Mediation & Conflict Resolution

Is this program for me?

This program is intended for individuals who already hold a master’s degree and have a demonstrated interest in increasing their effectiveness at facilitating conflict resolution and coaching others through their conflicts. Individuals with a juris doctorate are also encouraged to apply.  You do not have to be an alum of the Brown School to apply for consideration.

The group will meet intensively for 7 weeks for skill-building.  The program design includes a 3 hour Zoom meeting each Wednesday evening for practice, supplemented with an additional 3.5 hours per week of self-paced study through readings and videos.

Reading assignments for the program are drawn from three books, as well as additional brief articles. All texts are included in the program fee.

The program is useful for people in a range of fields and roles, including social services, human resources, business and law/justice system. The skills you will build can be applied to individual, organizational, and community scenarios. Techniques can be applied informally in meetings and conversations or more formally in structured conflict resolution negotiations, including mediation of divorce and parenting plans.  The program has been designed to meet the requirements of Missouri Court Rules 17 and 88.  Note that to meet the requirements of Rule 88, case studies and role plays will include family mediation scenarios such as child support, parenting, and educational issues.  Program participants should be aware that to register with the state of Missouri as a trained family mediator under Rule 88, in addition to attending a training like this, an individual must be an attorney or hold a graduate degree in social work, psychology, or a related behavioral science.

At the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Explore and analyze conflicts from both interpersonal and organizational perspectives.
• Deal positively with difficult emotions and behaviors.
• Facilitate discussions with disputing parties to uncover interests behind positions/demands, find common interests and goals, generate options for mutual satisfaction and assist in developing and clarifying realistic solutions that will address the needs and interests of all.
• Assist parties to draft written agreements.

Successful completion of the program includes active participation in class meetings and submission of a reflection paper.

How to Apply

A completed application includes:

• Online application form, including statement of purpose (300-500 words)
• Submission of your current resume
• Transcript transmitted from your master’s program.
  Official electronic transcripts should be routed from the issuing institution to BrownCertificates@wustl.edu.

While an official transcript from the issuing institution is preferred, due to the current public health situation, an emailed scan of your graduate transcript is acceptable.  Official electronic transcripts should be routed from the issuing institution to BrownCertificates@wustl.edu.

If you have more than one graduate degree, please send the transcript from the degree most closely related to the post-master’s program for which you are applying.

Admissions decisions will be made on a rolling basis. Generally it is possible to provide an admissions decision within two weeks of receipt of a completed application. Applications (including transcripts) must be received by September 21, 2022.

Admission prerequisites:

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree or juris doctorate from an accredited university. International applicants should contact our office to discuss their situations individually.
• Applicants should have (or be able to obtain) access to a computer that has Microsoft Office (Excel, Powerpoint), along with a webcam and reliable internet service.
• All students must be willing to comply with Washington University policies, including the requirement that all students furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza or formally request and obtain a waiver.