P. Terrence Hopmann, Director The Conflict Management Program focuses on mechanisms for handling international conflict and developing cooperation. The program presents various theoretical approaches to negotiation, examines policies and processes in managing crises and conflicts and explores the formation and use of international organizations and regimes. Courses offer an opportunity to pursue case studies and simulations. The program’s Toolkit is accessible at www.sais-jhu.edu/cmtoolkit.
Academic Requirements
Students concentrating in Conflict Management must take at least four courses within the Conflict Management Program. Only one of those four courses can be cross-listed with another program where the first three digits of its course number are not from Conflict Management. Additional cross-listed courses will go toward students' electives. They also must fulfill the general requirements for the field of International Relations, that is, an additional two courses with IR, including courses from two programs other than Conflict Management. Students must take the Theories of International Relations Core Exam or must pass the course by the end of their second semester.
Capstone
Conflict Management concentrators must produce a research paper of publishable quality completed during their final semester from previous work of one of the four Conflict Management courses required above. It must be approved in final form in order to take the MA Oral Exam to compete for honors (if eligible) and to graduate. A prize for the best program paper is awarded at graduation. This requirement is normally fulfilled by: 1. Taking and passing Capstone Research Seminar (SA.640.800); or 2. Taking and passing Negotiation Practicum (SA.640.749)—when offered *International Relations concentrators studying at the Bologna Center must take at least three IR courses in Washington. Exception: those concentrators who are dual-degree students or have advanced standing, must take at least two IR courses in Washington.
Campus Options
Students studying at the Bologna Center may concentrate in Conflict Management.
Internships
An internship is highly recommended for Conflict Management students. A number of Washington, D.C., agencies offer internships each year in conflict management. Consult the program office for information.
Co-curricular Activities
The program includes an annual international conference on a topic related to conflict management and a series of lectures outside of courses throughout the year, as well as activities that vary from year to year.
Ph.D. Program
Doctoral students attend courses appropriate to their program in preparation for their comprehensive examinations and participate in the doctoral workshop when in residence. Students are expected to undertake an article for publication before beginning their dissertation. Each candidate’s dissertation prospectus must be presented to the doctoral workshop and approved by the IR faculty.
Typical Conflict Management Courses
(See www.sais-jhu.edu/courses for course descriptions.)
- Alliances, Conflict Management Regimes and Security Communities
- Arms Control and the Nonproliferation Regime
- Causes and Prevention and Control of War
- Conflict Management Field Trip
- Democracy, Human Rights and Conflict Prevention
- Dispute Settlement Methods
- Economic Negotiations
- The Implementers of Peace
- International Bargaining and Negotiation
- Mediation: Theory and Practice
- Multilateral Negotiation
- Negotiation Practicum
- PeaceKidZ Workshop
- Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Issues, Actors, Dilemmas
- Principles and Practices of Conflict Management
- Security Negotiations
- State Collapse and Nation-Building
Suggested Electives Offered by Other Programs
- Behavioral Sociology of Conflict (Global Theory and History)
- International Protection of Human Rights (International Law and Organizations)
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