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Overview

UA Little Rock’s Graduate Certificate in Conflict Management is interdisciplinary, with core courses covering several topics and elective courses across multiple disciplines (including applied communication, business, public administration, and education). These courses are taught by expert faculty and national specialists. The certificate program requires 18 hours of graduate coursework: 9 hours of core courses and 9 hours of electives. These courses are taught by expert faculty and national specialists. Students can complete the program across three semesters or at their own pace.

Conflict management and civil dialogue are important in any profession that involves working with people. Educators, social workers, human resource professionals, health care professionals, and leaders in public, private, nonprofit, and religious organizations are among those whose responsibilities include managing conflict. This program prepares students to analyze, apply, and engage in constructive conflict management practices, including negotiation, conflict consulting, crisis communication, mediation, listening, civil dialogue, and more. This program offers critical tools for anyone entering an organizational environment, working with teams, or those entering leadership positions.

Flexible Format – Available for Main Campus & Online Campus Students

Our certificate program is offered as both a main campus program (shown as “Conflict Management – GC” in the application portal) and as a fully online program in the e-learning campus (shown as “Conflict Management Online – GC in the application portal). Courses in the main campus program are offered in person, online via Zoom, and fully asynchronous online (where you complete assignments and watch lectures/readings on your own time with no required synchronous or Zoom sessions). Zoom classes are offered on weekday evenings or weekends, and class times are listed in the US Central Time Zone. Courses in the fully online campus program are only offered asynchronously.

Important facts about the program:

• Although we offer a main campus and an online version of this program, please note that all core courses and many electives are offered in online formats and not in person. 
• For international students, please note that the flexible format of our program means many courses are offered online and therefore may not fulfill the in-person requirements for F-1 visas. However, students can take our main campus certificate program alongside another main campus master’s program, such as the M.A. in Mass Communication or Public Administration, that may fulfill these requirements.
• Our certificate program can be taken concurrently (at the same time) with another UA Little Rock M.A. program, such as the Master’s in Applied Communication Program or the Master’s in Public Administration Program. Or, if you complete this certificate program first and then apply and are accepted to the online Master’s in Applied Communication Program, many (up to 18 hours) of your coursework hours will transfer into that 33-hour M.A. program.
  • NOTE: If you plan to complete this certificate alongside another graduate program, you must apply to the campus that matches your primary graduate program (for example, both the M.A. in ACOM and MPA programs are only offered via the main campus, so students would need to apply to the main campus Conflict Management Certificate as well).

Admission Requirements

All applicants to the graduate certificate in Conflict Management must have a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally, regionally, or internationally accredited institution. Applicants can be from any discipline or major.

Applicants must submit all transcripts from previous institutions to the UA Little Rock Graduate School. Work in other graduate or professional programs will be considered in admission decisions.

• A written statement of educational and career goals
• A current resume
• Two letters of recommendation

Regular Admission

Applicants will be considered for regular admission if they have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or better on a previous baccalaureate or graduate degree, or if they have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or better on their last 60 hours of coursework.

Conditional Admission

Applicants will be considered for conditional admission if they have achieved a GPA between 2.7 and 2.99 on a previous baccalaureate or graduate degree, or if they have achieved a GPA between 2.7 and 2.99 on their last 60 hours of coursework. Conditionally admitted students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better in their first 9 hours of coursework to remain in the program.

Special Conditional Admission

Applicants with a GPA between 2.4 and 2.69 who demonstrate extraordinary potential for professional achievement may petition the Conflict Management graduate coordinator for special consideration if they have a minimum of three years of verified professional work in nonprofits, and are recommended after a personal interview. Applicants whose petitions are approved by the Conflict Management Graduate Coordinator will be subject to the same requirements and restrictions as those listed above for conditionally admitted students.