Educational Opportunities

Four people sit and talk on a stage at a Staus Institute event

JD Students

Pepperdine JD students can earn a Certificate or Masters in Dispute Resolution during their three years of law school. Students from law schools across the nation can also earn the Certificate or Masters in Dispute Resolution with their non-Pepperdine degree while taking courses during the Summer and Winter Intensive programs.

Lawyers and Judges

There are several options available for Lawyers and Judges looking for additional training in dispute resolution. Our Professional Training Programs and Conferences are available for those looking for short-term training options while our Certificate and LLM programs provide a more comprehensive educational experience. Both academic programs can be pursued on a part-time or full-time basis so candidates don't need to put their practices or lives on hold to participate in our academic programs, and can cater the program to meet their schedule!

MBA Students

Students participating in Pepperdine's Fully-Employed MBA or Full Time MBA program can elect to choose Straus' dispute resolution program as part of their MBA emphasis or concentration. This opportunity to combine an MBA degree with a top-rated dispute resolution education is unique to Pepperdine.

International Students

Pepperdine attract students from across the globe for their Certificate, Masters in Dispute Resolution (MDR) and LLM programs. Candidates with the first degree of law required to practice or teach law can apply for our Masters of Law (LLM), an advanced law degree offering several areas of specialization. Candidates without a law background who have a bachelor's degree or equivalent can apply for our Masters in Dispute Resolution (MDR) and Certificate program. Pepperdine has hosted international scholars from prestigious scholarship programs including Fulbright, Rotary, Muskie, Organization of American States, JAMS and more.

Non-Law Professionals

In addition to seasoned attorneys and judges, Pepperdine engages a number of non-law professionals looking at learning the skills to manage conflict for their environment. Academic degree programs and training options are available to students from a variety of professions including medical doctors, human resource professionals, business executives, psychologists, counselors, teachers, peacemakers, labor professionals and more. The Certificate and Masters in Dispute Resolution will require the minimum of a bachelor's degree, while the training programs can be registered online without prior training or degrees.