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Academics

Master of Dispute Resolution (M.D.R.)

The Master's Degree in Dispute Resolution is a 32-unit program offered to those who possess a bachelor's degree. It consists of the following requirements:

Required Courses - 18 units (16 units required for law students)

  • One Arbitration Course:
    • Arbitration Law+, Arbitration Practice and Advocacy, International Commercial Arbitration, or Arbitration Law in the Securities Industry (JD students only)
  • Communication and Conflict
  • Cross-Cultural Conflict and Dispute Resolution
  • Interviewing, Counseling and Planning
  • Introduction to Legal Processes (for non-lawyers and non-law students)
  • Mediation Clinic (or Investor Advocacy Clinic - JD students only)
  • Mediation Theory and Practice
  • Negotiation Theory and Practice
  • Psychology of Conflict

Elective Courses - 10 units required (8 units if Thesis option is chosen)

  • Advanced Mediation Seminar
  • Advanced Trial Practice +
  • Appellate Advocacy +
  • Arbitration Law * +
  • Arbitration Law in the Securities Industry + (JD students only)
  • Arbitration Practice and Advocacy *
  • Current Issues in International Dispute Resolution: London/Geneva
  • Current Issues in International Dispute Resolution: Hong Kong/Beijing
  • Dispute Resolution in Education
  • Dispute Resolution and Religion
  • Dispute Resolution Law Journal (up to 4 units)
  • Divorce and Family Mediation
  • Environmental and Public Policy Dispute Resolution
  • Faith-Based Diplomacy and International Peacemaking
  • Honors Appellate Advocacy (JD students only)
  • Honors Negotiation Advocacy (JD students only)
  • Honors Mediation Advocacy (JD students only)
  • International Commercial Arbitration *
  • International Investment Disputes
  • International Litigation +
  • Investor Advocacy Clinic (JD students only)
  • Lawyering Process +
  • Restorative Justice
  • Selected Issues in Dispute Resolution:
    • Apology, Forgiveness and Reconciliation
    • Dispute Resolution Systems Design
    • Dispute Resolution and Technology
    • Employment Disputes
    • Entertainment Industry Disputes
    • Ethical Practices in Dispute Resolution
    • Healthcare Dispute Resolution
    • Intellectual Property
    • Labor Disputes
    • Managing Litigation and Conflict for Corporations and Organizations
    • Mass Torts
    • Ombuds
  • Special Education Advocacy Clinic +
  • Trial Practice +
  • Trial Preparation and Settlement +
  • or a Substantive Law Class with Institute Approval (non-law students only)

Externships - 4 Units Required     OR     Thesis/Project - 6 Units Required

 

* If this course was not taken to fulfill the arbitration requirement, it can be taken as an elective.

+This course is only available to law students, law school graduates or LL.M. candidates.