Conflict Resolution Specialists

High School

Conflict resolution specialists come from a wide range of backgrounds, but many have experience in law and business, so you should take a college preparatory curriculum that includes classes in business, mathematics, science, psychology, government, social studies, and computer science.

People in this career must be excellent communicators, so it is important to take English, speech, and writing courses. Additionally, participating in the debate club will introduce you to high-pressure situations in which two sides present arguments to support their opinions.

Learning a foreign language—such as Spanish—will allow you to work on cases that involve claimants who do not speak English fluently or at all. Your fluency in a foreign language will also allow you to work in other countries.

Postsecondary Education

Educational requirements vary by employer. Many companies, government agencies, and other organizations require only a bachelor’s degree, while some employers require arbitrators to have a law degree, a master’s in business administration, or another type of advanced degree. Your best educational strategy is to major in a field at the baccalaureate level that you are interested in (finance, business, human resources, engineering, etc.) and also take arbitration, mediation, and other conflict resolution courses. Some CRSs also earn master’s degrees in conflict resolution, dispute resolution, alternative dispute resolution, international arbitration, or a related field. Typical courses in a graduate conflict resolution program include:

• Advanced Applied Skills Practicum
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Conflict Management Research Methods
• Conflict Simulation
• Facilitation
• Interpersonal Communication in Conflict and Mediation
• Negotiation Tactics
• Theories of Conflict and Mediation

Conflict resolution specialists also receive training through independent conflict resolution programs, colleges and universities, national and local conflict resolution membership associations, and government-authorized not-for-profit organizations (such as FINRA).

Certification

Many colleges and universities— including American University, Boston University, Emory University, Indiana University, University of Maryland, University of Texas at Austin, and Yale University—offer undergraduate and graduate certificates in conflict resolution, dispute resolution, arbitration, mediation, and related fields. Programs are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats and typically last six months or one year. Contact schools in your area to learn about available programs.

Other Education or Training

Colleges and universities, online learning platforms, professional associations (such as the American Arbitration Association, Association for Conflict Resolution, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and the National Association for Community Mediation), and for-profit education providers provide in-person and online courses that help conflict resolution specialists develop their skills, build their careers, and stay up-to-date on new dispute resolution strategies and industry developments. The Association for Conflict Resolution offers a variety of educational sessions at its annual conference. Recent sessions included Creating Your Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Workbook: A Practical JEDI Plan for Mediators; The Role of Technology in Mediation: Understanding Attitudes and Practices Among Mediators; and Designing Cultural Awareness Education for Learners Over 55.