates to pursue work in mediation, arbitration, and law.
With a master’s in conflict resolution, you can pursue the following degrees, but keep in mind that some of these careers require additional education or certification in other fields. A master’s in negotiation and conflict management can help you gain employment in other fields, as well.
Marriage and Family Therapist
- Median Salary (May 2022): $56,570
- Job Outlook (2022-32): +15%
These therapists help families and couples navigate difficult problems in their relationships. This specialized area of mental health services may interest conflict resolution majors due to its focus on mediating conflict in human relationships. Marriage and family therapists need strong skills in empathizing and communicating with others to help their clients overcome differences.
To gain licensure as a family and marriage therapist, you usually need a master’s in family and marriage therapy and several thousand hours of supervised practice. From there, you must apply to your state mental health board.
Arbitrator, Mediator, or Conciliator
- Median Salary (May 2022): $64,030
- Job Outlook (2022-32): +5%
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators help resolve legal disputes outside the court system. These professionals facilitate communication between disputing parties using negotiation strategies. To help their clients reach mutually beneficial agreements, they must communicate effectively, read people’s emotional states and needs, and de-escalate conflict.
To work in this field, you typically need a bachelor’s in a relevant subject, such as negotiation and conflict management. Some states require additional certification as an arbitrator or conciliator, so check local requirements.
Social or Community Service Manager
- Median Salary (May 2022): $74,240
- Job Outlook (2022-32): +9%
Social and community service managers work in public service industries to oversee social welfare programs that aim to serve the public good. On a typical day, they may attend meetings, discuss budget concerns for various social programs, or coordinate public events. Because these managers must balance different aspects of the public’s needs, they need strong verbal communication and social skills.
Social and community service management does not usually require state licensure or any special degree beyond a bachelor’s-level management degree. However, some employers may require candidates with MBAs, especially with a specialization in social and community service management.
Judge or Hearing Officer
- Median Salary (May 2022): $128,610
- Job Outlook (2022-32): +2%
Judges and hearing officers oversee the legal process, presiding over and ruling on hearings in courts of law. These professionals need a deep love for the law, a penchant for research, and good people skills. Judges and hearing officers must effectively interact with disputing parties and their lawyers every day.
The education requirements for judges and hearing officers vary. Most positions require a law degree and good standing in the local bar association to qualify. However, an advanced degree in negotiation and conflict management can usually qualify you for a lower-ranking hearing officer or magistrate position.
Lawyer
- Median Salary (May 2022): $135,740
- Job Outlook (2022-32): +8%
Lawyers represent the interests of disputing parties within the court system, arguing for restitution or justice for their clients during case hearings. Because they need to communicate effectively with their clients and argue their cases convincingly in a court of law, lawyers need strong verbal and written communication and argumentation skills.
For licensure, lawyers must pass the bar exam. Conflict management graduates do not qualify to take the bar exam; instead, aspiring lawyers must earn a juris doctorate from an accredited school before they can take the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions About Conflict Management and Resolution
A master’s in conflict management can make financial sense. According to Payscale data from March 2024, people with MS degrees in conflict resolution earned an average salary of $69,000, and those with MBAs in the field earned an average of $77,000. Note that these figures reflect fewer than 50 respondents, however.
Conflict resolution seeks to mitigate or eliminate the dispute, while conflict management focuses on the process of handling the disagreement. Conflict management uses specific skills to solve conflicts in a productive way that creates positive change. These skills may include holding difficult conversations, leading productive meetings, and mitigating issues between parties.
When comparing master’s in conflict resolution programs, consider the following factors: accreditation, cost, location, program length, delivery format, and curriculum. For example, some programs may offer electives that skew toward arbitration or mediation, while others offer more generalist courses or take a business focus.
According to the NCES DataLab, master’s degrees in legal professions and studies cost an average of $21,656 annually. Not all conflict resolution degrees are offered as law programs, however. Many are housed within social science departments or under interdisciplinary structures, and costs can vary significantly among schools.
Although business, law, and international relations may stand out, all industries use conflict resolution skills. A degree in conflict management can lead to a career as an arbitrator, ombudsman, claims investigator, or contracts negotiation manager. These professionals may work in academia, law, family therapy, and public policy.
