Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution

Academics

Why Choose a Program at the Straus Institute?

Reputation

The Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the #1 dispute resolution program four times in seven years.

Flexible course schedules

You can take advantage of several formats that accommodate the working professional. During fall and spring semesters in Malibu, courses are offered Mondays and Tuesdays in the afternoons and evenings. The winter intensive format allows you to complete a two-unit course in one week. This format is offered again at the beginning of the summer preceding several two-week blocks. At the Orange County campus, courses are offered one night a week in seven-week blocks and in a two-weekend format where you attend Thursday and Friday nights and all day Saturday for two weekends during the semester.

Faculty

The Straus Institute is a unique meeting place for outstanding faculty from around the world, including Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Europe, and every region of the United States.

Comprehensive curriculum

The Straus Institute offers thirty-two different courses in one of the broadest curriculums in dispute resolution education. The required courses ensure theoretical and skills competency in basic dispute resolution processes of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. A wide variety of elective courses provide the application of those theories to practice.

Students

Studying at Straus will allow you the distinctive opportunity to work with law students, graduate students, and a number of working professionals in the fields of human resources, education, psychology, business, law, and ministry. Due to small class sizes many students have been able to enjoy a network of friends and business relationships that they create here at the Straus Institute.

Location

The Straus Institute's home base is Malibu, California. Just 20 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles, Pepperdine benefits from the diverse and vibrant culture of Southern California, a leading area in dispute resolution. Courses are also offered in Orange County at our Irvine campus.