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MCR Certificate Program – CSUN
Mediation and Dispute Resolution Professional Certificate Program
The study and use of alternative dispute resolution processes has increased rapidly over the past two decades in the public and private sector. Litigants filing court cases are turning frequently to mediation and arbitration as a less formal, cost-effective means to resolve problems. Organizations are using mediation to improve working relationships, cut legal costs, and increase productivity. Mediation allows the parties to discuss the issues and create their own agreements in a confidential setting, with or without attorneys.
The Mediation and Dispute Resolution Professional Certificate Program is designed for people who are seeking or contemplating a career in dispute resolution, to improve their communication skills for personal growth, as well as for those wanting to enhance their knowledge and practice of dispute resolution processes. The curriculum merges theory and practical application to offer a solid educational experience.
It is recommended that students begin with The Nature of Conflict and Dispute Resolution and the Legal Pro cess. As its name implies, the latter course includes a segment on the legal process offering students an overview of the court system, litigation process, legal terminology, and civil procedure. This class, taken in conjunction with Mediation: Theory and Practice, may meet the requirements for the Los Angeles Superior Court mediation program. Because litigated cases are often referred to mediation, or the parties choose mediation, it is important to understand the fundamentals of the court system and how cases are filed and managed. The signature course, Mediation: Theory and Practice merges a strong theoretical background with practical application of collaborative problem solving skills. Learning how different cultures approach conflict and problem solving is particularly relevant in today’s global society. The focus of Cultural Perspectives of Conflict Negotiation: Theory and Skills is on learning how to manage challenges when mediators are working with multiple cultures, ethnicities, languages, and gender differences.
In Negotiation: Theory and Practice, participants learn theories of negotiation and explore the role of power and influence in negotiating with difficult people. Students will be able to analyze situations and plan an effective strategy for identifying interests and creating solid agreements. Beyond Reason: Understanding Emotions in Dispute Resolution delves into and explores the emotional element in every dispute and how emotions lie at the heart of every negotiation. The class is rounded out by a thorough study of such crucial factors as emotion, correct and careful word choice, asking the proper questions, and the accurate identification of the parties’ core concerns.
Description
Course Credit
As the continuing education division of the University of California at Santa Barbara, UCSB Extension is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). All courses in the program are approved for professional-level, post-graduate credit. This type of credit is typically recognized by government and industry for full or partial tuition funding or reimbursement. Course units and/or CEU values are listed with the course descriptions. Completion of the program shows evidence to a prospective or current employer of recent professional-level training and development in this field for career advancement and/or salary increase purposes. Questions regarding transferability of credit toward degree programs at other schools should be directed to the degree-granting institution.
Transfer Credit
Transfer credit is limited to 4 quarter units. Proposed transfer courses taken at other schools must be comparable in content and length to the UCSB Extension equivalent and must have been taken from an accredited college or university within the last five years. To determine whether courses taken at other schools will qualify, send a copy of the course title, description, and the dates the course was taken along with the UCSB Extension course title equivalent(s) to the certificate advisor. The advisor will inform students whether the coursework is transferable. To activate the formal transfer of credit, students must have filed their Application for Candidacy in the certificate program and must request the school previously attended to send an official transcript to the certificate advisor.
Requirements
Candidates for the certificate must complete a total of 16 units: six required courses (13 units) and two elective courses (3 units). Candidates for the certificate must complete all required and elective courses with letter grades of “C” or better. Most students take two to three years to complete the program; however, you may proceed at your own pace depending on how many courses are available each quarter. Students have five years from the date their first course ends to complete the program.
Individual courses are open to non-certificate students who wish to study a specific subject area. It is the student’s responsibility to meet any stated course prerequisites.
Applying for Candidacy
To be accepted as a candidate in a certificate program, students must first submit the Application for Candidacy Form below and a one-time, nonrefundable filing fee of $50. Students are urged to file their Application for Candidacy anytime before completing their third course. Students will be expected to fulfill program requirements in place at the time candidacy is filed. Students will automatically be notified of acceptance once the application and filing fee are received. Allow four to six weeks for applications to be processed. Acceptance letters are mailed upon acceptance into the program.
Certificate candidates must notify the UCSB Extension certificate advisor by phoning (805) 893-3816 or by e-mailing certificates@els.ucsb.edu when they receive the grade card for their final course. Once your final grade is received and your records are checked to verify that you have met all program requirements, your certificate is processed and mailed to you. Duplicate certificates are available if requested in writing. There is a $22 charge for each duplicate certificate.
Program Cost
The total cost of the Mediation & Dispute Resolution Professional Certificate Program is determined by the number of units required to complete the entire curriculum and the actual courses taken, particularly in the area of elective courses where tuition fees can vary. Individual course fees are listed in the current UCSB Extension catalog and on the Web site. For planning purposes, an overall tuition cost has been estimated at $2,750. This figure is for course tuition fees only and does not include the costs of textbooks and/or materials. This cost figure is an estimate only and is subject to change without notice.
Tuition Reimbursement
Most UCSB Extension courses and certificate programs qualify for employer-paid tuition reimbursement. Be sure to check with your employer about any employee assistance programs that you may be eligible to receive.
FAQ
Course Formats/Locations
UCSB Extension offers the necessary courses to fulfill both the required and elective course requirements with local professionals providing the instruction. Courses will be offered as concentrated weekend workshops and evenings throughout the school year and are scheduled during fall, winter, spring and summer quarters. Courses are held at UCSB and at the UCSB Ventura Center.
Instructors
The instructors who teach in this program are practicing professionals from the community. They are chosen for their personal commitment, academic background, teaching ability, and professional expertise. We provide students with the opportunity to comment on our instructors, our program, and our customer service at the end of each class. We welcome any comments that would assist us in improving the quality of instruction in our program.
Application
To enroll in this Certificate Program, click here
To contact the Certificate Advisor, click here
For information on Textbooks, click here
For information on Disability Services, click here
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