Welcome
Want to improve the planet and help communities? We can help.
If you value practical experience, civic responsibility and academic excellence we invite you to explore our internationally-ranked graduate programs and pioneering work of our faculty and research centers.
Academic Programs
Graduate Programs
Accelerated Master's
Accelerated Master’s Programs (AMP)
Earn a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in as little as five years.
About Our Department
Learn to manage conflict, build security, and govern local and global organizations through our programs. Collaborate with our faculty who are internationally-recognized scholars and practitioners in fields spanning conflict resolution, human security and global governance. More about our research areas
Take a Class
Start earning credits by taking a class as a non-degree student. This allows you to assess the content and structure of the program before applying. These graduate-level credits can transfer to one of our graduate degrees (restrictions apply).
About Taking a Class
This is a great way to "sample" the programs before applying and evaluate whether it meets your goals and interests. You must have a bachelor's degree to enroll and if you earn a B or better, and are later admitted to one of the degree programs listed below, the credits will count towards degree (maximum of 6 credits allowed).
- Conflict Resolution MA
- Conflict Resolution graduate certificate (in person, online, hybrid)
- Global Governance and Human Security MA
- International Relations MA
Visit the Bursar’s website to research costs. All courses are subject to regular session rate and New England regional rate is not applicable for non-degree students.
Please visit the Registrar's website for more information regarding non-degree registration or contact conresglobal@umb.edu.
Take a Class Options
If you value practical experience, civic responsibility and academic excellence we invite you to explore our internationally-ranked graduate programs and the pioneering work of our faculty and research centers.
Contact conresglobal@umb.edu for more information.
Spring 2025 Options:
Introductory (Conflict Resolution) Theory ConRes 623: : Wednesday 1:00 - 3:45 PM
This course examines the theories and assumptions underpinning the practice of negotiation and mediation. It identifies the major schools of thought that influence models in practice and shape research agendas. It examines theories critically, with three aims-uncovering implicit assumptions of practice, testing those assumptions against empirical evidence or other theories, and gleaning insights to assist practitioners.
Conflict Resolution Systems for Organizations ConRes 625 Monday 5:30 - 8:15 PM
This course examines different systems for managing conflict. The system may exist in a large corporation, or between two or among many nations, between labor and management, or within a family. The system may be explicit and clear, informal and invisible, or both. The system may be effective or not. The course explores different kinds of conflict management systems and criteria for measuring their effectiveness; and discusses the analysis and design of dispute managing systems.
Violence and Radicalization CONRES 603 Wednesday, 5:30 - 8:15 PM
The course on violence and radicalization will focus on the causes and consequences of different types of violence, including war, activities of street gangs, hate crimes, and terrorism. It will provide a survey of relevant theory, including the micro, meso, and macro frameworks of violence. The course will apply theories to relevant cases and analyze why states organize violence; the role of violence in group dynamics; and differences in physical, structural, and symbolic forms of violence. We will also look at how social categories, such as race, ethnicity, religion, class, and gender are implicated in violence. Finally, the course will also explore non-violent, evidence-based solutions to mitigate the effects of violence.
Issues In Conflict Resolution Practice Public Collaboration, CONRES 626 online/asynchronous
Actors in local, state, and federal governments must find ways to work collaboratively, manage conflicts, and build consensus on ways to address complex social programs with other public actors as well as with private and nonprofit organizations, citizen groups, and other stakeholders. This is often a challenging task, particularly when dealing with high conflict, competition, and distrust between stakeholders, and when practiced poorly can impede rather than promote effective action. On the other hand, collaboration can be
vital to creating and implementing sustainable, successful policies.
International Political Economy INTREL 614: Wednesday 5:30 - 8:15PM
The course engages students in a study of the relationship between economics and politics in global affairs, applying interdisciplinary scholarship to explore the problem of scarcity and the development and functioning of international markets. Topics may include the behavior of institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization; non-governmental organizations such as multinational corporations, local business partnerships, and workers unions; and other political entities situated at the domestic, national, regional, and global levels.
Negotiation CONRES 621 online/asynchronous
Negotiation is the bedrock skill in this field. The course addresses the development of negotiation techniques and fosters student knowledge of the substantial body of negotiation theory that is now available.
GGHS 897: Environmental Conflict Thursday 4:00 PM - 6:45 PM
This course explores environmental issues and resources as sources of and contributors to conflict, and as avenues and opportunities for conflict resolution and peace-making. Research and concepts from multiple disciplines, many world regions and many environmental and resource challenges are included.
Virtual Summer Institute 2025
Virtual Summer Institute: Conflict Transformation Across Borders (open to undergrads and non-degree students).
contact conresglobal@umb.edu or kelly.ward@umb.edu for more information.
Zoom classes on weekdays from June 9-20, 10 a.m. - 1p.m. M-F, plus an additional asynchronous week June 23-27 to complete projects.
Info Session recording available here.
Spend two weeks this summer learning about peacebuilding, border conflicts, migration, and conflict transformation together with participants and fantastic guest speakers from all over Latin America and the world! UMass Boston, in collaboration with Latin American partner universities in Ecuador, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, will hold their Virtual Summer Institute on Conflict Transformation Across Borders each summer. Students will enroll through their respective university and participate in two weeks of virtual (Zoom) classes in June 2025. The summer Institute will include the analysis of concrete cases of conflict, peacebuilding, refugees and border challenges, as well as practical skills training on conflict analysis, actor mapping, negotiation and mediation and proposal writing, with top-level guest speakers from around the world. Cases drawn from Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Haiti, Costa Rica, and the United States will provide concrete examples. Participants will design their own proposal for a peacebuilding Intervention and will receive feedback from a panel of experienced experts in the field, and they will produce a 'public engagement' project such as an op ed or podcast episode. This course will be co- facilitated by Dr. Jeffrey Pugh of UMass Boston's Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security and Global Governance, Dr. Cecile Mouly of FLACSO Ecuador, and Dr. Monica Herz of PUC de Rio, as well as other speakers.
For more information, contact Kelly Ward Mason at kelly.ward@umb.edu
Summer Programs
We offer academically rich summer programs focusing on Community Peace Building and Conflict Transformation Across Borders where you can earn up to 6 credits towards a master's degree. There are no prerequisites for these programs and advanced undergraduates will be considered. Contact conresglobal@umb.edu for more info.
Transform Learning into Action
Our centers and projects conduct innovative research and provide students with opportunities to gain hands on skills.
