Requirements for Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Overview | B.A. Requirements | B.S. Requirements
Overview
All CAR students take a series of core courses that provides a background in conflict theory, analysis, and practical conflict resolution skills. Required bridge courses cover conflict resolution at the levels of interpersonal conflict, community/organizational conflict, and global conflict. After selecting a level of conflict as a concentration, students choose courses from departments throughout the university that relate to the concentration and their areas of interest. The major also requires three credits of field work, which can take the form of an internship, a service learning opportunity, or study abroad.
CAR advisors help students create interdisciplinary programs that meet their interests and career goals. Students must fulfill the university-wide general education requirements, as well as the general education requirements of the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution for the B.A. or the B.S. The B.A./B.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution is awarded by the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR).
B.A. Requirements
In addition to the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for the B.A. degree in the Institute, conflict majors complete 39 credits towards the major.
Required core courses (15 credits):
- CONF 101 Conflict and Our World
- CONF 300 Conflict Resolution Techniques and Practice
- CONF 301 Research and Inquiry in Conflict Resolution
- CONF 302 Identity Conflicts and Their Resolution
- CONF 490 Integration
Required bridge courses (9 credits):
- CONF 320 Interpersonal Conflict Analysis and Resolution
- CONF 330 Community, Group, and Organizational Conflict Analysis and Resolution
- CONF 340 Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Field experience (3 credits):
This may take the form of an internship, service learning, or study abroad.
Concentration courses (12 credits):
Each student develops a concentration in one of the three levels of conflict: interpersonal, community/organizational,or global. A list of approved concentration courses is available from CAR advisors and this website. Students are encouraged to check special topic courses each semester and to think creatively about courses elsewhere at Mason that support learning in their chosen concentration.
B.S. Requirements
In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements for a B.S. degree, students take the following for a total of 54 credits toward the major:
Required core courses (15 credits):
- CONF 101 Conflict and Our World
- CONF 300 Conflict Resolution Techniques and Practice
- CONF 301 Research and Inquiry in Conflict Resolution
- CONF 302 Identity Conflicts and Their Resolution
- CONF 490 Integration
Required bridge courses (9 credits):
- CONF 320 Interpersonal Conflict Analysis and Resolution
- CONF 330 Community, Group, and Organizational Conflict Analysis and Resolution
- CONF 340 Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Non-Western Culture (3 credits):
From CHSS requirements list; cannot be combined with Global Understanding requirement.
Research Methods (6 credits):
- STAT
250
and - 3 credits from: ADJ 300; ANTH 380, 450; ENGL 327; GOVT 300, 366, 400; HIST 300; PHIL 357/SOCI 599; PSYC 300, 301; SOCI 303, 313, 410; STAT 362/IT 362, STAT 474
Field experience (3 credits):
This may take the form of an internship, service learning, or study abroad.
Concentration courses (12 credits):
Each student develops a concentration in one of the three levels of conflict: interpersonal, community/organizational,or global. A list of approved concentration courses is available from CAR advisors and this website. Students are encouraged to check special topic courses each semester and to think creatively about courses elsewhere at Mason that support learning in their chosen concentration.
Major electives (6 credits):
Elective courses can be chosen from the approved concentration courses at any level but may not count for both concentration and elective credit. Independent study approved by CAR faculty is also an option for three credits.

