Leadership and Workplace Conflict Resolution, MA

Program Description

Handling conflict is the hardest part of a manager’s job. The Master of Arts in Leadership and Workplace Conflict Resolution program is designed to prepare leaders to effectively manage and resolve organizational conflicts. The program focuses on practical skills, empowering graduates to handle disputes, enhance communication, and lead with confidence.

The curriculum cultivates the essential communication, leadership, and conflict resolution skills that enable managers to resolve conflict and create harmonious and effective workplace environments. The core courses of the MA in Leadership and Workplace Conflict Resolution program program give students experience in resolving conflicts that can be applied in many contexts. Whereas the MBA is a full-spectrum general management degree requiring up to 58 credits, the MA in Workplace Conflict Resolution is a highly focused master’s degree requiring 30 credits that be completed in three semesters of online study.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successfully completing the MA in Leadership and Workplace Conflict Resolution, students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:

1. Communication Skills: Graduates will facilitate effective communication to achieve greater team accomplishments.
2. Information Literacy in Conflict Resolution Context: Graduates will be capable of researching topics using the Internet and private databases, assessing the value of information accurately for the intended purpose, and documenting sources appropriately.
3. Leadership and Team Development: Graduates will be prepared to organize and lead a team to achieve more collectively than individuals could alone.
4. Personal Development: Graduates will emerge from the program with improved health and happiness, along with a clearer understanding of their personal strengths and career aspirations.
5. Analytical Thinking for Conflict Resolution: Graduates will develop the skill to analyze conflict situations, articulate clear problem statements, and craft creative resolutions that balance business needs with workforce considerations.
6. Advanced Conflict Resolution Skills: Graduates will be adept at resolving workplace conflicts, displaying the ability to proactively prevent, de-escalate, and manage conflict, as well as to collaborate on problem-solving.

Entrance Requirements

Applicants must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in formal training and work experience. Acceptance is based upon the quality of undergraduate performance, aptitude test scores, work experience, and other achievements. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is recommended but not required.

All international students must submit official English proficiency test scores (either TOEFL or IELTS) as part of their application. The tests must have been taken within the past two years. Minimum proficiency scores are 6.5 on IELTS, 575 TOEFL paper-based, 230 TOEFL computer-based, 90 TOEFL internet-based, or 58 PTE. Applicants are exempt from this requirement if they have resided in the following countries for a minimum of 2 years: American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Grenada, Grand Cayman, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand, Trinidad/Tobago, United Kingdom, and US Pacific Trust.

MA LWCR Transfer Credit Policy

Students who have taken graduate coursework in business administration at another qualified university and have not used those credits to complete a graduate degree may be approved to transfer credits to fulfill elective credit in the MA LWCR program. With the approval of the program director, a maximum of 10 graduate credits may be transferred to MIU.

A student who transfers graduate credits earned in a course equivalent to a required course, may be able to waive the required course and earn the credits by taking elective courses in their final semester.

Elective courses may also be taken from the Online MBA program with the consent of the student’s academic advisor. A student may earn up to 4 credits by completing graduate level elective courses outside the College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a Master of Arts in Leadership and Workplace Conflict Resolution, students must successfully complete 30 total credits, including the 4-credit Science of Creative Intelligence course required for all graduate students, one Forest Academy course in each semester in which the student is enrolled for 12 weeks or more, 24 credits of required Leadership and Workplace Conflict Resolution courses, and a 2-credit capstone project.

For further depth of study, students may choose to complete recommended elective courses in leadership, management, and team building and performance.