CRES 155 Introduction to Conflict Resolution: Science and Art

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to both different perspectives on conflict and different strategies for resolving conflict. Conflict will be explored in different contexts, including intergroup conflict, cross-cultural conflict, and international conflict, with an emphasis on interpersonal conflict. Most importantly, students will be asked to reflect on their own style of conflict resolution and the pertinence of the material covered to conflict resolution in their own lives. Course content will include experiential learning and role play.

Credits

3

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. 1. Consider varying conflict perspectives, definitions, assumptions and context, establish one’s own conflict management positions and style.
2. 2. Summarize the major approaches to conflict resolution, and explain why and how the lens model of conflict interaction can be used to evaluate each.
3. 3. Identify and evaluate relevance and quality of supporting evidence to recognize bias and value judgments in conflict resolution by examining the role of communication, language, power and culture in conflict.
4. 4. Evaluate the spectrum of intervention choices through the application of interest-based problem solving. Apply the conclusions of that analysis to reach a decision or recommendation.
5. 5. Identify an ethical issue in conflict resolution, apply possible ethical perspectives to that issue, and identify and use core personal beliefs to come to a concluding position on the issue.

Course Objectives

1. 1. Consider varying conflict perspectives, definitions, assumptions and context, establish one’s own conflict management positions and style.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Conflict and Me paper

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT2
2. 2. Summarize the major approaches to conflict resolution, and explain why and how the lens model of conflict interaction can be used to evaluate each.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Journal assisgnment: "Conflict Resolutions Approaches"

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT1
3. 3. Identify and evaluate relevance and quality of supporting evidence to recognize bias and value judgments in conflict resolution by examining the role of communication, language, power and culture in conflict.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Journal assignments: "Hidden Dimensions of Communications" and "Interests, Goals, and Power"

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT3
4. 4. Evaluate the spectrum of intervention choices through the application of interest-based problem solving. Apply the conclusions of that analysis to reach a decision or recommendation.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Group research project and presentation

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT4
5. 5. Identify an ethical issue in conflict resolution, apply possible ethical perspectives to that issue, and identify and use core personal beliefs to come to a concluding position on the issue.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Critique Assignment: Ethics and Conflict Resolution

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric