The Conflict Resolution, Management and Negotiation program
This page is updated for the academic year 2023-2024.
Information for the academic year 2024-2025 will be updated in the coming days.
Introduction
BA, MA, & PhD studies on this program entail comprehensive, interdisciplinary knowledge about conflicts, including how they evolve and how to manage and resolve them. The studies focus on dealing with different types of conflicts at various social levels: between individuals and between or within organizations, communities, and states.
The program instills academic and research foundations, offering integration between theory and practice and experience in the field.
The program suits candidates who wish to acquire skills for serving as a positive, moderating, and mediating factor within their family, community, or work environment. The program also suits people who serve or wish to serve in key positions that require the managing and resolution of conflicts and negotiations in a variety of government and non-government organizations, national and international corporations, and private and public businesses.
Today, most organizations that operate within a global, multidisciplinary, dynamic, complex, and competitive environment seek people who possess knowledge and experience in the field of conflicts and negotiations –managers and employees who perceive conflicts as an opportunity to grow and evolve. During the BA, MA, and PhD studies on the program, you will acquire optimal tools for preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts, promoting justice and rehabilitation, and leading structural, institutional, and social change.
MA PROGRAMS
The program offers two MA study tracks:
Track A includes conducting and submitting a research thesis.
Track B includes conducting a field project and submitting a paper on the project. Studies on this track can be completed within one year, including summer courses. This track also includes writing a seminar paper as part of the 27736 Field Project Course. Students on this track are not required to write a thesis paper.
THE PROGRAM
This academic program is offered to outstanding students. Students on the program will participate in a variety of advanced theoretical courses as well as the practical application of the studied topics.
The integration of students from different fields, with different areas of interest and skills – combined with an extensive study program – provide graduates with expansive multidisciplinary knowledge and with proven theoretical and practical knowhow.
The program focuses on four core areas:
- Dialog and conflict management in Israel
- Multidisciplinary mediation at a range of levels, including between and within individuals, communities, businesses, and organizations
- Negotiations, approaches, and techniques for dealing with conflicts at various social levels
- Managing and resolving national and international conflicts
Mediation Training Workshop
The program offers a concentrated workshop (as an elective course) on mediation relating to a variety of environmental contexts, including inter-personal relations, work, community, etc. At the end of the workshop, students will be awarded a Certificate of Mediation in line with recommendations published by the Gadot Committee, Israel Ministry of Justice. The workshop is subject to additional fees, in addition to tuition payments.
Acceptance Criteria, Track A (with thesis): BA graduates with a ≥85 GPA may submit a request to register.
Acceptance Criteria, Track B (without thesis): BA graduates with a ≥80 GPA may submit a request to register.
The program may consider a small number of candidates who do not meet these criteria, if their personal data could contribute to the program’s diverse nature. The program reserves the right to invite candidates for an interview. The candidates will be asked to submit letters of recommendations and samples of written academic works (such as seminar papers).
Preliminary Courses
Basic legal knowledge (studied in an academic framework) is essential background material for studying conflict management and resolution. Students without such academic knowledge will be required to participate in the 27706 "Fundamentals of Law" course during the first year on the program and achieve a grade of ≥75.
Track A: With Research Thesis
18 weekly hours (WH), 36 credit points (CP), as detailed below (courses may be subject to changes).
Mandatory Theoretical Courses – 7 WH (14 CP)
Courses that focus on political, diplomatic, socio-psychological, and legal approaches provide the intellectual foundation for studying conflict resolution and management. Mandatory methodology courses – 3 WH (6 CP)
The workshop on writing research papers and the course on research methods will assist students in conducting research and writing their research thesis.
Students must complete all mandatory courses during their first year of studies, except for the workshop on writing research papers that will take place in Semester A of Year II.
Elective Courses – 8 WH (16 CP)
This unit includes a range of courses on different aspects of conflict resolution and management. The list of elective courses may change from year to year. Please check for updates with the Program.
Students may complete MA courses of up to 2 WH (4 CP) outside the Program. Such courses must be related to topics studied on the Conflict Resolution, Management, & Negotiation Program, and they must be preapproved by the Head of the Program and by the university department that offers these courses.
Research Thesis
The research will be supervised by a suitable academic supervisor.
Guidelines for Writing a Research Thesis
The thesis must be written in line with guidelines issued by the School of Graduate Studies (Introduction Chapter) and with guidelines published on the Conflict Resolution, Management, & Negotiation Program’s website.
Final Exam
Each student will be tested on their thesis paper and related bibliography.
Jewish Studies
Students must complete courses of Jewish Studies as per the requirements stated by the School of Graduate Studies (Introduction Chapter).
Students must submit their research proposal by the end of Year I,
and no later than at the end of Semester A Year II.
Track B: Without Research Thesis
20 weekly hours (WH), 40 credit points (CP) as detailed below (courses may be subject to changes)
Mandatory Theoretical Courses – 9 WH (18 CP)
Courses that focus on political, diplomatic, socio-psychological, and legal approaches provide the intellectual foundation for studying conflict resolution and management.
Students must complete all mandatory courses during their first year of studies, except for their field project.
Elective Courses – 11 WH (22 CP)
This unit includes a range of courses on different aspects of conflict resolution and management. The list of elective courses may change from year to year. Please check for updates with the Program.
Students may complete MA courses of up to 2 WH (4 CP) outside the Program. Such courses must be related to topics studied on the Conflict Resolution, Management, & Negotiation Program, and they must be preapproved by the Head of the Program and by the university department that offers these courses.
Field Project (mandatory course on Track B without thesis) – 2 WH (4 CP)
40 hours internship in a department, organization, NGO, education, mediation, or other practice that deals in conflict resolution and management, and negotiations. At the end of the internship, students must write and submit a field paper that summarizes this activity. This paper is also a seminar paper.
As part of the field project, students must complete 40 hours in an organization of their choice, observing or participating in dialogs, conflict resolution, or negotiations.
Final Exam
On this track, the field paper that is written after conducting the field project serves as an integrative summary of the MA studies and also serves as a final paper.
Jewish Studies
Students must complete courses of Jewish Studies as per the requirements stated by the School of Graduate Studies (Introduction Chapter).
PHD STUDIES
Study Program
- Students with an MA and thesis in a field other than conflict resolution, management, and negotiations, and who are accepted onto our PhD Program, must complete the following mandatory courses:
- Approaches and Models in International Dispute Resolution (27737) –
2 WH (4 CP).
The course covers topics such as conflict management strategies, game theory, negotiations, mediation, conflict prevention, and reconciliation.
- Social-Psychological Approaches to Negotiations and Conflict Resolution Processes (27700) – 2 WH (4 CP).
The course addresses the contribution of socio-psychological aspects to understanding conflicts and coping mechanisms.
- alternative aspects to conflict management (277046) – 1.5 WH (3 CP).
The course examines the history of the role of conflict resolution in the court of law and addresses changes in attitudes towards mediation and judgement based on cultural analysis of these interdisciplinary fields.
- Integrative interdisciplinary seminar (277010) – 1.5 WH (3 CP).
The course hosts researchers and field experts who present their work on a range of topics relating to conflict management.
- Colloquium for Doctoral Students (27725) (no CP). Mandatory participation throughout the entire doctoral studies.
- Research methods (277420) – 2 WH (4 CP). Mandatory course for students who did not complete this course during their MA studies.
* Courses and requirements may be subject to changes as needed.
In addition, as part of their doctoral studies, students must participate in at least 3 semestrial courses. These courses will be selected in coordination with the student’s supervisor and subject to approval from the Head of the Program.
Throughout the remaining study years, students are expected to participate in the Program’s integrative interdisciplinary seminar.
- Students with an MA and thesis in conflict resolution, management, and negotiations, and who have been accepted onto the regular PhD track, are required to participate in at least 3 semestrial courses.
The courses will be selected in coordination with the student’s supervisor and subject to approval from the Head of the Program. In addition, students must register for the colloquium for doctoral students (27725) (no CP) and students are expected to participate in the Program’s integrative interdisciplinary seminar throughout their PhD studies, and participate in conferences organized by the Program.
- Students must complete all mandatory courses during their first year of studies.
The Program requires research that is usually anchored in one or more of the following fields:
- Political science, diplomacy, and international relations
- Law, mediation
- Sociology, psychology, social work, education, and work relations
- History, rhetoric studies, philosophy, and Jewish studies
- Research about the implementation and efficacy of various models from the field of conflict resolution in any of the above-mentioned fields
On the interdisciplinary program, students may submit a research proposal in a different field. Each request will be individually assessed.
PhD Program, Acceptance Criteria
- MA thesis grade ≥ 85
- Prior to registering for the program, interested candidates must read the information booklet regarding PhD studies issued by the university’s School of Graduate Studies.
- The doctoral research dissertation is central to the PhD program. As such, candidates must locate and contact a potential supervisor from the university and submit a letter of agreement written by that supervisor.
- Candidates must submit a completed personal questionnaire issued by the Program with details about the proposed research topic together with letters of recommendation.
- The program will consider PhD applications submitted by MA graduates who did not write a research thesis. Further details about this option appear in the information booklet regarding PhD studies issued by the School of Graduate Studies. However, in this case, the candidate must achieve confirmation from a potential supervisor who agrees to supervise the candidate’s entire study program.
- For further information, please contact the Program Coordinator prior to submitting your application. The PhD Departmental Committee will discuss your candidacy and will submit their recommendation to the School of Graduate Studies
For more information, please contact us at +972-03-5318043, via email,
or through the Conflict Resolution, Management, & Negotiation Program website.
Last Updated Date : 03/04/2024
