Negotiation and conflict management skills are useful in a wide array of industries. A master’s degree can lead to job opportunities in security/intelligence, government, education, research, and more.
Being a good manager means negotiating and resolving conflicts successfully. Management positions will increase at a faster-than-average pace during the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As more companies and individuals turn to alternative dispute resolution methods instead of litigation, job opportunities for mediators and arbitrators are increasing at a faster-than-average pace.
For this list, we concentrated on graduate-level programs in negotiation and conflict management. There are a few different types of degrees students can earn in this subject, including a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), and Master of Legal Studies (MLS).
We narrowed our search to programs that can be completed entirely or primarily through distance learning courses to ensure accessibility for the greatest number of students, regardless of their schedule or geographic location.
This list consists entirely of schools that are regionally accredited, which means they meet high standards of quality for postsecondary education. Some programs are also accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
We evaluated each program based on reputation, outcomes, flexibility, faculty, and cost. Then we calculated an Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 for each program. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.
A master’s in negotiation and conflict management is a skills-based program that gives graduates tools that they can use in a variety of different careers, rather than providing training for a specific job. If you are considering a master’s in negotiation and conflict management, you should be clear on your career goals and how this degree will help you achieve them. You may need to demonstrate to potential employers how this degree is applicable to the particular job you are seeking.
Because a master’s in negotiation and conflict management teaches you how to interact with people in a way that avoids or resolves conflict, many programs have an experiential learning component. These learning experiences will give you a hands-on opportunity to use your negotiation and conflict management skills, and they can include on-campus residencies, internships, or service-learning experiences. Review the program’s curriculum before applying to confirm if you will be required to fulfill in-person components, and make the necessary arrangements to accommodate them in your schedule.
If you are interested in pursuing a career as a legal mediator, arbitrator or conciliator, you may have to obtain a state-issued certification to work on certain cases. This usually involves completing a certain amount of training hours set by the state, which may or may not be fulfilled by your master’s program.
When researching online master’s in negotiation and conflict management programs, you can ask the following questions:
At this time, you should also begin gathering your application materials as well as confirming application submission deadlines and procedures. This will help your admissions process go smoothly.
Financing your graduate degree is another important consideration. Explore your options for student loans, private and institutional scholarships, assistantships, and employer tuition benefits if you are currently working.