Academics

Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR)

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 or International Commercial Arbitration
• 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
• Mediation Theory and Practice
• Negotiation Theory and Practice
• Psychology of Conflict

Elective Courses - Eight units required (10 units required for lawyers and law students)

• Advanced Mediation Seminar
• Advanced Trial Practice ⁺
• Appellate Advocacy ⁺
• Arbitration Law * ⁺
• 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
• International Commercial Arbitration *
• International Investment Disputes
• International Litigation ⁺
• 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
  • Faith-Based Diplomacy and International Peacemaking
  • Healthcare Dispute Resolution
  • Ideological Foundations for Third Party Processes
  • 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)

Thesis/Project or Externships - Six Units Required

Students are required to complete either 6 units of Thesis or Externship.

* 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.