Master of Public
Administration (MPA)
in Conflict Resolution
4-week
COURSES
Year-round
enrollment
250K+ Alumni Worldwide
Master of Public Administration, Specialization in Conflict Resolution
Build the skills to lead through conflict and drive meaningful change. This specialization equips you with practical tools and proven frameworks to diagnose and resolve conflict, foster constructive dialogue, and lead diverse teams across government, education, and nonprofit settings.
Designed for adult learners and emerging leaders, the program strengthens decision-making, ethical leadership, and collaboration, preparing you to navigate complex challenges and turn conflict into opportunity. Graduate ready to create positive impact and build stronger, more effective organizations.
Admission Requirements
A conferred bachelor’s degree or a master’s or doctoral degree from an institutionally or nationally accredited academic institution.
Course Details
Required Courses
For the Master of Public Administration degree with a specialization in Conflict Resolution, you must complete eight foundational courses and three specialization courses.
Foundation Courses
Course Name
A general survey course covering the role of the public sector manager in American society today. Studies current issues and leading concepts in the field of non-profit management.
An examination of influences affecting decisions in the urban political arena. Covers segments of the community that impact the decision-making process (i.e., employee groups, labor influences, community groups, media and other special interests). Examines the relationship between intergovernmental agencies.
An examination of the important aspects of personnel management in government, including civil service procedures, affirmative action, employee motivation and organizational development.
A practical study of graphical methods and statistical procedures specifically aimed at presenting, interpreting and solving problems related to public administration.
Role, values, and issues of public management in democratic governance, citizen participation, power structures, and professional codes of conduct.
An examination of historical development of urban planning practices and concepts, general plans and their elements in the urban community. Also discusses the use of technology in planning. Students must complete a minimum of five Public Administration courses prior to taking this course.
An exploration of current governmental fiscal management techniques and issues. Examines various types of financial and technical assistance to quasi-governmental and non-profit management organizations.
A project where students work in teams or individually under the guidance of an assigned faculty advisor. Students clarify research topics and identify data sources in preparation for the project. Students then gather data and present their research in both written and oral form to faculty and classmates. Grading is H, S, or U only. PAD 644 is two months in length.
* You must complete five Public Administration courses — minimum — before taking this course.
Specialization Courses
Course Name
Recommended: Prior completion of: It is recommended that undergraduate students enrolling in the course have completed their lower division studies.
This foundational course provides an overview of the field of conflict resolution, exploring its cultural and historical development, key theoretical frameworks, and major approaches. Students will analyze different types of conflicts and examine various strategies for conflict resolution. The course emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations, cultural sensitivity, and power dynamics in conflict resolution processes.
Recommended: Prior completion of: CRS 500; It is recommended that the undergraduate student has completed lower division studies before enrolling in this course.
In this course, students delve into the intersection of negotiation and social justice. They will explore the ethical dimensions of negotiation, with a focus on promoting fairness, equity, and inclusivity. Students will learn integrative bargaining techniques to create value and foster collaborative problem-solving. Case studies and simulations will be used to enhance practical negotiation skills.
Recommended: Prior completion of: It is recommended that students have completed CRS 500, 505 before enrolling in this course. ; It is recommended that the undergraduate student has completed lower division studies before enrolling in this course.
The course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the ethical considerations and principles of neutrality that underpin the practice of conflict resolution. This course explores the complex ethical dilemmas faced by conflict resolution practitioners and examines the concept of neutrality in navigating conflicts impartially.
Learning Outcomes
In addition to the academic outcomes for all Master of Public Administration graduates, students completing the Human Resource Management specialization will learn to:
- Utilize critical thinking and research methods relevant to public administration in a multi-cultural environment.
- Evaluate the concept of new public management within a historical context.
- Analyze the impact of political influences on the public sector decision-making process.
- Analyze the division of power within American government as established by the U.S. Constitution.
- Describe, analyze, and evaluate the various approaches to managing government employees.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of public administration strategies for dealing with the media, community, and local government agencies.
- Evaluate the impact of public administration decisions on urban planning and redevelopment.
- Synthesize resources and approaches for developing grant proposals for community programs and services
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.
NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.
All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.
National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.